ENG 102Session 1:

Introduction

TODAY’S OBJECTIVES

•By the end of today’s session you will be able to:

•Utilize the various services & materials available in the library

•Consult background sources to help in choosing & refining a topic

Announcing theScottsdale Community College Library

Research Award

Prizes for the best research paper/project by a current SCC student:

1st place $3002nd place $2003rd place $100

Submissions can be from courses taken during Summer 09, Fall 09, and Spring 10. Submission forms will be available starting October 21st. Submissions are due by 4:00 p.m. on April 26, 2010. More information including information about past winners is available at: http://library.scottsdalecc.edu/researchaward

Feelings about library research

• On your note card write down one word that describes how your last experience using the library was.

• Then write why you feel that way.• Write one question you have about the library.• Don’t put your name on the card. Pass them

in.

• Some slides will give you a chance to answer a question with your ResponseCard (“clicker”)

• Use only buttons 1/A through 0/J• Press a button once; the display on

your clicker will show your choice

• You can press a different button to change your answer as long as “polling: open” is displayed

Get ready to Click

Is this your first semester at SCC?

Yes N

o

0%0%

1. Yes2. No

Have you ever had a library instruction session here or somewhere else?

0%0%

1. Yes2. No

Which of the following services does the library NOT provide?

0% 0% 0%0%0%0%

1. Printing & copying2. Wireless internet3. Research assistance4. Tutoring5. Laptop checkouts6. Group study rooms

Which of the following does the library NOT provide access to?

0% 0%0%0%

1. All textbooks2. Electronic books3. Online journal

articles4. Movies

If you need research help from a librarian you can

Call the lib

rary

Use

chat

Come to th

e refere

nce desk

Any of t

he above

0% 0%0%0%

1. Call the library2. Use chat3. Come to the

reference desk4. Any of the above

In a college library, how are books arranged on the shelf?

Alphabetically

by auth

o...

Alphabetically

by title

By subject

By size

0% 0%0%0%

1. Alphabetically by author name

2. Alphabetically by title

3. By subject4. By size

Which tool is used to find books a library owns?

Google

Periodica

l databas

e

Catalog

None of t

he above

0% 0%0%0%

1. Google2. Periodical database3. Catalog4. None of the above

TOPIC SELECTION

• Choose a topic you are truly interested in! (within the parameters of the assignment)

• Make sure you are neither– Too broad– Too narrow

Topic: Nuclear power. Is it…

Too broad

Too narrow

Just

right

0% 0%0%

1. Too broad2. Too narrow3. Just right

Topic: The use of tasers by police to apprehend suspects. Is it…

Too broad

Too narrow

Just

right

0% 0%0%

1. Too broad2. Too narrow3. Just right

Topic: What is the effect of cigarette advertising on anorexic

teenage girls? Is it..

0% 0%0%

1. Too broad2. Too narrow3. Just right

STRATEGIES FOR CHOOSING A TOPIC

• Brainstorm about what interests you

• Get ideas for topics from:– CQ Researcher & Opposing Viewpoints– Specialized encyclopedias– Reputable websites

CQ RESEARCHER & OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS

• CQ Researcher-comprehensive, balanced reports on a variety of controversial or current topics/issues

• Opposing Viewpoints-articles & essays on a variety of controversial or current topics

• Use both to get ideas for topics

Off Campus Login

SPECIALIZED ENCYCLOPEDIAS

• Good place to start if you don’t know very much about a topic.

• http://tinyurl.com/ydueqo7

REPUTABLE WEBSITES

• What makes a website reputable or trusthworthy?

EVALUATING WEBSITES

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION

AUTHORITYIs the author stated? Does he/she have the necessary education or experience on the subject? Is the page part of an individual's site or part of an organization's site? If an organization, is it reputable? Is contact information available?

ACCURACYIs the site free of obvious errors? Does the author give proper attribution to borrowed information or knowledge?

OBJECTIVITYDoes the author have a bias, taking a position on an issue, or giving only one side of the story? Is the site designed to promote or sell a service or product? What's the purpose of the site? To what audience is the author writing?

CONTENTDoes this website contain the kind of information that I need? Does the site offer something unique that is not found elsewhere? Is the subject well-researched and covered comprehensively? Is the information well organized?

CURRENCYDoes the web page show when it was last updated? Is the information up-to-date? How current are the links?  Have some expired or moved?

IS WIKIPEDIA REPUTABLE?

ADVANCED GOOGLE SEARCHING

OTHER RESOURCES FOR TOPIC SELECTION

• http://library.weber.edu/ref/guides/howto/topicselection.cfm

• http://www.pcc.edu/library/research/how_select_topic.html

• http://www.stonybrook.edu/library/tutorial/mod1/index.shtml