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Tuesday, August 26th, 2014, led by Margot Hanson and Michele Van Hoeck BETTER RESEARCH PAPERS: WORKSHOP YOUR HANDOUT 2:00-3:30 PM, LIBRARY GREEN ROOM Would you like to see higher quality research papers from students? Are you discouraged by grading papers with weak sources or insufficient citation? Drawing on recommendations from studies of student research habits, as well as librarian experience working with Cal Maritime students, attendees will work with a partner to revise one of their own research assignment handouts (prompts). NOTE: Please bring a paper copy of one of your research paper assignments to the workshop.
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Better Research Papers: Workshop Your Handout
Margot Hanson and Michele Van HoeckTuesday, August 26th 2014
2:00-3:30 PM, Library Green Room
Today’s Agenda
2:00
2:20
2:40
3:05
3:15
Welcome• Project Information Literacy research findings
Small Group Activity• Evaluation of sample handout
Individual Activity and Group Discussion• Evaluate and redesign your own handout
Resources• Help for Research Guidance and Support
Closing and Evaluation
When you review research assignments, what do you see students struggling with most?
https://todaysmeet.com/BetterResearchPapers
"Truth Be Told: How College Students Evaluate and Use Information in the Digital Age,"
Alison J. Head and Michael B. Eisenberg, Project Information Literacy Progress Report, November 1, 2010.
MAJOR FINDINGS
"Assigning Inquiry: How Handouts for Research Assignments Guide Today's College Students," Alison J. Head and Michael B. Eisenberg, Project Information
Literacy Progress Report, July 13, 2010
83% of handouts in our sample
called for the standard research paper.
Few handouts asked students to present findings using other formats, including multimedia
and oral presentations.
"Assigning Inquiry: How Handouts for Research Assignments Guide Today's College Students," Alison J. Head and Michael B. Eisenberg, Project Information
Literacy Progress Report, July 13, 2010
Six in 10 handouts
recommended students consult the library shelves—a place-
based source—more than scholarly research databases, the library catalog, the Web,
or…any other resource.
"Assigning Inquiry: How Handouts for Research Assignments Guide Today's College Students," Alison J. Head and Michael B. Eisenberg, Project Information
Literacy Progress Report, July 13, 2010
Few of the handouts (14%) that
directed students to use the libraryʼs online scholarly
research databases…specified which database to use…from the hundreds that tend to be
available.
"Assigning Inquiry: How Handouts for Research Assignments Guide Today's College Students," Alison J. Head and Michael B. Eisenberg, Project Information
Literacy Progress Report, July 13, 2010
Details about plagiarism, if mentioned at all, were scant and tended to emphasize the
disciplinary recourse instructors would take against students who were caught in acts of academic dishonesty.
"Assigning Inquiry: How Handouts for Research Assignments Guide Today's College Students," Alison J. Head and Michael B. Eisenberg, Project Information
Literacy Progress Report, July 13, 2010
Few of the handouts provided information for contacting
instructors when students had questions about a research
assignment, whether by email, face-to-face, the telephone, or
in online forums.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Add Situational Context
Why are students being asked to engage in a pedagogical research exercise in a certain course in the first place?
Peel back the layers of the knowledge production process and what it means in the academic environment, in a given discipline, in a given class.
Add Information-Gathering Context
Research assignments, in general, should have students learn how to derive information from multiple and diverseformats.
Ask for Help
Contact a librarian and/or CETL for help, ideas, and inspiration.
HOT TIPSAdapted from Maricopa Community College District Libraries
Verify and sample resources available at the library
Model with a sample paper
http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/reading-writing/on-line/mla-sample-research-paper.gif
Experiment with short, lessoverwhelming essays or projects
Scaffold by providing steps & support structure for students
Flickr user Ron Cogswell
Teach students to select quality information &
Evaluate sources appropriate to their topics
Open Clipart
Offer a reasonable time frame & mini deadlines for the assignment
Be clear with the citation style & format. Offer examples!
Encourage students to ask for help
Invite a librarian to class!
"Assigning Inquiry: How Handouts for Research Assignments Guide Today's College Students," Alison J. Head and Michael B. Eisenberg, Project Information
Literacy Progress Report, July 13, 2010
76% of students surveyed
considered written guidelines about course-related
assignments to be one of the most helpful materials an
instructor can provide.
EVALUATION TIME!
