Lib 110: Research Fundamentals

Instructor: Courtney Paddick

Fall 2014
Course Description:
This course is designed for students new to research at the college
level. Research Fundamentals explores different information sources, effective
searching techniques, and introduces students to the research process.
The course will be structured around a quarter long, hypothetical research project
that will have you focused on finding, evaluating, and using information
sources. The research question that you decide on at the beginning of the quarter
will shape your work for the rest of the quarter. The goal of this class is
understand the research process and to be able to identify quality information
sources.
Course Objectives:
The development of library/information literacy is the primary objective of this
class. Students in this class will focus on developing three basic abilities that are
essential for information competency:
the ability to access information
the ability to evaluate information
the ability to synthesize information
Students in this class will achieve these abilities by understanding:
the basic organization of a library and the different ways to access a
librarys collections and resources
how to evaluate information for its value, relevance, and accuracy
different research strategies and models that can be used to structure a
research project
the basic structure of information resources and the strategies used to
access information from them
the conventions of scholarly research, such as proper citation and
intellectual property rights
different levels, types, and formats of information
Class Participation:
While this class is online, it is still important that we create a community of
learning. All students will be expected to contribute to discussion board
conversations.

Assignments:
Assignments are a large portion of your grade and will contribute to your success
on the final project. Please be sure to spend time carefully completing all the
assignments.
Final Project:
The final project will be an annotated bibliography. The annotated bibliography
will consist of 8 sources related to your chosen topic with summaries and/or
evaluations of each source plus a 1-2 page reflection paper on the class and final
assignment. A full project description will be handed out during the third week of
class. Assignments given throughout the class will aid you in the completion of
the final project.
Late Work:
For every day an assignment is late, 5 points will be deducted. If
extenuating circumstances exist, please contact the instructor.
Missed course requirements are entered into grades as 0 points.
The due date and time associated with each assignment are stated clearly in
Canvas and on the Course Schedule.
Instructor Feedback/Communication:
I will use the Announcements tool in Canvas to communicate changes to the
course and other course information. For individual feedback I will provide you
with comments in your assignments or use the Canvas email.
Student Feedback/Communication:
I welcome all feedback on the course. My preferred method of communication
with individual students is via the Canvas email, which is found under People,
Send A Message in the menu to the left. I am also available during office hours on
If you experience a legitimate emergency, which will prevent you from
completing required coursework on time, I expect you to communicate with me at
the earliest reasonable opportunity. Please state the nature of the emergency, and
when you expect to turn in the coursework.

Grading:
Your grade will be based on the following:
Component
Points
Participation in Discussion
90
Boards (20%)
Assignments (40%)
180
Final Project (40%)
180
Total
450
Syllabus:
Week
1

Class Topic
Introduction to Class
and Library Website
Discussion: Introductions
to the Library Website
Online Catalog and
Search Techniques
Discussion: Searching
the Catalog, Advanced
Searching
Handouts: Creating a
Research Question,
Library of Congress and
Boolean Operators
Using Reference
Sources
Discussion: Where do
Reference Sources fit into
your research?
Handouts: Types of
Reference Sources,
Online Reference Sources
Print Books and eBooks
Discussion: Finding
books using the Library
Catalog, Summit, and
InterLibrary Loan
Handouts: Learning
How to Read for

Due for next week

Assignment:
Introduction Survey
Discussion Board:
Introduction
Assignment: Using
Keywords to Identify
Subject Headings
Discussion Board:
Research Questions

Assignment: Finding
Encyclopedias for
Background Information
Discussion Board: The
Flow of Information

Assignment: Evaluating
Books for Value
Discussion Board:
Reading for Research

Research, Further help

and how to find eBooks
Peer-Reviewed Journal
Articles and Databases
Discussion: Introduction
to Databases and
Searching, Ebsco Tools,
and Creating Your Ebsco
Accounts, and Advanced
Journal Article Searching
Finding and Using
Newspapers in Research
Discussion: Using the
Newspaper Databases,
Online Newspaper
Sources
Handouts: List of Online
Newspaper Sources and
Databases
Evaluating Web Sources
and Searching the
Internet
Discussion: Searching
the Internet Effectively,
Evaluating Web Sources
Handouts: The CRAAP
Test, Evaluating
Wikipedia
Primary Sources
(Government
Publications and
Archives)
Discussion: Differences
between Primary and
Secondary Sources,
Finding Government
Publications, Finding and
Using Archival Sources
Handouts: Primary vs.
Secondary Sources, How
to Find Archival Sources,
Statistical Sources,

Assignment: Database
Discovery
Discussion Board:
Database Analysis

Assignment: Using
Newspapers for Research
Discussion Board: Value
of Using Newspapers in
Research

Assignment: The
Wikipedia Challenge
Discussion Board: Using
the CRAAP Test

Assignment: Finding
United States
Government Supplied
Statistics
Discussion Board:
Annotated Bibliography
Entry

Final Project

Purdue OWL MLA

Citation guide
Plagiarism
Discussion: What is
Plagiarism?
Handouts: Five Types of
Plagiarism
Annotated Bibliography
Discussion: Assignment
Expectations, What is an
annotated bibliography
and how do I create one?
Handouts: Annotated
Bibliography Example

Assignment: A
Plagiarism Case Study
Discussion Board:
Plagiarism: Where do we
draw the line?
Assignment: Annotated
Bibliography and
Reflection Paper

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is a standard set for this course. Students are expected to
complete all of their coursework and assignments using their original words
and ideas and will properly cite the words and ideas of others. Students are
also expected to be honest in their interactions with the instructor. A student
found to have not upheld these expectations is subject to failing this course
and shall be subject to disciplinary action or sanction. Documented
incidences of Academic Dishonesty will be referred to Office of the Vice
President of Student Affairs.
Special Needs
If you have a disability that may prevent you from meeting course requirements,
contact the instructor immediately to file a Student Disability Statement and to
develop an Accommodation Plan. Course requirements will not be waived but
reasonable accommodations will be developed to help you meet the requirements.
You are expected to work with the instructor and the CWU Disability Support
Specialist to develop and implement a reasonable Accommodation Plan. For
contact information at Center for Disability Services (CDS) please visit
http://www.cwu.edu/~dss/cms/.