* plan your work well in good time
* be clear what your assignment is
* Make sure you have all the resources you need.

Use of libraries

Libraries can help with helpful items to read for your study of Jane Austen at GCSE level. Do remember your school library and your local public library. If you cannot find what you want on the shelves, ask the librarian for help.

The library's catalogue will contain the holdings of the library. It may be arranged by author, as well as classified order (the main number for Jane Austen is 823 AUS). If the catalogue is held on a computer is may be possible to find items by title or keyword.

Your library may offer a request service. This is where, if sufficient items are not available in the library, you can ask the librarian to obtain them from other libraries or the schools library service. Alternatively, the librarian may refer you to a larger library, which may be a reference library. Here you may find a wider range of books, as well as periodicals or magazines and other forms of information.

Choosing and using information

Remember the following helpful information:
* Use the contents and index pages to help you find your way around the book
* Select information which tells you what you need to know and reject anything which isn't relevant
* Use headings or keywords to organise the information
* Use your own words
* Make a list of authors and titles you have used. This is your bibliography. It goes at the end of your project or essay.
* Keep your notes together. Don't lose them.
Finally, remember your work should show:
*originality - it should be your own work, not just copied from books.
*Excitement - it should be interesting, lively and well thought-out.
*Variety - it should have lots of ideas and information collected in various ways
* Clarity - it should be easy to read and attractively presented.
* Self-assessment and evaluation. The conclusion of your essay or project should explain what you have found out.
* Effort. It should demonstrate that you have really thought about what you have done and taken trouble over it.

(* Information in this section is reproduced from the Project Planner issued by Norfolk County Council Library and Information Service.)