Assignment 3

Note:  your assignment need to be typed!

1.  Give me your own examples - other than the ones we used in class! - of:

a. a search that uses the Boolean connector AND:

b. a search that uses the Boolean connector OR:

2.       Your research question is: what's the prevalence of eating disorders among children?

Put together a single keyword search for the above research question using simultaneously all three search techniques we discussed in class: phrase searching (think here... what's a phrase?),  AND (which "key" terms do you want to require in the results?), and truncation (where appropriate). 

     State the search here:

Now double check on yourself....  In your search above you used (mark with an X):
___ only "key" terms
___ phrase searching
___ the Boolean AND
___ truncation (*)

3. Working on the same research topic as in question #2, assume that in  addition to the phrase eating disorders you also want to include results that use the term anorexia  

• Which Boolean connector, AND or OR, would you use to include both search terms in your results? Be careful here!  This question is asking you to expand the search results!
  
• Now revise your search in #2 to include these terms and state the whole revised search here:
  

4. Your research question is: what are the ethical issues related to cruelty against animals? 

Follow the steps below that we practiced in class through our in-class exercises:

Now double check on yourself....  In your search above you used (mark with an X):
___ only "key" terms
___ the Boolean AND
___ truncation (*)

5.

• Now search the COCC catalog using your stated keyword search for #4 question.
• Look at the results of this keyword search and identify one of the best (most suitable) book titles for the topic.  Click on this title and provide:

  Author:
  Title:
  Place of publication:
  Publisher:
  Publication date:

• Identify the Library of Congress subject heading(s) listed in the record of this book (note: I am not asking for the book's Library of Congress call number here!).  Which of these subject headings would you use to perform a Subject search on the topic (select the best one)?
  
  
• Go ahead and click on the hyperlink of the subject heading you just provided above. How many results did you get when you clicked on this subject heading (i.e., when you did a Subject search)?

6.  Let's move on to a different type of catalog!  First, what is the Summit Catalog?

7. I want to get hold of the book "Complaining, teasing, and other annoying behaviors" for my class assignment.  I need this book within the next three working days.  How can I get a hold of it? BE SPECIFIC! 
 

8.  What is WorldCat and why would you use it?

9. Follow the steps as described below and respond accordingly:

•   Select one of the following broad topics:

        homelessness

        or

        consumer behavior

        or

        propaganda

        YOUR SELECTION IS: __________

• Search the COCC catalog doing a Subject search for books on this topic (a subject search may work better than a keyword search to produce relevant results on these broad topics).
• Select a relevant book on your topic selection. Cite the book here providing:
  
  Author:
  Title:
  Place of publication:
  Publisher:
  Publication date:
   

10.  Locate this book you identified for question #9 on the COCC library shelves (if the book is not available, change your selection). Using the evaluation criteria we discussed in week 2, describe and evaluate the publication in terms of :

        a. authorship: what do you know about the author and his/her credentials?

        b. publisher: who is the publisher? And what do you know about the publisher (don't worry if you can't talk about the quality of publisher...)?

        c. currency: how current is the publication and is this important in your evaluation?

        d. content: how is information presented and supported?

Your evaluation of this publication does not have to be favorable as long as it is substantiated!