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Objectives

Where to find opportunities to document

information and create new knowledge
How to understand the immediate and broader
Chapter 11 contexts in which needed to document
information and create new knowledge
Documenting What are the generic issues to consider when
information and documenting information and creating new
knowledge
creating new How document academic information
knowledge
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When do we document information

Objectives (cont.)
How to align skills for documenting information
and creating new knowledge with academic life,
workplace life and everyday life
How to document information in different
workplace contexts
How to document information in different
everyday life contexts
and create new knowledge
There are different ways to communicate
information for future use
This is referred to as documenting and creating
new knowledge
Information is documented in similar and
different ways
There are many formal and informal
opportunities for documentation in your
everyday life

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Understanding how contexts impact
Understanding how contexts impact
on documenting information (cont.)
on documenting information
Need to consider the following contexts before
documenting information:
Immediate contexts: your role in the situation and the
information task you face.
Broader contexts: the external requirements and
restrictions you have to deal with because of where
you are situated.
These requirements can impact the resources you have
available
Generic issues to consider when
documenting information and
creating new knowledge
Need to consider general issues before
documenting and creating new knowledge
Types of issues:
Purpose: the reason behind the documentation
Problem: the problem that needs to be addressed
Knowledge gap: additional information that fills
knowledge gap
Audience: the person/people you are writing for
Type of document: type of documentation to be
shared with others
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Five important questions to ask before
documenting information
1. How good and convenient is your internet access?
2. Which information resources do you have access
to?
3. Where will you be able to store information?
4. What are the requirements for submitting
documented information?
5. What are the ethical issue you need follow?
Generic issues to consider when
documenting information and
creating new knowledge (cont.)
Types of issues:
Style and formality: appropriate style of
communication
Document length: restrictions on length, number of
pages and word count
Structure: The way the document should be
structured and what structural components should be
included
Prescribed guidelines: Prescribed guidelines on
content that must be included
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What is an assignment What is an assignment

At tertiary level, there are different forms of
assessments
Tests, practical's, exams and assignments
Assignments offer an opportunity to use variety
of resources to collect information
Assignment reflects your knowledge of a topic,
insight into a problem, ability to formulate your
thoughts and argue your point of view
Should conduct a literature review of the topic
Writing assignments prepares you for other
forms of communication
Assignments gradually increase in complexity
and level of academic writing
Nature of assignments varies between
disciplines and modules

What is the process of writing

assignments and research reports
When you write, your share you knowledge and Process of preparing and writing an assignment:
experiences Analyse the topic
When you write a research report you share Do the required reading
your expertise and discoveries and your Identify aspects to discuss
solutions to problems Search the literature
To be effective any written assignment or Take notes
research report needs to meet with certain Write the assignment
requirements and conventions Submit the assignment

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Analyse the topic Analyse the topic

Aim of writing an assignment or research report Different categories of words:

is to respond to the topic Action words: verbs in the topic that tell you what to
Analysing the topic is one of the most important do
Also called trigger or doing words
steps to write an assignment
Must understand the meaning of the action words
Important to consider the meaning of each word Examples: compare, defend, evaluate
in the topic Context words: words that indicate how the topic is
Different categories of words: demarcated
Words that tell you how to discuss the topic you have
Theme words: words/concepts that reflect the key identified in a specific context
theme Also called limiting or context-specific words
Also known as key, topic, subject words Could be limited to a specific country or a specific group of
Words and concepts that indicate what the topic is about people.

Analyse the topic Do the required reading

Different categories of words: An assignment is based on a study of relevant

Exclusion words: words that indicate the aspects not information sources
include or discuss in your assignment An assignment topic gives guidelines on how to
Examples: do not discuss or do nor include
consult the literature
Specification words: words that include the specifics that you
include in your assignment Two types of reading:
Example: discuss the negative and positive aspects 1. Prescribed reading: sources you must use to
Writing an assignment is an iterative process complete the assignment
Point of departure
Selected with care
Contains information that will help you understand the topic
and plan structure of assignment

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Do the required reading Identifying aspects to discuss

Two types of reading: Use a list to identify aspects

2. Recommended reading: additional information Use a mindmap to identify aspects
sources Can help you decide how to continue your literature
Information may not be sufficient to write a quality
search
assignment
Helps you plan the outline that you will use for writing
the assignment
Should change and adapt your mindmap as you
progress with your assignment

Identifying aspects to discuss

Use your list or mindmap to answer the following

questions
What do I need to know to write the assignment?
What do I already know about the topic?
What do I need to search for?