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Frequently
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) This page contains questions that students frequently ask us about topics such as using libraries, gathering information, writing assignments and using the internet. Browse through the list and if your question is not answered why not submit it to the Virtual Librarian. You will receive an answer promptly. Ask us ?How do I write or compile a bibliography? ?I've been given this assignment. How do I find information to write it? ?How do I use the library catalogue? ?How do I obtain the book I need? ? I've found the book I need. How do I borrow it? ?Where do I find hospitality or tourism statistics? ? What are chat rooms, discussion lists and discussion forums?
?How do I write or compile a bibliography? A bibliography or reference list must be included at the end of your assignment where you have referred to other sources of information in the preparation of your paper. Click here for examples of the correct style for different mediums.
?I've been given this assignment. How do I find information to write it? There are three stages to completing an assignment - 1) Define your topic
Tip! Let's look at how you might tackle that assignment - "Discuss current trends in the hospitality industry in Australia". If you decide to write your assignment on one or two trends you need to explain that in your introduction. Identify which trend or trends you will concentrate on. For example, hotel accommodation. This is still a large research project, so which aspects of hotel accommodation will you write about? Some possible examples,
You then need to define the terms. What do you understand "cultural diversity" to mean in the context of this assignment? You may need to consider the special requirements that tourists from different backgrounds have, for example, religious requirements, hotels with prayer rooms, and so on. Once you have decided on the scope of your assignment, have defined and have a clear understanding of your terms, you can then start researching it.
2. Research Some of the best sources of current information follow. Tip!
Wacsearch is a web-based comprehensive database which indexes journals relevant to the tourism, hospitality and foods industries. Simple to use, you just type in keywords that describe your topic and the results will be displayed in a list of citations and abstracts. Over 300 journals are scanned for Wacsearch with articles dating back to 1987. Wacsearch can be accessed at http://www.wacsearch.angliss.vic.edu.au Tapestry is a full-text, web-based journal database which can be searched by subject, keyword or author. Tapestry provides access to 100 specially selected journals in the areas of hospitality, travel, tourism and leisure research, management, computing, foods industries and others. The address to access the William Angliss Tapestry database is http://www.infotrac-custom.com/itcustom/w_angliss
Alternatively two web sites that offer statistical information are - Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Surveying & Land Information Group - maps and geophysical data Australian Commonwealth Government Current data relating to countries can be found in the latest Lonely Planet travel guides, their web site - http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/ The following two books are also good sources of current facts and figures - World Guide 1999/2000. New Internationalist Publications, Oxford, c1999. World Travel Guide. Latest ed. Columbus Press, London, c1998.
It is important for students to present carefully prepared written work. Written presentation in industry must be professional in appearance and accurate in content. If students develop good writing skills whilst studying they are able to easily transfer those skills to the workplace.
Style Students should write in a style that is simple and concise. Short sentences and paragraphs are easier to read and understand. Active sentences where the verb is placed at the beginning of the sentence have more impact. For instance:
It helps to write a plan and at least one draft of the written work so that the final product will be well organised. The points presented will then follow a logical sequence and be relevant. Students should constantly refer to the question asked to keep 'on track'. Teachers recognise and are critical of work which does not answer the question, or is 'padded' with irrelevant material. In summary remember to:
Types of written work You may be asked to write:
Setting out All written work should be presented on A4 paper. Only one side of the page should be used and a left margin should be included. If work is wordprocessed, one and a half or double spacing should be used. Handwritten work must be legible and should also be well-spaced to allow for ease of reading. New paragraphs should not be indented but should be separated by a space. Pages must be numbered. If headings are also to be numbered, students should use a logical and sequential system of numbering. Coversheet All written work should be submitted with a cover sheet stapled to the front that contains:
Keeping a copy Students must keep a copy of written work in case an assignment is lost. This rarely happens but it can be disastrous if a copy hasn't been kept. Inclusive language This means language that includes every section of the population. For instance, if we were to write, "A nurse is responsible for the patients in her care at all times," we would be implying that all nurses are female and we would be excluding male nurses. Examples of appropriate language are shown on the right:
Report Writing-Types of report There are two main types of reports that students might be asked to write: Information reports Information reports require the writer to present facts that they have researched or record observations made. This type of report does not require any evaluation of the data presented. Analytical reports Analytical reports are also researched. The difference is that in this report the writer is required to draw conclusions about the material presented and make recommendations for action based on the findings of the report. Sections of the report The report contains the following sections in this order: Title page - contains the title of the report, date, writer's name, and teacher's name. Synopsis or summary - this is an overview of the whole report including the recommendations. The reader should have a brief idea of what the whole report is about after reading this summary.
Writing the report Four stages must be followed for a report to be completed satisfactorily. Research The first stage is to clearly define what the report needs to achieve. In other words, the writer must be sure to clearly understand what it is the report is about. During this stage the writer gathers material from various sources such as libraries and through interviews and visits. Notes must be kept so that sources can be acknowledged in the bibliography of the report.
Sorting information and planning order The information gathered needs to be sifted and only relevant information included. Then points need to be ordered with the most important being presented first. Writing an outline of the report will help shape the information into the most logical order. Writing stage The style of writing used in a report is impersonal; personal pronouns should be avoided. For instance the writer would write:
Reports must be impersonal because they are objective documents prepared through research and analysis. Editing stage The writer ensures that the report flows logically and that the information is presented clearly. It is important to check for spelling and grammatical errors before the final draft is produced. Sometimes writers miss errors in their own work so they have someone else proof their work before handing in the final draft. Further information about report writing is available from teachers in the Communications Team or from the Style Manual 5th Edition (AGPS 1997) which is available in the Library. Copyright law prohibits the plagiarism of somebody else's work so don't forget to acknowledge their intellectual property and rights in your bibliography
Tip! If you would like more assistance on researching and writing your assignment the following sources are excellent
?How do I use the library catalogue? Whilst most computerised library catalogues use similar searching alternatives the screens can look quite different. Don’t panic about this as there is always help at hand if you get stuck. Previously you looked at the various search options that are available to you so regardless of which library's catalogue you are using you can apply the same principles. For the best retrieval results remember that unless you know a specific author's name, or recall the exact title of a resource then the easiest option to use is keyword.
Tip! Think of similar words to describe your topic and try searching for those if your first option doesn't work. For example, your topic is "examine employment opportunities for women in the travel industry" The key words are - employment, women and travel. A selection of your alternative words could include -
Remember to try both American and English spelling of the same word as well. For example, labor/labour; encyclopedia/encyclopaedia; computerized/computerised; catalog/catalogue. Once you have found the resource you need on the catalogue and established that it is available, write down its call number or classification number so that you can retrieve it from the shelves or arrange for it to be delivered to you. Many of the libraries you may be familiar with use the Dewey Decimal Classification system. This is a system for arranging all books, videos and journals on the shelves by subject. Each item on the same subject is then further broken down by the addition of three letters after the numerical classification system. These are usually the first three letters of the author's surname or the first three letters of the title. Resources with the same classification number are shelved alphabetically by these letters. For example, 658.45 BEI is shelved before 658.45 DWY. Once you understand the classification system, you should be able to find the resources on the shelves.
Boolean searching involves the use of three words, known as Boolean Logic Operators - "and", "or" and "not". These can be used to refine your search and ensure more relevant results. Once you understand the concept you will find that it is an extremely useful way of searching. The concept of using Boolean operators works equally well in searching a library catalogue or searching the internet. Some search engines have a default parameter "or" set, whilst others use "and" as a default. You will need to experiment with your favourite search engine to see what it uses. Boolean operators are often illustrated using circles called Venn Diagrams as the following examples show -
?How do I obtain the book I need? There are a number of ways you can obtain the book you need. The most convenient way is to check if your training organisation library has a copy of it you can borrow. Log into the library's catalogue do a "keyword" search and see if the library holds a copy.
Tip! Don't forget, you may be able to place a request against the title if it is on loan. Your local public library may also have the book you require. Tertiary students often overlook the local public library as a source of information, but you may be surprised at what it can offer you. If you are not sure which is your closest library try connecting to the Australian Libraries Gateway This site, developed by the National Library of Australia, allows you to locate libraries situated close to you. It provides their address, phone number, services offered and opening hours. Many of them allow you to access their catalogue, which enables you to search for the book you require without moving away from your computer.
Tip! If you are connected to this online library from within Victoria you may be eligible to join the CAVAL (Cooperative Action by Victorian Academic Libraries) reciprocal borrowing scheme. A CAVAL card gives you borrowing rights at participating academic libraries. Contact your training organisation library to find out if it is a participant in the scheme and to obtain your CAVAL card. However if you would prefer to buy a copy of the book, the following bookshops or booksellers offer secure online purchasing
? I've found the book I need. How do I borrow it? Easy. You must be registered as a library user and have a current library card. Your training organisation library probably uses your student identification card as a library card. Different libraries have different access conditions and opening hours. Ask at your training organisation library if they run library orientation sessions or have a student guide so that you can become familiar with the rules. For an overview of your library's lending policy please contact your library. William Angliss ONLY. William Angliss students may borrow up to 5 items at any one time and extend them twice. Most items can be borrowed for 1 or 2 weeks. Fiction books can be borrowed for 1 month. Some items such as Magazines, Videocassettes, Reference items, Equipment, Counter Reserve items and Specialist Collections are NOT FOR LOAN. Students need a current student card to borrow books or use library facilities.
?Where do I find hospitality or tourism statistics? In researching hospitality and tourism topics you are often required to provide up-to-date statistics, or make comparative evaluations between historical and current data. World wide web sites that specialise in statistical information are invaluable for this type of assignment. The following Australian sites might prove useful - Australian Bureau of Statistics Industry Science Resources - Office of National Tourism
? I know how to use the Internet but only for e-mail and chat. Can you show me how to use it more effectively? The Internet is arguably one of the greatest sources of information available to us as it puts a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips. The Internet can also be frustrating if you don’t have the right skills to locate that information effectively. One of the first things you can do is check whether your training organisation library or local public library conduct Internet training sessions. If they do, book yourself into one. Hands-on training sessions are an excellent way to further develop your skills. Another great way to improve your understanding of the Internet and enhance your searching ability is to work through an online self-paced tutorial. Useful and easily navigated tutorials can be found at the University of California, Berkeley site and at Bond University Library's site If you already have a good understanding of how the internet works, but you would like to know more, try the ICYou glossary developed by Ithaca College Library Reference Department .
? What are chat rooms, discussion lists and discussion forums? Chat rooms, often referred to as online forums using IRC (Internet Relay Chat) protocol, are places on the Web where people can converse in groups or in private chat rooms. Chat rooms are set up for people with similar interests to “meet” and “talk” in real-time. Chat rooms, on just about any topic you can think of, can be accessed via search engines. One of the most popular is found via Yahoo . As well as being places to meet new friends with similar interests, many companies hold IRC sessions giving people all around the world the chance to ask questions about products or services. Be aware that in educational libraries, where computing facilities are limited, chat usually has a very low priority. Please check with your training organisation’s policy if you are using their equipment.
Tip! Remember the saying about "on the internet nobody knows you are a dog". Strangers in chat rooms may not be who they pretend to be. Pretending is half the fun but be careful with personal details. Discussion lists, also called Mailing lists, require you to subscribe to a particular list or lists that interest you. The lists themselves have an e-mail address and virtually anything that is sent to that address is sent to all subscribers on the list whether you want it or not. As subscribers respond to messages, a running conversation develops. There are a great many mailing lists on the Internet and it might be a good idea to subscribe to one or two that interest you.
Tip! There is a list that hosts tourism discussions with participants from around the globe. As an example, if you wanted to get onto that list you would do the following: SUB TRAVEL-L joe_bloggs@mysite.com.au/ SUB is an abbreviation for subscribe, TRAVEL-L is the name of the list and Joe Bloggs should be your e-mail address. Some lists don’t require you to enter your name as they pull it straight off your e-mail. A word of caution - if you subscribe to too many mailing lists you will find you mailbox filling rapidly. Discussion forums or Newsgroups are similar to mailing lists in that you subscribe to a newsgroup or groups that interest you. However they differ in that the post stays on the newsgroup server and if you want access to it, to read and respond you must go to the newsgroup site to retrieve your messages. Essentially mailing lists push information onto you and with newsgroups you have to pull the information off the newsgroup server.
If your question wasn't listed, Please submit it here. The Virtual Librarian will respond to your query promptly.
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