1/15/2025 5:03:33 AM	LIBSC 50 Course Outline as of Fall 1981	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  LIBSC 50	Title:  RESEARCH SKILLS
Full Title:  Research Skills for Papers, Reports & Essays
Last Reviewed:3/24/2014

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		6 max.	Lecture Scheduled	12.00
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	18.00
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	30.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  24.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 54.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Short course providing strategies for successful term papers and reports; choosing a topic, using the library skillfully to gather information, notetaking, organizing ideas into written form, footnotes and bibliography. Students choose track for science, social science, or humanities, depending upon need.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Completion of or concurrent enrollment in English 100A or equivalent English 100B or equivalent or eligibility for English 1A.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Short course providing strategies for successful term papers & reports; choosing a topic, using the library skillfully to gather information, notetaking, organizing ideas into written form, footnotes, & bibliography. Students choose track for science, social science, or humanities, depending upon need.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion of or concurrent enrollment in English 100A or equivalent English 100B or equivalent or eligibility for English 1A.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:	Fall 2016
Area:	I	Information Literacy
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:	Fall 2016
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2003	Inactive:	Fall 2016
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Not Certificate/Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

  Students will:

     1. demonstrate the ability to use the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT

        HEADINGS to generate concepts and correct vocabulary for a

        term paper topic.

     2. locate, analyze, and take notes on background information on

        an assigned person, event, or concept, using appropriate

        subject encyclopedias.

     3. synthesize background information using techniques of technical

        reading and complete a series of notecards demonstrating

        effective notetaking techniques.

     4. use the card catalog effectively for subject searching

        demonstrating understanding of the filing rules and subject

        headings.

     5. construct an outline on the topic of their choice.

     6. utilize periodical indexes to locate and choose magazine and

        newspaper articles on their topic.

     7. evaluate government documents, book reviews sources, and

        biographical reference tools to select information on their

        topic.

     8. assemble a bibliography on a topic of their choice utilizing

        correct MLA, APA or other professional bibliographic style.

     9. formulatea thesis statement for a term paper.

    10. observe a demonstration of on-line database searching and

        familiarize themselves with the functions of Boolean operators.

    11. summarize their research results in an oral presentation.

Topics and Scope

  1.  Concept formation

        a. using idea wheels

        b. developing vocabulary

        c. using Library of Congress subject headings

 2.  Backgrounding, organizing, and reading techniques

        a. locating and using specialized encyclopedias

        b. synthesizing data on important concepts, people, events,

           dates, etc.

        c. taking notes and using notecards

        d. reading technically

        e. evaluating the authority of an author

        f. recognizing elements in a bibliographic citation

 3.  Effective use of the card catalog

        a. filing rules

        b. subject heading structure and tracings

        c. Library of Congress classification system

        d. bibliographic elements on the catalog card

 4.  Choice and use of magazine and newspaper indexes

        a. computerized indexes; InfoTrac

        b. print indexes including abstract services

        c. online computerized searching and Boolean operators

 5.  Investigation of additional research tools

        a. government documents

        b. book reviews

        c. biographical sources

        d. literary criticism

        e. essays

 6.  Formulation of a thesis statement of appropriate size and content.

 7.  Mechanics of writing a paper

        a. making an outline

        b. footnotes and parentheical references

        c. bibliographies and lists of works cited

        d. writing bibliographic annotations

 8.  Written and oral presentation of thesis statement and research

        summary.

Assignments:

  1.  Completion of four idea wheels to generate term paper topics of

     increasing specificity. Completion of four subject heading

     "ladders" developed by using the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT

     HEADINGS; two ladders take subjects from the general to the

     specific and two go from specific to general.

 2.  Development of a set of notecards and a summary of an article

     from a subject encyclopedia.

 3.  An assignement of approximately five pages in which students

     apply library filing rules and LIBRARY OF CONGRESS call number

     ordering, identify all the elements on a catalog card, and use

     subject headings to locate books on a specific topic.

 4.  Approximately 5 pages of magazine and newspaper article look-ups

     in various periodical indexes. Students research topics of their

     choosing in appropriate indexes and then locate the articles

     using microform technology when necessary.

 5.  Thesis statement, outline, and annotated bibliography for a

     term paper topic of the student's choosing.

 6.  Oral presentation of research process and findings.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments and skill demonstrations are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 50%
Homework problems, Lab reports
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 30 - 60%
OUTLINES
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 25%
Multiple choice, Completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

  Instructor developed syllabus.

 Supplemental:  LITTLE BROWN GUIDE TO WRITING RESEARCH PAPERS by

                Meyer, Michael, ed.

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