INFORMATION RESEARCH SKILLS - LIBRARY 127
SYLLABUS: SPRING 2008
Instructor: Beverly Adler
Offices: Lower level: 032 (in Tech Services. Come on in even though it says “employees only”) Phone: 383-7701 ext. 7795
E-mail: badler@cocc.edu (this is the best way to reach me)
Office Hrs: Monday & Wednesday 9:45-10:15 AM; Monday 12:05 -12:30 in classroom, and by appointment. Library REFERENCE desk: Tuesday 2:00 – 5:00 PM. Do not hesitate to contact me!
Course Description:
This course introduces students to college-level information literacy. It covers library research skills, including the use of electronic periodical databases, online library catalogs, reference materials, government documents, and Internet resources. LIB127 is suggested as a co- or prerequisite for WR123 and other research writing courses. If you believe you already “know it all,” you can test out of this class. For more information, go to: http://web.cocc.edu/finney/infolitstudents.htm
This class assumes basic keyboarding skills. If you are lacking such skills, you may experience problems in this class.
Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete Lib 127 will be able to:
1. Recognize the value of information in personal, work and academic settings.
2. Articulate information needs by formulating a research question and developing effective search strategies.
3. Understand and differentiate between information resources and services available through libraries, other non-profit agencies, and for-profit interests.
4. Locate and retrieve required information using all appropriate resources and services.
5. Critically evaluate retrieved information based on standard criteria.
6. Present retrieved information in appropriate formats.
Specific skills include:
a) Effectively using library classification systems to locate materials.
b) Distinguish between catalogs, databases, indexes, and the internet as examples of the complex nature of the information environment and select appropriate resources for the topic and discipline at hand.
c) Develop search strategies using Boolean commands, field searching, proximity commands, truncation, and controlled language.
Course requirements and evaluation:
The achievement of the above course outcomes will be reflected in the completion of the following assignments:
Assignments & Exercises: 40% (homework assignments: 30% & in-class exercises: 10%)
Library Work Sessions: 5%
Paper Skeleton (Final project): 25% Final Exam: 30% (Take home via Blackboard)
Grades in this course will be assigned as follows:
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90-100
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= A
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80-89
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= B
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70-79
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= C
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60-69
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= D
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Below 60
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= F
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Policy on attendance, late assignments, phones and children:
Absences, tardiness, and early departure will cause you frustration and affect the quality of your work. Attendance and weekly homework completion will equal success in the course. There are in-class exercises (attending class has its rewards) and homework assignments that count toward your final grade. ASSIGNMENTS, ETC. ARE DUE THE BEGINNING OF CLASS ON DATE DUE!
If you miss a class, it will be your responsibility to check Blackboard for presentations, in-class exercises, assignments, announcements and grades. Missing class, whether due to illness, car trouble, or good powder on the mountain, does not extend an assignment’s due date. You are responsible for making sure assignments are in on time.
Late homework assignments (1 letter grade deduction) and exercises (1/2 credit deduction) will be accepted up to 1 week after the due date (except paper skeleton & final exam-no late acceptance). Work will not be accepted past that time, unless you have made special arrangements with me. Check Blackboard for all class information and GRADES!
During class, the computers in this classroom are only for activities related to the course. Any other activities such as email, computer games, word processing, or surfing the web are not allowed unless they are part of a class assignment. Students engaged in such activities during regular class will be asked to leave the room and go to the lab, if they wish to continue with their activities.
TURN OFF CELL PHONES!! Short being on the national transplant list, I cannot think of any rational reason to have your phone on…AND please don’t answer a phone during class as a courtesy to others and me.
CHILDREN: As a parent I know that emergencies arise. However, I am not a daycare provider. See me if you have a problem.
Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy
Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to the following:
§ Cheating on an examination;
§ Receiving help from others in work to be submitted, if contrary to the stated rules of the course;
§ Plagiarizing, that is, the taking and passing off as one’s own ideas, writings, or work of another, without citing the source;
§ Submitting work from another course unless permitted by the instructor;
§ Stealing examinations or course material;
§ Using stolen examinations or course material;
§ Falsifying records;
- Assisting anyone to do any of the above.
In the event that students are suspected of classroom cheating, plagiarism or otherwise misrepresenting their work, they will be subject to procedural due process.
Students with Disabilities
Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations; those who have emergency medical information of which the instructor should be aware; those who need special arrangements in the event of evacuation; or those who may require specific instructional accommodations should notify me as soon as possible (no later than the first week of the term), and contact the Disability Services office in Boyle Education Center, ext 7583.
COCC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1: Course requirements & Blackboard, Turnitin.com; research process & topic selection
Week 2: Library organization and Reference resources: Begin to refine final topic & locate background info on it.
Week 3: Keyword searching, Boolean and COCC Catalog
Week 4: More book catalogs (Summit, WorldCat) & Work Session. SUBMIT topic title and style guide via Turnitin.com
Week 5: Locating articles, Library Databases
Week 6: Web Searching & Evaluating and Citation Style Guides
Week 7: Government documents, Panic Attacks & Work Session
Week 8: Lexis Nexis, Final Project Due via turnitin.com (Paper copies of articles & website 1st pages are due to ME) by Wednesday, May 21
Week 9: No class Monday & Other News Resources
Week 10: Review Assignment
Final: A do-on-your-own exam via Blackboard. Exam must be submitted no later than your scheduled final exam time.
10:15 class = Thursday, June 12 by 3:00 p.m.
11:15 class = Wednesday, June 11 by 10:00 a.m.