Derived and assigned indexing

Due: June 24 @ 5PM via Blackboard

Purpose:

To give you experience in the three major types of indexing: derived, uncontrolled; assigned, uncontrolled; and assigned from a controlled vocabulary and their relations to the subject indexing process.

Directions:

Step 1 — Document Analysis

Analyze the attached article (as either image or text file) to establish its subject matter. You may use whatever approach or method you choose to as long as you describe and justify the approach or method. Do not write down the subject of the article at this point -- only the approach or method you use to establish the subject matter of the document.

Step 2 — Subject Description

Write a subject description of the article’s subject matter. 2-3 sentences should be enough. (Do not change the subject description as you work through 3, 4, and 5.)

Step 3 — Subject Analysis

Translate the subject description into indexing terms using three different methods:

1. Derive terms from the article that you think best represent the subject of the article. The terms must be present in the article. Limit the number of indexing terms to 5 and provide the reasons why you chose that particular set of terms.
   
2. Assign terms to the article that you think best represent the subject of the article. The terms could be present in the article or you could come up with terms that you feel cover the subject better. Limit the number of indexing terms to 5 and provide the reasons why you chose that particular set of terms.
   
3. Assign terms from the ERIC thesaurus to the article that you think best represent the subject of the article. Limit the number of indexing terms to 5 and provide the reasons why you chose that particular set of terms. There are several copies of the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors in XXXXXX. Be sure to use the descriptors & not the cross-references! The online version of the Thesaurus is available in the UT Libraries databases — just click on the ERIC database and then the Thesaurus button.

Discussion and analysis

Compare and contrast the terms you chose in Step 3: a, b, and c to the subject description you wrote in step 2 and to your document analysis in 1 by addressing issues such as how well each of the three methods in step 3 cover the subject matter you established in step 2; how well do the each of the three methods express the subject matter; and do each of the methods stress particular parts of the subject matter.

Discuss which indexing language expresses the subject matter best and which indexing language provides the best access to the article for what intended audience.

NOTE: The discussion and analysis should be no less than 500 words and no more than 1000 words long.

You will be graded according to the discussion and analysis' clarity, organization, depth, clarity of evaluative and analytic comments, and the demonstrated understanding of the issues involved in the subject indexing process and the extent to which readings are incorporated in the discussion and analysis.