Subject Guides: Biochemistry: Assignment Research

Introduction

This guide to basic assignment research outlines a simple but effective approach to finding information for your assignment. It is based on the resources described elsewhere in this subject guide and on the UC Library web site. Depending on your topic and your level of study, you may need to rearrange or review these steps where necessary

Check the rest of this subject guide carefully for additional subject resources and, where available, appropriate topic guides

1. Define your topic

Make sure you understand the topic. Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question to help you develop a search strategy.

2. Gather background information

Use dictionaries and encyclopedias to find definitions and background information. Articles from specialised subject encyclopedias are authoritative and often substantial.

3. Think about what information you need

How much information do you need? Lecturers often give guidelines on the number of sources you should use
Do you need current information or is older material relevant? Sometimes you might need both, as you might have to give both the historic background and the current situation of a topic
Do you need primary sources that give an original account of research, or secondary sources that are interpretations of someone else's work?

If you don't understand what you have to do for an assignment, ask your lecturer, your tutor or someone at the Academic Skills Centre

4. Find books

Search the Library catalogue:

Check for books on High Demand.
Use Title and Keyword anywhere searches to find additional material.
When you find a useful title, click its subject headings to find books on similar subjects.
Browse the Library shelves in the classification sequence for Biochemistry.

5. Find journal articles

The catalogue lists journal titles, but not the titles of the articles inside the journals. To find these you'll need to search the recommended Biochemistry databases.

If you can't find the kind of information you want on these databases, ask a subject librarian &ndash we can help you choose the right database and the right keywords to use.

6. Find information on the Internet

The web has a lot of information, but not all of it is useful or reliable. Make sure you check who wrote the page you’re on:

a government department (.gov or .govt.nz)
an academic (.edu or .ac.nz or published in a reputable journal)
a business (what are they selling?)
or a random non-expert?

Use Google Scholar to find reliable journal articles, or the Advanced Search features of Google to restrict your search to results from more reputable sources.

7. Evaluate your sources

References recommended on reading lists will already have been evaluated for quality. You will need to evaluate sources that you find yourself. Think critically about the information you find. The quality of your information has an effect on the quality of your assignment.

8. Cite your sources

Look professional and keep out of trouble by citing all the sources of information you use in your essay, using the appropriate style

9. Write your assignment

See our writing guides page for books which have useful hints for writing on technical subjects

Visit the Academic Skills Centre for workshops and/or personal help

Library Subject Guides

Biochemistry: Assignment Research