4/18/2024 8:35:52 PM	LIR 50 Course Outline as of Fall 2000	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  LIR 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		11 max.	Lecture Scheduled	22.00
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	0		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	2.00			Contact Total	22.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  44.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 66.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  03 - May Be Taken for a Total of 3 Units
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  LIBSC 50

Catalog Description:

An introduction to methods, strategies and resources for preparing research papers, reports and essays.  Develop search strategies in print; gather electronic and Internet resources, and evaluate information on a focused topic; organize ideas for written form; and use an appropriate citation and bibliographic style.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Completion or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 100A, 100B or 100.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to methods, strategies and resources for preparing research papers and essays.  Develop search strategies in print; gather electronic and Internet resources and evaluate information on a focused topic; organize ideas for written form; and use an appropriate citation and bibliographic style.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 100A, 100B or 100.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:03 - May Be Taken for a Total of 3 Units

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.  Identify and develop an idea for a topic and formulate a

   thesis statement.

2.  Locate sources for background information on the topic using Subject

   Encyclopedias and similar resources in printed and electronic formats

   and on the Internet.

3.  Identify related and relevant books in library catalogs using SRJC

   OPAC and remote catalogs.

4.  Identify related and relevant articles in magazines and newspapers

   using printed indexes, electronic databases.

5.  Locate Web sites relevant to the topic by using links,

   Subject Directories and Search Engines.

6.  Critically evaluate information sources found using specified

   information competency criteria (e.g. source quality, relevancy, date,

   etc.) for initial appraisal and content analysis.

7.  Distinguish between scholarly, general interest, popular and

   sensational resources found.

8.  Organize the topic, write a thesis statement, develop an outline

   and participate in class discussions of thesis statements.

9.  Select and apply an appropriate citation and bibliographic style and

   list and discuss the ethical, legal, and socio-political issues

   surrounding information and information technology.

Topics and Scope

1.  Understand purpose and use of:

   a.  Reference resources for Background information

       Biography & Directory information

       Data & Statistics

       Dictionaries and Handbooks

       Bibliographies and Indexes

   b.  OPAC (SRJC and remote) access to book records

       Know bibliographic elements describing a book

   c.  Periodicals accessed through Print and online indexes

       Know bibliographic (citation) elements for periodicals

   d.  The Internet's World Wide Web

       Web pages and sites

       Subject Directories and Search Engines

       Links and Bookmarks

2.  Concept Formation

   a.  Work from the general to the specific

   b.  Translate ideas into the terminology found in catalogs, indexes,

       and readings

   c.  Pursue bibliographic references and WWW links

3.  Keep track of resources used

   a.  Citations for books, periodicals and Internet sources

   b.  Descriptive, evaluative annotations

   c.  Responsible use of copyrighted material

4.  Critically evaluate resources found based on:

   a.  Authority of the author

   b.  Date, edition, publisher/journal

   c.  Evidence about intended audience

   d.  Evidence of objective reasoning

   e.  Coverage (primary; secondary; scholarly vs. sensational;

       extensive; marginal;3foundation; update)

   f.  Writing style; references; URLs

   g.  Published reviews of the resource

5.  The importance of a thesis statement

   a.  The core paragraph; structuring the ideas

6.  Mechanics of writing a paper

   a.  Outline

   b.  References, documentation formats, and styles

   c.  Annotated bibliography

   d.  Recognize permissible uses of intellectual property.

       1.  Differentiate between fair use and plagiarism

       2.  Identify copyrighted information

Assignments:

1.  Exercise to introduce the following library resources:

   OPAC

   Periodicals

   WWW

   Reference Area

2.  Exercise in concept formation for focusing a topic

   Develop vocabulary for the search using reference backgrounding

   sources, controlled vocabulary and keyword searching

   WWW Subject Directories

   Evaluate Web sites

3.  Exercise in note taking and evaluative annotations while gathering

   relevant and appropriate information on the focused topic, in print,

   electronic and on the Internet.

4.  Exercise in locating sources of current information

   Recognize opinion in print and Web sites

   Form a balanced outline of ideas

5.  Exercise in recognizing scholarly, general interest, popular, and

   sensational writing in print, electronic and WWW work.  Write

   evaluative annotations.

6.  Presentation of final projects

   The completed project is a typed report with a title, a paragraph

   describing the thesis of the report, an outline of the ideas and

   argumentation supporting the thesis; and a bibliography

   following one of the professional publication styles, such as MLA

   or APA.

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 10 - 30%
Written homework, Reading reports, Thesis statements, outlines and annotations
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 30%
Homework problems, Print handouts, electronic assignments
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 40%
Class performances, Outlines, thesis statements, annotations
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 25%
Multiple choice, True/false, Completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 20%
Class discussion of skills/assignments

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Instructor developed syllabus.

 Supplemental:  LITTLE BROWN GUIDE TO WRITING RESEARCH PAPERS by

                Meyer, Michael, ed. 1994.

           WRITING RESEARCH PAPERS & CITING CYBERSPACE by

           Lester, James. D. 1998.

           ONLINE! INTERNET GUIDE FOR STUDENTS & WRITERS by

           Harnack, Andrew; Kleppinger, Gene. 1997.

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