Professor Susan AcamporaGill Library CNR (914) 654-5353sacampora@cnr.edu

RESEARCH AND

INFORMATION LITERACY

ENG 216A

WELCOME to Research and Information

Literacy

CLASS WEB SITE• http://libraryguides.cnr.edu/RILSA• Or• Go to www.cnr.edu and click on Library• Or Go to Intranet, Quick Links, Gill Library

• Pw = RILSA

Directory of RIL Instructors

Our Course Page

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Updates from your RIL Instructor

Virtual Helpdesk

https://www2.cnr.edu/helpdesk/main.aspx

You will need to use your CNR Email address for Library systems such as RefWorks and advanced database registration.

RECOMMENDATION: Username = same as your CNR email address

Password = Birthmonth plus area code

March718

The Syllabus• Go here to download a copy of the Syllabus

Week One: Introduction

• Class Objectives:• Orientation• Introduction to Information Literacy• Introduction to Gill Library and Web site

• Discussion:• Class Introductions• Syllabus review, policies, class format, projects, expectations• What is Information Literacy?• Academic research and writing conventions• Definition of terms• Introduction to Gill Library and Web site: resources, policies,

services• Introduction to ProQuest Research Companion online series

Today’s Lab• Lab Exercises: • ·        Pre-Test• ·        Register in ProQuest Research Companion• ·        Write a three paragraph essay explaining what you hope to learn in this course, what your concerns and interests are regarding this course followed by group discussion

• ·        (Instructor's choice of assignment) For example: •          Students break up into groups.  Each group selects and explores two pages from one of the four drop down menus on the Library home page (About, Services, Resources, Help).  Groups record and present findings to class.

Online Assignment and Homework

• Online Assignment:  Topics and Terms• Complete ProQuest Research Companion Module 01: Where do I start?  http://pqrc.proquest.com/ and write a one page essay describing what you learned

• Homework:   • Read Badke:  Chapter 1 Welcome to the Information Fog  pp: 1 – 21

CLASS EXPECTATIONS

• Attendance• Lateness• Statement of Academic Integrity (Avoiding Plagiarism)• Class Format• Assignments• Mid Term Project• Final Project• Final Exam

Education:Art, M.S. Education, M.S. Specialization in Creative Arts TherapyLibrary Science, M.L.S.

Work:CNR Gill Library 1992-

Teaching Information LiteracySystems and Electronic ResourcesExhibits http://tinyurl.com/nev8j65Virtual Library Services

Research Interests:Women and EcologyAnimal Rights

ABOUT ME

….AND MY TRUSTY RESEARCH ASSISTANT, OLIVER

Class IntroductionsTell us about yourself

• Your Name?• SNR Area of Interest?• Graduation date?• Future Goals?• Special Interests?

Why do We Need to Be

Information Literate?

Ten Minute Assignment

Write a 3 paragraph essay answering:

1) What do you hope to gain from this course? 2) What are your interests and concerns about doing research?

What is Information Literacy

• http://infolit.org/paul-g-zurkowski/

• - Paul G. Zurkowski • - 1974• - President of the Information Industry Association • - He estimated that only 1/6 of the U.S. population really

understood the emerging new information access routes and how these new routes would have a definitive impact their economic and social lives. 

• - Zurkowski’s called for the creation of a major national universal information literacy program

THE DIGITAL AGE IS DEMANDING!

How Do We AvoidInformation Overload?Can We Trust What We Find?

The American Library Association• ALA Final Report of their Presidential Committee on Information Literacy (1989) stated:

• “Information Literacy is defined as an individual’s ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, synthesize, evaluate, and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand.” excerpted from NFIL

• Read more from the National Forum on Information Literacy:

• http://infolit.org/nfil-news/definitions/

American Libraries Association• Define Information Literacy as:

•“Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information."

Sounds easy…but it is a complex process…

- To determine exactly what it is you want to know ( I need information on ????)- How do you find appropriate sources of information (Wikipedia? Google????)- How can you know whether the sources are correct or reliable? (Who wrote this?)- How do you properly integrate other’s ideas into your own ideas, writings, college papers, communications with others? (DON’T Plagiarize!)Remember:

• Knowledge is power. • Information is liberating.

• Kofi Annan

• But what if your information is incorrect, incomplete, or

mis-represented?• …This course will enable you to become information literate for

college work and lifelong learning...

MOST IMPORTANTLY• Information Literacy is a right and a priviledge• Information was not always so accessible • Our Ancestors fought for the right to know• Technology from the printing press to the Internet has made it possible like never before

• • Let’s take a brief look at the history and evolution of our information society:

• See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNYoVOsLayo

Syllabus Review

BOOKSTORECheck with Financial Aide Counsellor to see if you qualify for a voucher

Course Format:

• Let’s look at the Syllabus

•http://libraryguides.cnr.edu/Syllabus

Let’s take a look at

-academic research and writing-subject disciplines -types of information and research

How is Academic Writing Different from Casual Writing?

• Academics are divided into Subject Specializations:• Humanities• Social Sciences• The Sciences

Academic Writing must be:

• -Clear and concise

• -Grammatically correct

• -Objective

• -Supported by Research

• Citation Styles• Citations styles such as MLA or APA enable writers in a subject area to

communicate with each other in a formal, standardized, recognizable format

Types of Research Primary Sources

• Primary sources are firsthand materials:

• Words, image or artifacts created by an individual or group of individuals on a particular topic, or related to a particular event.

• Original information before anyone has analyzed, criticized, commented, restructured, managed or repackaged it in any way.

• For Example: In a court case what would be a primary source?

Examples of Primary Sources• ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS • Diaries, Journals, Memoirs, Autobiography Speeches, manuscripts, • letters, interviews, News film footage, Official Records

• CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art,

• ARTIFACTS: Pottery, Sculpture, Artwork, furniture, clothing, buildings

• Events: Meetings, Conference presentations, proceedings of historical events

• Examples of primary sources include: 1. -Birth Certificate

2. -Diary of Anne Frank

3. -U.S. constitution

4. -A painting by Picasso

5. -An audio tape of an oral history project

6. -A journal article reporting NEW research or findings

Secondary Sources

Secondary Sources Interpret, Comment, Criticize, Analyze, Summarize Primary Sources

-Written AFTER an event or publication

-By individuals with no direct involvement

-Who may be specialists, experts

-Provide critical, historical, psychological insight

Examples: interpretative scholarly works, text books, criticism, reviews, analyses, interpretations.

What would be an example of a Secondary Source in a Court Case?

Tertiary Sources

• Tertiary sources compile, index, abstract, manipulate, aggregate, organize and make available primary or secondary sources

• -abstracts, • -bibliographies, • -handbooks, • -encyclopedias, • -indexes, • -chronologies, etc.

• What would be an example of a tertiary source of information from a court case?

Example: Information from a Court Case • Primary Sources of Information:• First Hand Testimony• Objects of Evidence• Witness Description• Victim’s Journal• Email• Secondary Source of Information:• The Lawyer’s closing arguments analisis of primary evidence.

• Tertiary Source of Information:• The Dossier, docket, folder, publication listing the contents of and record the Trial

Type of Publicationshttp://lib.colostate.edu/howto/poplr.html

Types of Publications

• Popular Recreational

• Entertainment purposes • General audience • Informal discussions of topics, opinions, and news• Example

News Publications• -General or topic based

• Intended for particular or general audience

• - Usually contain current information• - Often written by several authors, editors, columnists, free-

lance writers• - May refer to scholarly research• - Maybe not….

Be Aware: Some popular magazines and news sources can be Sensational Publications

• - Often Provocative, Inflammatory• - Simple Writing• - Can be Flamboyant, Lurid, Loud, • - Feed on Morbid Curiosity, Gossip• - Lots of photos and graphics

Scholarly Publications• -May be primary or secondary-evaluated by peer and experts.

• -Intended for scholars, academics, or educated public• - “in-depth” study, analysis, investigation, description, evaluation of the topic

• -Disseminate research and challenge ideas• -Promote academic and professional discussion

• Often have references and bibliographies• Examples:

Trade Publications• - Intended for members of a particular vocation

• Business, Organization, or Industry

• -Focus exclusively on articles, information, and advertisements related to that business, organization or Industry

• Advertisements usually focus on topics related to the trade