Assignment 1

Note:   As mentioned in class, your assignments need to be typed!

Part I. A tour of the library.... (if you need help with any of the questions in Part I, use the course web link "How libraries are organized," or ask one of our library staff at the reference desk to assist you)

1.  What are "Reserve" readings?  And how can you get a hold of a "Reserve" item?

2.  Why would you use our Interlibrary Loan services?

3.  What is the general subject of books with call numbers that start with RC (make sure you use the Library of Congress Classification link in your lesson to answer this question)? 

4.  Go to the RC section of our Reference collection (ask at the information desk if you do not remember where the "Reference" collection is).  Put down the title and call number of one of the Reference books in this area that you find interesting. 

5.  Can you check out books from our Reference collection?

6.  Now find the government documents section of the library (our government documents have moved!  So, be sure to ask at the reference desk, if you need help locating them).  Pull out one publication and put down its title and call number:

7. Go to the ND section of the circulating collection of the library (second floor).  Put down the title of a book in this area that looks interesting.

8.  Where are the library videos kept?

9. ok... now let's see how good you are with math! Review again in our course lesson how you may read call numbers and put the following in order as if they were books on a shelf:

Remember to read the third and fourth row as a decimal number!

WB           WB             W            WB          WB
7400          740             7400        740          7400
.H41         .H46            .H41         .H5          .H4
 L27          L2                L7            L270        L27

Part II.  Knowing how to get help...

Go to the library homepage at http://campuslibrary.cocc.edu/

1. What is the "Ask a Librarian!" web page about?

2.  Click on the "Ask a Librarian!" link and locate L-Net.  How would you describe the L-Net service?

3.  Now I want you to get adventurous and try L-Net's chat service!  Please, however, do NOT wait until the last minute to complete this part of the assignment because L-Net might get flooded with questions from everyone in the class (it happened before...)!

Come up with a real question to ask a librarian through this service, something not too difficult or complex. Also as you think about your question, keep in mind that the librarian you will chat with may be anywhere in the U.S., so you may want to avoid questions about the physical layout of our library. 

Now, go ahead and try it!

Tell me:

-- what was your question?

-- how would you describe your chat experience?

-- do you think you may use this service in the future? 

4. Finally, look  back at our library page carefully.  Is there a direct link to "chat" library help?  Where is it located?

Part III.  Refining your topic....

1. Pretend you have to write a 10-15 page research paper.  For each of the topics below circle if the scope is too broad, too narrow, or just right (to refresh your memory on what makes a good research topic, visit the course web site, Coming up with great research topic ideas: the first steps). 

a. What percentage of the Cuban population lives below the poverty line?

Too Broad
 Too Narrow
 Just Right

b. How does the Internet affect student plagiarism?

Too Broad
 Too Narrow
 Just Right

c. Gospel music

Too Broad
 Too Narrow
 Just Right

2. Again, pretend you have to write a 10-15 pages research paper. Narrow down each of the two subjects highlighted below to workable research questions. To brainstorm on research ideas in relation to these two subjects, I want you to use the CQ Researcher or Opposing Viewpoints databases (to refresh your memory on how to use these two databases, visit the course web site, Getting help from two great databases: CQ Researcher and Opposing Viewpoints ).

a.  juvenile criminals

    research question: ______________________________________________________

b. media

    research question: _______________________________________________________


Part IV.  Evaluating your sources
(note: questions 1- 4 below are based on your course readings under the course link "Looking critically at your sources").

1. provide a good example of a type of book publisher with great reputation (be careful here with your answer- use the course readings discussing the importance of the publisher in your evaluation of sources....).

2. why is it important to trace the "institutional affiliations" of an author?

3. why are multiple authors often an indication of scholarly work?

4. when is currency an important criterion for the evaluation of a source?

5.  If you were studying the relationship between human activity and the temperature of the earth and had to select one reliable source on the topic, whose work would you choose to include in your research? Look for clues that suggest their level of expertise and/or bias.  In your answer.

A. An atmospheric physicist at Winston University and founder of the Science and Environmental Policy Project, a think tank on climate and environmental issues

  

B. A Washington Post staff writer who has written articles such as "Arctic Ice Shelf Crumbles Into Sea," "In Infrastructure Debate, Politics Is Key Player," and "President's Reform Efforts Get Results."

  

C. Current president of Greater Chipiwick Environmental Club, and publisher of a Web site that discusses the major causes of global warming in the last 100 years.