This article should be read several times, to get a good overview. The section on Automatic Indexing Theory and Practice only need be skimmed now, but should be studied more later in the course. Make use of the hints Salton gives regarding what works well for search formulations, in building your queries for VTLS.
Note that this article is essentially a response to the earlier CACM Blair and Maron paper [1], and argues for the values of automatic IS&Rmethods.