Weber State University
Dr. Wade Kotter
 Tuesday, Thursday
9:00-9:50 am
LI 31

Schedule	Instructor	Description	Objectives
Requirements	Grading	Expectations	Reserve

Schedule:

Date	Topic, Activities	Deadlines
8/26 T	Introduction
8/28 Th	Orientation
9/2 T	The Research Process
9/4 Th	Finding Books
9/9 T	Basic Search Techniques
9/11 Th	Using the Online Catalog	Exercise 1 Due
9/16 T	Quiz 1, Lab: Online Catalog
9/18 Th	Understanding the Internet
9/23  T	Finding Information on the Internet
9/25 Th	Evaluating & Using Internet Information	Exercise 2 Due
9/30 T	Quiz 2, Lab: Internet
10/2 Th	Understanding Reference Sources
10/7 T	Finding Reference Sources
10/9 Th	Evaluating & Using Reference Sources	Exercise 3 Due
10/14 T	Quiz 3, Lab: Reference Sources
10/16 Th	Understanding Magazines and Journals
10/21  T	Finding Articles
10/23 Th	Advanced Search Techniques	Exercise 4 Due
10/28 T	Evaluating & Using Articles
10/30 Th	Quiz 4, Lab: Finding & Evaluating Articles
11/3 M	Individual Consultations Begin
11/4 T	Understanding Government Information
11/6 Th	Information Ethics & Intellectual Property	Exercise 5 Due
11/11  T	Documentation
11/13 Th	Annotation
11/17 M	Last Day for Individual Consultations
11/18 T	Oral Presentations
11/20 Th	Lab:  Bibliography Project
11/25 T	Oral Presentations
12/2 T	Oral Presentations
12/4 Th	Oral Presentations, Student Evaluations
12/9 T	Bibliography Project due by 5:00 pm

Instructor:

Dr. Wade Kotter
Social Sciences Librarian

Office:            LI 141
Phone:            626-7458
Email:             wkotter@weber.edu
Office Hours:  By appointment

Description:

Library Science 2201 is a skills-based two credit hour course.  Its purpose is to enable students to locate, use, and critically evaluate information resources in an academic library which are appropriate for undergraduate research.  Learning to effectively use library resources contributes to academic success and lifelong learning in a multi-cultural society.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, each student will be able to:

• Identify information needs and develop strategies to find useful information
• Identify and use appropriate library resources and services for successful undergraduate research
• Understand how information is arranged and accessed in academic libraries
• Develop an appropriate research topic, plan a research project, gather and critically evaluate information, and complete an annotated bibliography
• Successfully use library catalogs, indexes, databases, and the Internet to find information
• Develop successful library research strategies and search vocabularies using thesauri, Boolean operators, and natural language
• Better understand patterns of knowledge and communication is scholarly fields
• Use a style manual to accurately document research
• Understand important information policity issues, such as: intellectual freedom, information ethics, the information poor, and information in a multi-cultural society
• Identify and reduce fears and anxieties about library systems and services

Course Requirements:

• Attendance:  Success in this class requires regular attendance.  Attendance will be taken during the first part of each class session.  Any student missing more than six class sessions without an acceptable excuse will have her/his final grade reduced by one letter (for example, A- to B-, or C+ to D+).  Acceptable excuses include illness or legitimate emergency.   The instructor's decision on the acceptability of an excuse is final.
• Exercises (60 points each; 300 total):  Five exercises, each of them requiring hands-on application of skills introduced in class, will be assigned during the semester.  Students should ask for assistance from the instructor and/or a reference librarian whenever they need help with these exercises.   Students are required to hand in each exercise by the end of class on the date indicated on the accompanying course schedule and on the exercise itself.   Six points will be subtracted from your score for each school day the assignment is late.  There will be absolutely no exceptions to this policy.
• Quizzes (25 points each; 100 total):  Four short objective quizzes are scheduled during the semester.  Students are required to take the quizzes as scheduled; there will be no exceptions to this policy, except with prior approval by the instructor.
• Individual Consultation (100 points):  Each student is required to meet with the instructor sometime between Monday, November 3rd and Monday, November 17th.  This consultation will last approximately 30 minutes and is designed to provide individual assistance for students as they work on their bibliography project.  Students who fail to make an appointment or who miss their appointment and fail to reschedule will receive ZERO points for this activity.
• Oral Presentations (100 points):  Each student is required to make a 5 minute oral presentation regarding their bibliography project during the last three weeks of class.  Complete instructions will be distributed later in the semester.  Students will be scheduled to make their presentation on a specific date; any changes in schedule must be made at least 2 days in advance.  Students who miss their scheduled date and fail to reschedule will receive ZERO points.  There will be absolutely no exceptions to this policy.
• Bibliography Project (400 points):  Each student is required to submit an annotated bibliography on an instructor-approved topic of their choice by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 10th.  There will be absolutely no exceptions to this deadline.   Detailed instructions for this project will be distributed during the second week of class.
• Academic Dishonesty:  Cheating, plagiarism and all other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  Students are expected to abide by the Student Code as printed in the WSU Student Handbook.  Proof of academic dishonesty will result in a final grade of E for the course, and the circumstances will be reported to appropriate university authorities.
• Services for Students with Disabilities:  Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.

Grading:

1000 points are possible, distributed as follows:

5 Exercises (60 points each)                300 points
4 Quizzes (25 points each)                   100  points
Individual Consultation                           100  points
Oral Presentation                                   100  points
Bibliography Project                               400  points
                                                                  ------
                                                                1000 total points

Final grades will be assigned based on the following scale:

920-1000 = A
900-919   = A-
880-899   = B+
820-879   = B
800-819   = B-
780-799   = C+
720-779   = C
700-719   = C-
680-699   = D+
620-679   = D
600-619   = D-
000-599   = E

Expectations:

You Can Expect Me:

• To start class promptly at 9:00 am
• To be prepared for each class period
• To give you the chance to ask questions
• To give prompt feedback on quizzes, exercises, and projects
• To be courteous and respectful

In Return, I Expect You:

• To be in your seat when class begins
• To let me know if you are going to miss class or need to leave early
• To ask questions
• To take responsibility for your own learning
• To be courteous and respectful by not talking during lectures, demonstrations, and student presentations; and by turning off cell phones and beepers

Reserve:

The following title is on reserve under Reference:

American Psychological Association.  (2001).  Publication Manual of the American Psychological
     Association.  (5th ed.)   Washington, DC:  American Psychological Association.

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