Name:

Information Literacy

Learning Objectives

• You will be able to identify, find, use, and evaluate library and Internet information resources for academic research and lifelong learning using these key resources:
  
  

Before you start

• Work with other students and help each other out as needed.
• Carefully read and follow the instructions on this exercise. The instructions describe how to access library resources needed to complete the exercise.
• Write your answers on these sheets and give them to your English 2010 instructor when due, usually one week from the date of the library session.
  
  

   
Plan ahead and save time with these helpful tips

1.  Use the right tool for the right job and use a variety of tools

Use article databases to find articles Use the Stewart Library Catalog to find books Use search engines to find web sites Read All The Screens (RATS)

     2.  Use Boolean logic to refine your search

   3.  Use advanced search techniques for better results

  4.  Ask librarians for assistance

 

Select a topic

Think about something you would like to know more about...
• A research project you will do for this class or for another class
• A topic you are interested in learning more about

1. Write your research topic here:
                                                                               ________________________ 

This topic idea will evolve into a more formal thesis or focused research question
as you continue your research. Example: What are the effects of television violence on children?

2. Select the two or three words that best describe your topic and write them here
                                                                                                                                   

These are the keywords you will use in your search. For the example above, your keywords could be violence, children, television

Article databases index articles from thousands of scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers. Databases may include abstracts (summaries) of articles or the complete (full text) articles online.

››› For this exercise you will find two FULL TEXT articles from Academic Search Premier AND print the two article CITATIONS (author, title, source, date, etc).

What is Academic Search Premier and why is it useful? Academic Search Premier is an article database used to find articles and article citations in over 8000 magazines and journals covering most topics. Many of the article citations in Academic Search Premier also include a link to the full text of the article online. Full text articles can be printed, emailed, or saved on a disk for later use. EbscoHost is the company that creates Academic Search Premier and many other databases available through Stewart Library.

To access Academic Search Premier

• Start at the Stewart Library home page at the following web address (also known as the URL or uniform resource locator) http://library.weber.edu
  Under Quick Links, click on Database Finder
  Click on Academic Search Premier


• For off campus access enter as above and enter your 88...student ID number when prompted. To find your student ID number see instructions at http://library.weber.edu/ref/home.cfm

• Type your keywords from step 2 above into the Find box. Use the Boolean operator AND to combine search terms and to limit and focus your search. Example: television and violence and children
• For this assignment, limit your search to Full Text articles (the complete article will be online)
• Notice that you may also Limit your results by
• Selecting SCHOLARLY (Peer Reviewed) Journals. Articles from peer reviewed journals are sometimes called Refereed articles
• Or use the Advanced Search option for additional search options
• After entering your keywords and limiting to Full Text, click on Search (or use the Enter key)
• Review the results
• Select two full text articles on your topic. Click on Add in the right hand column and add the two articles to your folder
• Click on the yellow folder near the top right of the screen. It should now say Folder has items

3. Look at the full text of the two articles you have selected. Using the characteristics below, what type of periodical publications did you find? (Popular, scholarly, or trade/professional)

Article 1 ___________________________________________

Article 2 ___________________________________________

Stewart Library subscribes to many article databases covering a wide variety of topics. From the library home page, select the Database Finder to see lists of databases by subject. Most databases may be accessed off-campus 24 hours a day.

What if the articles you want are NOT available in full text? Check EJournals on the library home page to see if a particular journal is available in full text online in another database. Check Stewart Library Catalog (use Journal Alphabetical option) to see if we own a particular journal in paper copy. If so, note the call number to find it on the shelf Note the dates available electronically or in print to be sure the date you need is available If the library does not own the journal you need, you can order articles using Interlibrary Loan from the library home page

Where are print magazines, journals and newspapers located? Current Issues (new, unbound) are located in the Current Periodicals Collection Back Issues (older, bound) are interfiled with books in the General Collection

What are reference resources and why are they useful?

Reference resources are items that you “refer” to, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, atlases, indexes and statistical sources. They are often a great place to begin or enhance research. Usually reference books are located in the reference area of a library. Many reference books and resources are now available full text on the Web. To access these, click on Reference Resources on the Stewart Library home page.

4. From the list, identify a guide that may be useful to you. What is the title of the guide?

__________________________________________________________

5. Use the Stewart Library Catalog to find a book on your research topic.

Title of the book:                                                                                   

Author(s) of the book:                                                                                     

What is the call number?_________________________________________

Is the book available or checked out? _______________________________

6. Use the "Journal Alphabetical" option in the Stewart Library Catalog to see if Stewart Library subscribes to Rolling Stone magazine.

What is the call number for Rolling Stone? (Scroll down screen to see)

_______________________________________________________________

7.   Use the Stewart Library catalog to find a book or video by a favorite or famous author. List the author, title and call number.

Author's Name: ___________________________________________
Title: ___________________________________________________
Call number: _____________________________________________

What are search engines and why are they useful?

Search engines are giant databases that help provide access to the information on the Web. The Web is too big for a single search engine to index all of it. There are many search engines available and it is a good idea to use more than one if you are doing research. Google (www.google.com) is the best known search engine and offers many features. Did you know you can use the search box as a calculator? (Try it!) Check out the links for Advanced Search and More to see what else Google has to offer.

8. Use Google to find two Web sites on your topic. List the title and the web address (URL) for each.

Title:                                                      URL:                                                     

Title:                                                      URL:                                                     

Evaluating Information
With so much information available from so many sources, it is very important to critically evaluate information to find high quality resources. Use the following criteria to evaluate information you find:
Authority - Who wrote it and what are his/her/their credentials? Accuracy - Is the information correct? Objectivity - Is it biased toward a particular viewpoint? Currency - When was the information published? Purpose - Who is the intended audience? Does it inform or persuade? Usefulness - How useful or relevant is the information for your need?

9. Using the evaluation criteria listed above, compare any two of the information resources you have found for this exercise (periodical article, book or Web site). Is one a better information resource for academic research than the other? Why? Is one more useful in meeting your information need? Why?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Take a class to meet the WSU Information Literacy Competency Requirement

To meet Part D of the Computer and Information Literacy Requirement, take one of the courses listed below. You will learn more about finding, using, documenting and evaluating library and Internet information for academic success and lifelong learning.

• Internet Navigator (LibSci/TBE TD 1704) http://library.weber.edu/il/NavigatorAccess.cfm. This is a one credit class offered as a face to face course or online
• Library Skills Resources and Research (LibSci/TBE TD 2201)  A two credit face to face course
• Information Resources in the Business Disciplines (Lib Sci/Bus Admin TD 2704)  A one credit online course, this course is designed for Business majors and others with a strong interest in business information
• Information Resources in the Social Sciences (Lib Sci TD 2804) A one credit hour face to face course for Social Science majors and others with a strong interest in the social sciences
• Or test out of the requirement by registering for TBE1504. To prepare for the test, study the Internet Navigator modules

You are almost finished...

• Don't forget to attach the printout of your two article citations
  
• Please complete the online feedback form at http://library.weber.edu/libadmin/evals/eng.cfm   Your input is important to us so we can continue improving library/Internet instruction for our English 2010 students.
  
• Return your finished exercise to your English 2010 instructor (not the librarian) on the due date.

Congratulations!

You are finished with the exercise.
We hope you have learned more
about using the library and the
Internet for academic research!