INT 103: Information Literacy Monday 1:00-1:50 pm Fall 2013

Instructor: Claire Ruswick Office, Library Main Floor cruswick@mbc.edu 887-7316 Course Description: College-level research requires skills that go far beyond the average Google search. In this course you will learn how to become an effective and skilled researcher who is prepared for the challenges of academic study. We will cover the use of basic and advanced search techniques, information resources (both library and public), article databases and library catalogs, and the ethical use of information. This course satisfies the R

Research requirement of the Mary Baldwin College Core Curriculum.

Course Goals: At the completion of this course you should be able to find and use a variety of information resources such as journal articles, primary sources, and reference material. We will talk about focusing a broad topic, conducting an effective search, distinguishing between scholarly and popular articles and documenting information sources using proper and complete citations. We will also discuss some of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information.

Grading Scale: Class Participation Quizzes Discussion Board Assignments (4) Final = = = = 10% = 20% 25% 35% 10% Your final grade will be determined according to the following scale: A AB+ B Bbelow C+ = 77-79 = = = = = 93-100 90-92 87-89 83-86 80-82 C = CD+ D F 73-77 = = = = 70-72 67-69 60-66 59 and

Course Requirements:

Class participation: Because a major part of the course involves discussion and practical applications,
attendance and participation are essential. Please notify the instructor before class if you are unable to attend. You are permitted one excused absence during the course. Any further absences will affect your class participation grade unless you provide a doctors note. Three classes of late entrance will count as one absence.

If you miss class, you will need to check Blackboard to see what you missed. Refer to this syllabus to see the name of the class you missed. Go to What did I miss? and click of the class you were absent. Make sure to complete all the readings, assignments, and required discussion posts. COMPUTER USE: Students are only permitted to use computers during designated computer work times. If computers are used during any other time, those students will be considered absent. The same goes for textingfeel free to leave class if you need to talk to someone immediately.

Readings and Reading Quizzes: It is very important to do the readings assigned on the syllabus in order to
prepare for the next day of class. The short reading comprehensive quizzes will verify that you have completed the readings and understand the material.

Discussion Board: We will be using Blackboard in this class, including the Discussion Board. Your course
schedule will let you know when a post is due. To post, go to Discussions, go to the correct forum, and create a new thread. Always title and subscribe to your threads. Posts are due by the next class in order to

receive credit. Please have your post ready before class starts. Assignments: There will be four assignments in this class. For the most part you will be able to finish them during class, but if you need help outside of class time make sure to contact me. Assignments are due by the next class in order to receive credit. Please have assignments ready to turn in before class starts.

Final: For the final assignment you will create an Annotated Bibliography on a research topic of your choice.
You will have many chances in class to conduct research on your topic. A few weeks before the final is due you will turn in a draft so that I can provide feedback on any changes you need make for the final copy.

Extra Credit: Students can earn up to 3 points of extra credit by posting videos, newspaper articles, magazine
articles, or other items to the Information Literacy in the News Blackboard discussion forum. In order to receive credit, each item must be accompanied by a paragraph explaining its relevance to the concept of information literacy or to this class. Limit of 3 posts per student

Honor Code Statement: Each assignment presented for this course must be your original work. Putting your
name on your assignments is your pledge to abide by the Honor Code. SCHEDULE Date Topic Reading (due next class) Assignments (due next class) Sept. 2 Introduction and Searching Fundamentals Final Assignment Primary Sources Sept. 9 Types of Sources, Peer Review in 5 Minutes (video) Reading Quiz #2 Primary Source Syllabus Reading Quiz #1 Discussion Board Post (due next class) Research Topic

Week 1

Week 2

Primary Sources, or What do we know that they didnt know on April 15, 2013? Refusing to apologize Why not apologizing makes you feel better

Sept. 16

Scholarly sources and the scholarly research process

Launching a Library Research Project Evaluation: How?

Reading Quiz #3

Week 3

Sept. 23

Focusing a Topic and background information

They say, I say Guide to Brainstorming Plagiarism or Acceptable Use Quiz

Reading Quiz #4

Reference Source

Week 4

Sept. 30

Research Questions, or Fake it til you make it

Concept Map Plagiarism or Acceptable Use Quiz

Research Question

Week 5

Oct. 7

Citing and integrating sources

Keyword Approach Advanced Search Strategies

Reading Quiz #5

Citing (complete in EasyBib. See Discussion Board for instructions)

Week 6

Oct. 14

Advanced searching, or What * can do for you Fall Break! Searching Retrieval Systems and What do you mean no full-text is available?!

How to Use Google Search More Effectively Fall Break! Finding Full-text Journal Articles (video) Interlibrary Loan for Articles (video) Reading Call Numbers

How to Generate Keywords Fall Break! Reading Quiz #6

Search Queries

Week 7
Oct. 21 Oct. 28

Fall Break! Website Evaluation

Week 8

Nov. 4

Finding full-text, or Not just dead trees anymore! Subject Databases

Books and Bibliographies Annotated Bibliography DRAFT due today Articles and Keywords

Week 9
Nov. 11

Week 10

Nov. 18

Subject Databases

Database Quiz

Week 11
Nov. 25 Visual Literacy Analyzing

Week 12
Dec. 2 Information Ownership Final due

Newspaper Images

Week 13
Dec. 9

Week 14