LRC 103: Internet Research Strategies



Information Literacy COM 110- C and F

Syllabus

Spring 2011

Class meets: Monday and Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.

Classroom: KAC 203

Instructor: Alexandra Rojas

Office Hours: By appointment

Telephone: 718-482-6020

E-mail: wiki30@

Course Description and Goals

In this course students will reflect on the nature of information itself, how to determine what information is required to solve a specific problem, how to obtain that information efficiently from a variety of print and digital sources, how to judge the value of various sources, and how to ethically use that information.

Upon completion of COM 110-, you should be able to:

1. demonstrate understanding of the research process by defining and articulating a research need;

2. evaluate information based on accuracy, timeliness, authority, objectivity, and appropriateness to the research need;

3. formulate and modify a search strategy using keywords, synonyms, Boolean searching, and phrase searching;

4. identify the value of and differences between a variety of information formats;

5. locate information related to the research need using a variety of online tools, such as Internet search engines, electronic periodical databases, and the online library catalog;

6. practice ethical behavior in regard to information use

Course Textbook

Badke, William. Research Strategies. 3rd edition. Lincoln, NE: iuniverse, 2008.

Required Readings posted to COM110 blog weekly:

Grading policy

Assignments: 25%

Class participation: 25%

Final: 50%

All assignments should be turned in or posted by the due date.

Attendance in class is mandatory. This means you are expected to attend ALL classes. If you have two or more absences you will fail the class. If you must miss a class, you are responsible for the material covered while you were absent. I will be available to help you make up the work but you must take the responsibility for making an appointment with me for that purpose, at a time convenient for both of us.

Academic Integrity: All Students are expected to comply with Concordia College’s Academic Integrity Policy. (See Student Guide). Violations of the college’s policy are very serious and documentation will be forwarded to the Dean of Students office, where records are kept until a student graduates or withdraws from the college. Violations of this policy may result in a failing grade for this course.

COURSE OUTLINE (Subject to change)

OVERVIEW (Weeks 1-8)

Week 1: Introduction and Administer Blackboard online quiz (pre-test)

What is information and how do I access it? What is academic research?

Badke

Preface

Chapters:

1 Welcome to the Information Fog

2 Taking Charge

Week 2: Databases, and the “Search”

What is a database? How can I search effectively? What is controlled vocabulary? What is Boolean Logic?

Badke Chapters:

3Database Searching with Keywords and Hierarchies

4 Metadata and the Power of Controlled Vocabularies

5 Library Catalogs and Journal Databases

Week 3: Internet Research

How does Google work? What is Google Scholar? What is Google Books?

Badke Read Chapter 6 (RE-READ BADKE p. 78 “Pay vs. Open Access”)

Handout: “Google is Born” (posted to COM110 Blog)

Handout: NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE: Google and scanning books (posted to COM110 Blog)

Week 4: Plagiarism, Citations, and Intellectual Property:

Why do you cite? How do you cite? What’s in the public domain?

Badke Read Chapter 8.5 p, 149-152: Gentle Warning about the Horrible Crime of Plagiarism.

Handout: International Journal on ELearning: University Student Online Plagiarism

(posted to COM110 Blog)

Handout: Google, YouTube, Copyright, and Privacy. (posted to COM110 Blog) Administration of Diana Hacker Plagiarism Online Quiz

Week 5: The Wild World of Wikis and the Concept of Authority, Accuracy, and Reliability. How do I evaluate web sites? What is a wiki? Who creates information? Is this an appropriate resource?

Badke Re-Read 6.8 Evaluating Information from the Internet and 8.2 Evaluation of Research Resources

Handout: The New American: Raines falls from Times (posted to COM110 Blog)

Handout: Preventing a Second Jayson Blair; [Op-Ed] (posted to COM110 Blog)

Week 6: Starting Your Research and Creating Your Research Question or Thesis

Developing thesis statements, Using Wikipedia and encyclopedias to enhance vocabulary and understand key concepts.

Review blog links associated with week 7

Administration of Diana Hacker Thesis Online Quiz

Week 7: The Dark Side of the Internet and Information Dissemination

Follow directions on COM110 blog as regards to: Cyberbullying

Handout: Before a Suicide, Hints in Online Musings

Handout: Legal Debate Swirls over Charges in a Student’s Suicide

Handout: Bullying, Suicide, Punishment

Handout: After a Suicide, Questions About Promoting Privacy on Campus

Week 8: Administer Blackboard post-test and Project SAILS in class

The Final:

Conduct research following the 2 examples in Badke: 7.8.1 and 7.8.2. You certainly can use a research topic from another class.

Define your topic.

Create a research question or thesis

List the preliminary resources you used to gain a “working knowledge” of your topic (encyclopedia and the Free Internet, etc.)

Conduct a Topic Analysis

List the books you located in the library catalog and the search terms you used.

List the databases you used along with six relevant citations you retrieved (Search at least 3 databases and use MLA format for your citations).

Summarize the research experience (e.g. difficulties you had? what worked? how did you narrow your topic? etc.)

ALSO SEE blog LINK TO FINAL STRUCTURE

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