Information Literacy - Getting Started

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. These web pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability. The Getting Started page has links to some of our tutorials including effective note taking, and using StarPlus, the library catalogue.

Christmas Vacation 2015

If you’re away from Sheffield for the Christmas Vacation remember that the Library can offer support to students in various ways:

• The Information Skills Resource features helpful tutorials on literature searching, referencing, plagiarism and more

• If you have a question about the Library, take a look at Library Connect, a database of frequently asked questions

• If you’re having trouble accessing electronic resources check the eResources service status page

• For further help you can contact the Library HelpDesk in the following ways:

        Email: library@sheffield.ac.uk
        Phone: 0114 222 7200
       
      
(Please note that the HelpDesk will not be staffed during Christmas closure days: Friday 25 December to Sunday 3 January inclusive)

Merry Christmas!  

Plagiarism and referencing

“Plagiarism (either intentional or unintentional) is the using of ideas or work of another person (including experts and fellow or former students) and submitting them as your own. It is considered dishonest and unprofessional. Plagiarism may take the form of cutting and pasting, taking or closely paraphrasing ideas, passages, sections, sentences, paragraphs, drawings, graphs and other graphical material from books, articles, internet sites or any other source and submitting them for assessment without appropriate acknowledgement.” University of Sheffield, 2013

Plagiarism is an important issue that all students are expected to take seriously; failure to do so can have huge implications and could even lead to expulsion. It is important to remember that plagiarism is still an offence whether it was intended or not, and that ignorance is no excuse.

Online tutorials and further information

·         To help you dodge the pitfalls, the library provides a Plagiarism tutorial

·         Additional advice is also provided by The Academic Skills Hub (TASH): Avoiding plagiarism

·         Student services offer information regarding plagiarism in assessments

·         Knowing how to reference correctly can help you to avoid plagiarism. Use our online Referencing tutorials to learn how to reference correctly in the style used by your department.

Information Skills Workshop on plagiarism & referencing

Information skills workshops are delivered in The Diamond. Workshops are open to taught course students from all departments. In the Plagiarism & Referencing workshop you will explore what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. You will consider the purpose of referencing and ways to ensure correct, consistent referencing.

For further information, and to book your place on a workshop, please see: Information Skills Workshops

Referencing

Correct referencing is not only an essential component of academic writing, but will also help you to avoid plagiarism. Learn how to reference correctly in the style used by your department. Use our referencing tutorials available from the Information Skills Resource.

Information literacy - research skills

Find out how information literacy can help you with conducting research. This research skills page includes links to useful tutorials on writing a literature review, searching databases and organising references.

Referencing

Correct referencing is not only an essential component of academic writing, but will also help you to avoid plagiarism. Learn how to reference correctly in the style used by your department. Use our referencing tutorials available from the Information Skills Resource.

Information literacy- writing assignments

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. These web pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability.

The Writing assignments page links to useful tutorials on searching for information, evaluating information, referencing, and plagiarism.

Christmas Vacation 2014

If you’re away from Sheffield for the Christmas Vacation remember that the Library can offer support to students in various ways:

• The Information Skills Resource features valuable tutorials on literature searching, referencing, plagiarism and more

• If you need to contact the Library email the HelpDesk: library@sheffield.ac.uk (Please note that the HelpDesk will not be staffed during Christmas closure days: Thursday 25 December to Thursday 1 January inclusive)

• If you’re having trouble accessing electronic resources check the eResources Service Status page

Merry Christmas, see you in January!  

Referencing

Correct referencing is not only an essential component of academic writing, but will also help you to avoid plagiarism. Learn how to reference correctly in the style used by your department. Use our referencing tutorials available from the Information Skills Resource.

Plagiarism

“Plagiarism (either intentional or unintentional) is the using of ideas or work of another person (including experts and fellow or former students) and submitting them as your own. It is considered dishonest and unprofessional. Plagiarism may take the form of cutting and pasting, taking or closely paraphrasing ideas, passages, sections, sentences, paragraphs, drawings, graphs and other graphical material from books, articles, internet sites or any other source and submitting them for assessment without appropriate acknowledgement.” University of Sheffield, 2013

Plagiarism is an important topic that all students are expected to take seriously.

Consult the library’s Information Skills Tutorial on plagiarism to learn how to avoid it.

Student services also offer information regarding plagiarism in assessments.

Referencing

Reference correctly in the style used by your department. Use our referencing tutorials available from the Information Skills Resource.

Literature Review Help

Creating your first literature review can be a complex process requiring a number of skills. It involves identifying, evaluating and synthesising previous research in your field of study. Structured around research ideas, its purpose is to set the research scene by highlighting the main arguments and identifying gaps or shortcomings which need to be addressed with further research.

For help with writing your literature review take a look at the Library’s online tutorial: Producing a literature review. This tutorial will guide you through the process of writing a literature review in 7 steps. It also suggests sources of further advice about specific skills and provides recommended reading. You can also try the Literature review ice breaker quiz to find out what you already know about the content, purpose, and process of writing a literature review.

Information Literacy - Getting Started

Find out how information literacy can help you with writing assignments and conducting research. The Library's Information literacy web pages are split into useful sections to support you at different stages: Getting started, Writing assignments, Research skills, and Employability.

The Getting Started page has links to some of our tutorials on effective note taking, understanding your reading list and using StarPlus, the library catalogue. There is also a short video that explains what your subject librarian can do for you.