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LR200
- Library Research Methods
Prerequisites
: None
5 Units
- Objectives of this course:
This course will cover the
different steps in library research methods via
the world wide web. It will provide the necessary
research tools for students who are just starting
to write research papers and need to learn how to
conduct research online and in libraries.
Moreover, it will also help students who have done
research in libraries but need to learn how to do
online research and those students who have began
surfing online but need to use the Web as a major
research tool.
- TEXTBOOK: Dawn and Raymond J. Rodrigues, The
Research Paper and the World
Wide Web (second edition),
Prentice Hall Inc., New Jersey, 2000.
- Teaching Methods:
Self-paced
distance learning assisted by teleconferencing and
electronic communication with instructor. You have
the opportunity and challenge of setting your own
rate of progress. The obvious advantage is that
you are not following someone else’s class
schedule. The disadvantage is that you must be
self-motivated. You are free to consult any other
textbook for further research. We will help you
monitor your progress, however, the responsibility
is yours. Go ahead and set a study schedule but
stick to it. If you have any questions, contact
your instructor.
- Evaluation:
completion of reading and
homework assignments Part One 50%
completion of reading and homework assignments
Part Two 50%
V. Grading System :
A = 90% or better, B = 80%, C =
70%, D = 60%
VI. Reading Assignments (Part
1):
Chapter I: The Research Process
in the Information Age
The Research Paper in the
Information Age
The Research and Writing
Process
- Establishing a Topic or
Research Project by Reading and Searching
- Establishing Research
Questions
- Plan Research Methodologies
- Identify Keywords through
Research Questions
- Develop a System for Note
Taking and Organizing Sources
- Prepare a Working
Bibliography
- Validate Your Sources
- Draft, Revise, and Edit
Your Paper
Chapter II: Researching Library
and Web
- The Physical Library
- The Card Catalog
- Indexes and Databases
Exploring the Web
Navigating and Basic Searching
- Using the Navigation Panel
- Using the Location Bar to
enter URL’s
- Using Search Tools and
Search Strategies
- Using Bookmarks
Advanced Searching
- Standard Search Engines
- Metasearch Engines
- Unified Search Interfaces
Chapter III : Library Resources
on The Web
Finding Libraries on the Web
- Using a Library Access Site
to Find Your Library
Exploring Library Catalogs
Traditional Library Resources
on the Web
- Books on the Web
- Journals and Magazines on
the Web
- Online Journals and Zines
- Indexes and Abstracts on
the Internet
- Encyclopedias and Other
References
- Newspapers
- Government Publications
Chapter IV: Finding Resources in
the Disciplines
Finding Resources in Your
Field
Using Subject-Area Collections
as Starting Points
- Locating Subject-Area
Collections
- Evaluating Subject-Area
Collections
General Purpose Subject-Area
Collections
- The World Wide Web Virtual
Library
- The Argus Clearinghouse
- Einet Galaxy
- BUBL(Bulletin Board for
Libraries)
- Librarians Index to the
Internet(Berkeley)
A Collection of Resources in
the Disciplines
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences and
Mathematics
- Business
- Education
- Engineering
VII. Homework Assignments (Part
1):
Please Note : Some of the
chapter exercises (in bold) may require computer
printouts and/or a copy of a 3 ½" floppy diskette
to be submitted to instructor.
Homework Assignments to be
submitted to instructor
- Do Exercises 1-4 at the end
of Chapter 1.
- Do Exercises 1,2,4, and 7 at
the end of Chapter 2.
- Do Exercises 2-3 at the end
of Chapter 3.
- Do Exercise 1(in addition to
posting your list to "Web Links", submit your
list to your instructor), 2, 3 at the end of
Chapter 4.
VIII. Reading Assignments (Part
2):
Chapter V: Evaluating Sources
Evaluating Information: The
Early Stages of a Research Project
- Preliminary Evaluation of
Web Sources
- Determining Whether the
Journal or Magazine Is Appropriate
- The Importance of Exploring
Varied Sources
Evaluation at the Drafting
Phase
- Determining What Kinds of
Sources to Explore
Chapter VI: E-Mail, Newsgroups,
Forums, and Listservs as Research
E-Mail
- Using E-Mail for Data
Gathering: Questions to Ask
- The Etiquette of E-Mail:
Netiquette
- Creating and Sending E-Mail
Messages to Request
Information
- Attaching Documents to
E-Mail Messages
- Saving and Filing E-Mail
Messages
Mailing Lists
- Subscribing to a Mailing
List
- Mailing List Basics
- The Etiquette of Mailing
Lists
- Using Mailing Lists for
Research
Using Newsgroups for
Research
Forums
Chapter VII : Taking Notes and
Organizing Information
The Research Project Directory
- Research Notebook Directory
- Subtopic Directories
- Electronic Notecards
- Draft Files
E-mail as an Organizational Tool
Chapter VIII : Documenting
Sources
Different Citation Styles in
Different Disciplines
Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and
Quoting
- Summarizing
- Paraphrasing
- Quoting
What to Cite? Avoiding
Plagiarism
Internal Citation and
Bibliographic Citation
- Guidelines for Internal
Citations
- Guidelines for
Bibliographic Citations
Guidelines for Electronic
Citation
- General Guidelines
- MLA Electronic Citation
Style
- APA Electronic Citation
Style
- Alternate APA Electronic
Citation Style
Formatting the Research Paper:
MLA and APA Examples
Exploring Citation Problems
Copyright Considerations
IX. Homework Assignments (Part
2):
Please Note : Some of the
chapter exercises (in bold) may require computer
printouts and/or a copy of a 3 ½" floppy diskette
to be submitted to instructor.
Homework Assignments to be
submitted to instructor
- Do Exercise 1 at the end of
Chapter 5, Exercise 4 at the end of Chapter
4(based on the topics read on Chapter 5).
- Do Exercise 1-4 at the end
of Chapter 6.
- Do Exercises 1-6 at the
end of Chapter 7.
- Do Practice Box on page 108
and Exercise 1 at the end of Chapter 8.
X.
Anticipated Learning Outcomes:
Undergraduate students will gain
the facility and expertise in effective online and
traditional research methods. They will be able to
search through these research methods by acquiring
the knowledge in the research process, search
strategies, evaluation of sources, and
documentation. Finally, after reading the textbook
and doing the exercises provided, students will be
able to locate, evaluate, organize, and write
about topics.
XI. Bibliography:
Print Sources:
Bolner, Myrtle S. and Poirier,
Gayle A., The Research Process: Books and Beyond,
Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company:Dubuque, Iowa,
1997.
Gibaldi, Joseph, MLA Handbook
for Writers of Research Papers, 5th
edition, The Modern Language Association of
America: New York, 1995.
Mann, Thomas, The Oxford Guide
to Library Research, Oxford University Press: New
York, 1995.
Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association, 4th
edition, American Psychological Association,
Washington D.C., 1995.
Wolf, Carolyn E., Basic Library
Skills, 4th edition, MacFarland:
Jefferson, North Carolina, 1999.
Online Sources:
Cornell University Management
Library at
http://www.library.cornell.edu
Internet Public Library at
http://www.ipl.org
New York Public Library at
http://www.nypl.org
Study WEB at
http://www.studyweb.com
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