1.
If they need to find overview information on a topic:
Use a print and a web-based encyclopedia (general or subject-specialized)
to gather background information on your topic (e.g., the print
and licensed online versions of Encyclopaedia
Britannica and the freely available
web-only "The
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy."
Compare and contrast the information you find in each.
2.
If they need to define terms related to a particular topic or discipline:
Use a print subject specialized dictionary (e.g., The Facts On File Dictionary of Environmental Science, College Library Reference: TD 9 S74 1991 & on online dictionary (e.g., "EPA Terms of Environment" http://www.epa.gov/ocepa111/OCEPAterms/index.htm) to define terms related to your research topic or project. Note discrepancies between the two dictionary definitions.
3.
If they are doing assignments related to famous or important individuals:
Compare and contrast a biography in a print biographical reference
source (e.g., Current Biography, College Library Reference:
CT 100 C93) to a web-based or another print biography. Base your
comparison on the expertise and bias of the biographer, the sponsoring
organization or group, recency, and completeness. Note any disagreement
on the "facts."
4.
If they need to examine and analyze published materials:
Use a print and an online index to book reviews to identify two
book reviews of a non-fiction book on your topic. (Print example:
Book Review Digest, College Library Reference, Z 1219 B64.
Online index: "MLA Bibliography" or "Expanded Academic ASAP." Go
to the UCLA Library Frequently Used Databases page and select MLA International Bibliography or Expanded Academic ASAP from the list
of article databases. Search
for reviews by entering some of the book title words and the word
REVIEW. Incorporate your analysis of these reviews into your own
analysis of the book.
5.
If they need to do historical research of any kind:
a. Identify and locate two useful journal articles
on your topic, using "America:
History and Life" or "Historical
Abstracts."
Compare these articles to two web sites on the same topic.
b. Identify and locate two useful up-to-date articles
on personalities or issues by using Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe's "General News" database.
Compare these articles to two web sites on the same topic.
6.
If they need to write opinion pieces:
Identify and locate 2 opinion pieces on your topic by using Alternative
Press Index (print: College Library Reference, Z 7164 S66A46)
or Alt-PressWatch, and Expanded Academic
ASAP. Critique the opinion
pieces from an alternative press index and Expanded Academic ASAP
in your own position paper on the topic.
Additional Alternatives
to the Traditional Research Paper – check out these sites:
"Term
Paper Alternatives" (University of California, Berkeley)
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/PaperAlternatives.html
"Assignments to Promote Information Competency" (Palomar
College)
http://www.palomar.edu/library/infocomp/assignchart.htm
"Ideas for Library/Information Assignments" (Queen Elizabeth
II Library)
http://www.library.mun.ca/qeii/instruction/assignment_ideas.php#research_skills
Research & Web Site Evaluation
Skills
"Flow
of Information"
http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/flow/index.htm
Review this web site and write
a brief essay describing where you should search for information
on your topic and why.
"How
to Narrow or Broaden Your Topic"
http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/topic/index.htm
Review this page, then use the "Research Topic
Focusing Worksheet" to come up with 2 research paper topics.
"Hoax?
Scholarly Research? Personal Opinion? You Decide!"
http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/hoax/index.htm
Click on a web site evaluation criteria from
among those listed, & in a brief essay, evaluate 2 sites listed
for that criteria.
For any of these, you might
consider asking students to turn in an annotated bibliography cited
in the style used for your discipline, along with copies of web
pages they used.
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