Here you will learn
How to analyse a topic. 
How to clarify keywords/concepts required by the assignment topics. 
A range of strategies for extending the keywords, concepts you have identified.

The first step in any assignment is to analyse the topic!  To fully understand your topic, you need to spend some time on the following activities:

1. Brainstorm the essay question -
ask Who? What? Where? When? Why? 
2. Clarify what are the keywords/concepts
3. List words that are similar (synonyms)
4. Broaden/narrow the topic 

Examples:

§ Brainstorming
Brainstorming helps you to think about the topic, organise your ideas, explore avenues. Use focus questions such as who, what, where, why, when.

§ Keywords
Keywords are important terms you will use to search databases and catalogues. 

§ What are not keywords?

Directive words in your essay question should not be used in searching. Example: words like 'comment', 'discuss', 'compare'.

To help gain maximum benefits in your searching, you also need to think of alternative keywords. Continue to the next screen to see how this is done.

§ Using alternative keywords and synonyms
Use dictionaries, thesauri and encyclopaedias to find alternative terms.You may like to use Roget's thesaurus online.

§ Using synonyms to broaden or narrow your search.

Thinking of alternative terms for your keywords will also help you broaden or narrow the topic.

§ Broaden the topic
Broaden the topic if your search yields too few results.
The example below illustrates how you can broaden the topic

Aerothermodynamics/ Hypersonics/ Supersonics
Aerodynamics 
Gas Dynamics
Fluid Dynamics
Fluid Mechanics
 

§ Narrow the topic
Narrow the topic if your search yields too many irrelevant results.
For example-
Satellites
Artificical Satellites
Communication Satellites
Aeronautical Satellites
Aerosat Satellites

§ Relate the topics
To find more related result one can search using related topic.
for example:
Aeroelasticity
Aircraft Stability
Attitude Stability
Ballast(Mass)
Buffeting
...
All these are examples of the related terms of AERODYNAMIC STABILITY

§ Using alternative keywords and synonyms
There are 3 concepts or keywords in our example. It's a good idea to write these down and make a list of alternative terms and synonyms. This list will be useful when you search for information. 

§ Using synonyms to broaden or narrow your search.
Thinking of alternative terms for your keywords will also help you broaden or narrow the topic.