COIT12168 Course Guide
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This guide will provide you with information on finding additional resources to assist you with your assessment items for COIS12168.
Both assessment items deal with creating reports. A feasibility report for assessment item 1 and a software Requirements Document (SRD) for assessment item 2.
Your lecturer has requested this guide to provide assistance in finding resources that detail the contents of these reports. As well as examples of both types of reports.
- Finding definitions of reports
- Finding definitions of reports on the Web
- Find what needs to be in the reports:
- Finding examples of reports
Defining your search
Before you can start searching, you need to work out exactly what it is you are searching for. Just because your assessment item mentions a feasibility report doesn't mean it is the best, or only term to search with.
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some alternatives for 'feasibility report' 'feasibility study' |
This is clearly demonstrated in your second assessment item when a Software Requirements Document, is also referred to as a Software Requirements Specification and also a software system analysis and specification report. Not to mention the various acronyms that may apply.
When searching for information, you will need to keep in mind the possibility of alternative search terms. You also need to be aware of related keywords which can be used as search terms.
Search terms are easier to generate if you are familiar with the background of your topic area. This can come from your lectures, class readings and text book. The more aware you are of your field, the better you will be able to come up with related topics.
For example, your course deals with systems analysis. Systems Analysis can be used as a search term.
Your class readings, lectures and textbook are one source for additional background information. You may also like to consult reference materials through the Library Web Reference Sources pages.
Definitions on the Web
Given the IT nature of your course, it is not surprising that the web is useful source for background resources.
It is important to remember that anyone can publish on the web. You should always be aware of the source of your material.
Finding definitions using Google
Google search comes with some advanced operators which can be used at this point. One such operator is Define:. Google uses this operator to find definitions on the web.
For example, if the following search is entered
into Google,
the following information is returned:
This one result can provide some useful information. First is obviously the definition itself. Secondly we now know that the acronym SRD can be used. Finally we now have a website which we can examine for useful information.
Finding definitions with Wikipedia
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Wikipedia is an open encyclopedia that anyone can add to. It should be strongly pointed out that Wikipedia is NOT an academic resource. Due to its open nature you should never implicitly trust the information on Wikipedia.
Instead, use Wikipedia as a starting point to gain some background knowledge. If you find something you wish to use, be sure to back it up by verifying the information through other, more academic sources.
From Wikipedia, do a search for feasibility
report. Note that you are redirected to feasibility study.
Another clue for alternative keywords.
Find what needs to be
in the report using:
the Library Catalogue
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Now that you know what it is you are searching for, you can start the actual searching.
Our first task is to find information on what needs to be included in our reports.
For this we are going to start with the Library Catalogue to search for books.
The type of search we are going to use is a
keyword search.
For students on the international campuses, you
can elect to search by your campus. This is will take you to a keyword
search which limits the results to your location.
We are going to start with a broad search and then narrow it down.
We will start by performing a search for the
search term Software Requirements.
If you scan through the results, you will notice
a lot of unrelated hits, eg PhotoShop. We need to narrow the search.
Previously we looked at using related terms. The subject area you are
currently studying involves systems analysis. So lets try adding
"Systems Analysis" as a search term.
At this point you should start entering your own search terms. Try to use other related search terms like "report writing", "technical writing" and "technical communication"
Find what needs to be
in the report using::
the Web
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Let's return to searching the web. One of the advantages of Google is you can be a little more free in our search terms.
Try this search in Google for example
As shown, there are plenty of results to choose from, possibly too many. How do you know which resources are reliable? Don't forget, anyone can publish to the web.
Try using the Google Operator site: to restrict which domains Google searches.
For example, the search below
will restrict your search to educational facilities in Australia.
You may notice that a lot of the results are business related. You may wish to include some additional keywords to focus the results more onto systems analysis.
Google searches can be quite advanced.
For example:
~guide +"feasibility (study OR report OR analysis)" site:.edu
Refer to http://www.google.com/help/refinesearch.html
Finding exampless
So far we have concentrated on finding information about the content of feasibility reports and SRD's. When it comes to finding examples it is the same process, but you need to change focus.
Changing focus is as simple as modifying the searches you have done so far. You may want to include keywords like "example" or "case study".
You may also change where you are looking. If you know of a company which is likely to produce the kinds of reports you are after, try searching only their domains using Googles site: operator.
For example, the following will restrict the
results to all Microsoft domains that end in microsoft.com.
