Syllabus

Introduction to Library Research, LAS I 170 Section 08482

Fall Semester, 1 hour credit

September 6 – November 1, 2005; 12:30 – 1:50 PM on Tuesdays

Room 217 Ablah Library, Wichita State University

 

Instructor:


Angela Paul, Business Librarian

 

Phone: 978-5081

angela.paul@wichita.edu

 

WSU Library Web Page Address:          http://library.wichita.edu/

 

Course Objectives

 

¨      To familiarize students with the WSU Libraries’ print and electronic resources.

¨      To help students through the research process up to the point of writing a finished paper.

¨      To enable students to apply these research skills in other settings. This contributes to information literacy, technology literacy, and lifelong learning.

 

Assignments

 

Weekly assignments will be the product of each step in the research process, up to the point of a final paper. If you have a research paper to write for another class, it is recommended that you use that topic as you research and locate information during this class. It is recommended you keep weekly assignments on a storage device as explained below.

 

A portfolio of citations should consist of at least 2 books, 2 newspaper articles, 2 magazines, 2 peer-reviewed journals, and 2 internet sites, as well as an outline and bibliography page that could be used to create a final paper. This will be provided to the instructors and presented to the class on the final day. The portfolio should be both hardcopy (paper) and electronic. Because an electronic format of the portfolio is required, students should have an electronic storage device, such as a floppy disk, zip disk, flash drive, or personal laptop (with wireless connection).

 

Class participation will count toward your grade. Points will be awarded for participation in class discussions and use of time during class researching your selected topic. These points will be part of your overall grade for the class (see the Grading Policy below).

 

Course Schedule

 

Week 1

·        Review syllabus and important library services.

·        Library tour (start at 1:15).

·        Lesson: describe the research cycle.

Assignment #1: Choose a research topic. Search the Library Catalog for your topic; bring electronic copy of searches.

 

Week 2

·        Discussion topic: What is your research topic?

·        Lesson: search the library catalog.

Assignment #2: Refine your research topic and search the Library Catalog for your topic; bring electronic copy of searches.

 

Week 3

·        Discussion Topic: Why are there problems identifying subject terms and keyword phrases?

·        Lesson: using Boolean logic; developing a thesis statement or question.

Assignment #3: Create personal accounts in 2 different databases to keep track of your searches.

           

Week 4

·        Discussion: Which database was easier to set up?

·        Lesson: Finding magazine, journal and newspaper citations.

Assignment #4:      Search at least 2 different databases for your topic; bring electronic copies of searches.

 

Week 5

·        Discussion: What problems did you have searching and retrieving searches from databases?

·        Lesson: Locating items once you have the citation.

Assignment #5: Create an outline that you would use to create your research paper.

 

Week 6

·        Discussion: share your outline in a digital format. Transfer the format to another format.

·        Lesson: transferring digital formats; finding reliable sources on the Internet.

Assignment #6: Locate at least 2 different reliable internet sources related to your topic.
           
Week 7

·        Discussion: How can you tell the reliability of an internet site?

·        Lesson: writing a bibliography page

Assignment #7: Portfolio. See above under Assignments for requirements.

 

Week 8 – April 12

·        Discussion: What have you learned about the research process?

·        Lesson: Share your portfolio with the class.

 

 

Grading Policy

A total of three-hundred (300) points are available. There will be seven (7) assignments. Assignments are due at the beginning of the following class period. There will be no final exam.  Points are assigned as follows:

 

            Six (6) weekly assignments                         20 points each =       120 points

            Class participation (8 classes)                    15 points/class session =    120 points

            Portfolio                                                                                                            60 points                 

            Total points                                                                                                  300 points

 

Grading Scale:

                        280 - 300 points                    A

                        260 - 279 points                    B

                        240 - 259 points                    C

                        220 - 239 points                    D

                        Below 220 points                  F

 

Office of Disability Services

The Office of Disability Services (Room 173B Grace Wilkie Annex) can provide assistance to students with special needs. Some of the services offered include escorting, sign language interpreting, and note taking. Contact the Office of Disability Services at 978-3309, or see their web page at http://webs.wichita.edu/disserv/text/text.html for more information.

 

Drop/withdraw

The last day to drop this class and receive a full refund is September 9, 2005. The last day to withdraw from this class and receive a W is September 19, 2005.

 Words to know

Ablah Library – only one of the 3 libraries at WSU.

 

Boolean operators – words and symbols used by a database to alter the meaning of search terms and phrases. For example, the phrase japan? AND art will cause the database to search for the words Japan, Japanese, and art, but not necessarily as a phrase. Using quotations, i.e. “japan? Art” will cause the database to search for both Japan art and Japanese art as a phrase.

 

Chemistry Library - also known as the McKinley Chemistry Library. Located on the first floor of McKinley Hall; phone 978-3764. http://library.wichita.edu/science/Chemistry/chemlib.html

 

Government Documents – Ablah Library became a federal depository Library in 1901. http://library.wichita.edu/govdoc/

 

Intranet – a local network. Not only can you find printers in the library because the computers here are on the intranet, but our databases are accessible differently if you are not on the intranet. Your Shocker card ID number and password are required to access databases when you are not on campus.

 

Library Catalog - also known as the Online Catalog or OPAC (Online Patron-Access Catalog).

 

Music Library – also known as the Thurlow Lieurance Memorial Music Library. Items in the collection include performance scores and sound recordings. Located at C116 duerksen Fine Arts Center; phone: 978-3029. http://library.wichita.edu/music/mindex.html

 

Patent and Trademark Depository Library – Ablah Library became a Patent and Trademark Depository Library in 1991. http://library.wichita.edu/govdoc/patents.html

 

Special Collections – located in the Lower Level of the Ablah Library. Some of the collection may be accessed through the Library Catalog, but many items must be located through their own database or through direct inquiry. Phone: 978-3590 http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/

 

The Research Process

Stripling and Pitt’s model:

Select a broad topic

Obtain an overview of the topic

Narrow the topic

Create a thesis statement

Formulate research questions

Develop a research plan

Locate and evaluate information sources

Evaluate sources, take notes, and create a bibliography

Draw conclusions, create an outline

Create the product or write the paper

 

Irving’s 9-Step model:

Defining tasks

Considering sources

Finding resources

Making selections

Effective use

Making records

Making sense

Presenting work

Assessing progress

 

Big Six model:

Task definition

Information seeking strategies

Location and access

Use of information

Synthesis

Evaluation

Recommended Reading

The materials listed below are available in the library as indicated with each title.  These books provide useful information about using a library, the research process, and creating a research project. Although no reading is required for this class, you may find these books useful resources.

 

Badke, William B. Research Strategies: Finding Your Way through the Information Fog. San Jose: Writers Club Press, 2000. (Call Number: Z 710 .B23 2000; in Reserves)

 

Badke, William B.  Survivor’s Guide to Library Research.  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1990.  (Call Number: Z 710 .B23 1990; in Reserves)

 

Ballenger, Bruce.  The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers.  Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 1998.  (Call Number: LB 2369 .B246 1998; in Reserves)

 

Bolner, Myrtle S., Doris B. Dantin and Ruth C. Murray.  Library Research Skills Handbook.  Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., 1991.  (Call Number: Z 710 .B64 1991; in Reserves)

 

Brown, Barbara J.  The Good Detective’s Guide to Library Research.  New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1995.  (Call Number: Z 710 .B875 1995; in Reserves)

 

Burkle-Young, Francis A. and Saundra Rose Maley.  Research Guide for the Digital Age.  Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1997. (Call Number: LB 2369 .B78 1997; in Reserves)

 

Dees, Robert.  Writing the Modern Research Paper.  Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 1997.  (Call Number: LB 2369 .D44 1997; in Reserves)

 

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2003. (PE1478 .M57 2003; in Quick Reference)

 

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. (BF76.7 .A46; in Quick Reference)

 

Quaratiello, Arlene Rodda.  College Student’s Research Companion. 2nd Ed. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2000.  (Call Number: Z 710 .Q37 2000; in Reserves)