GSC 180: Information Literacy

SYLLABUS- Fall 2009

M-W12:00 – 12:50 pm; 1 Credit Hour

Instructor: Mary Margaret LowePhone: (502) 863-8403

Email:ffice: LRC 231

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides an introduction to information research skills which include: an understanding of how information and knowledge are produced and orgranized within a societal context; creating effective strategies for finding information; developing competency in using print and electronic sources to locate information; developing critical thinking skills to evaluate information found; how to cite information in a works cited list, and issues related to plagiarism, coypright, and intellectual freedom; and the effective application of these skills during and after college.

TEXTS AND MATERIALS

  1. Required Texts:
  2. The Oxford Guide to Library Research: How to Find Reliable Information Online and Offline, by Thomas Mann; Oxford University Press, c2005, Third Edition, ISBN-13: 978-0-19-518998-8 ($19.99 paperback)
  3. A Writer’s Reference, Diana Hacker, Bedford / St. Martin’s Press, c2007, Sixth Edition, ISBN-13: 978-0-312-465315 ($46.20 paperback). You may already have this book or you will need it for your English classes. There are also several copies at the Library.
  4. Articles and Websites –finding some of these will be part of your assignment, others will be linked on Moodle
  5. “Glossary of Information Literacy Terms,”
  6. “The Basics of LC and Dewey," by Sheryl Stump and Rick Torgerson, Mississippi Libraries 68, no. 2 (Summer 2004): 43-5, on Reserve at the Library
  7. "What is Plagiarism?”, by Scott McLemee, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Volume 51, Issue 17, Page A9
  8. "Controlled Vocabularies: A Primer," by Julia Marshall, Key Words 13, no. 4 (October 2005): 120-124.
  9. “What is WorldCat?” see Moodle for durable URL link
  10. "Subject Headings 2.0: Folksonomies and Tags," by Jessamyn West, Library Media Connection 25, no. 7 (April/May 2007): 58-9
  11. “Researching with Wikipedia,”
  12. “Thinking Critically about Web 2.0 and Beyond”, by Esther Grassian, UCLA:
  13. Handouts
  14. The Vocabulary of Information Literacy – also see website
  15. List of potential research topics
  16. The Library of Congress Classification System
  17. Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines

NB:There are approximately 255 pages of reading for this course. 59 of those pages are about MLA citation style, in the book “A Writer’s Reference.”If you already know MLA style, you will read less than 200 pages. You will NOT be tested on MLA style; you just need to refer to it to complete your projects.

The non-MLA readings you will use for projects, put into practice in class,for group work, and on the quizzes.

COURSE OBJECTIVES / LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has standards and performance indicators for information literacy. We use those standards as part of our course objectives and learning outcomes.

Students will gain:

  • The ability to examine information critically and determine its authenticity, credibility, intellectual content, bias.
  • The ability to determine the proper tool needed to located desired information
  • The ability to use print, electronic, and Internet indexes in various academic disciplines to location information
  • The ability to use and understand library reference tools and classification systems

Students will:

  • Understand how knowledge is produced and organized in society
  • Understand how information and knowledge are affected by cultural, political and economic factors
  • Understand issues related to plagiarism, copyright, intellectual freedom, and the public vs. private ownership of information

COURSE REQUIREMENTS & METHODS OF EVALUATION

You will receive a letter grade for the course, and it will be calculated into your GPA. The criteria for determining your course grade are as follows:

Item for Evaluation / Points / % of Grade
Quick Quizzes: There will be a quick quiz at the beginning of most classes. These quizzes will be based entirely on the readings and handouts. / 50 / 10%
Project # 1: Finding and Evaluating Books, Due November 2, 2009
For this project, you will: 1) Decide on a research topic, with approval by your instructor; 2) Locate five (5) books, including one reference work; 3) Evaluate these 5 books for their relevancy to your topic;4) Create an annotated bibliography / 100 / 20%
In Class Learning and Participation / 100 / 20%
Project # 2 – Finding and Evaluating Journal Articles, Due November 18, 2009
For this project you will: 1) Locate 7relevant articles on your research topic from scholarly journals; 2) Evaluate an additional 3 articles that your search brought up that were not as relevant; 3) Describe your search strategy and how you refined it to locate more relevant articles; 4) Create an annotated bibliography for all 10 articles / 100 / 20%
Final Research Project – Finding and Evaluating Information Resources, due December 14, 2009, at 5 pm
For the Final Research Project, you will 1) Create and refine a search strategy for online resources; 2) Locate three (3) websites with “good enough” information and seven (7) websites that are “not good enough”; 3) Describe the successes and challenges of your search strategy and how you refined it to locate more relevant sources; 4) Turn in an annotated bibliography with your 5 books, 10 articles, and 10 websites / 150 / 30%
Total Points / 500 / 100%

GradePercent Points

A93 - 100465 - 500

AB88 – 92440 - 464

B83 – 87415 - 439

BC78 – 82390 - 414

C70 – 77350 - 389

D60 – 70300 - 349

Fbelow 60below 300

COURSE OUTLINE

* There will be a quick quiz at the beginning of most classes.

The quizzes will come entirely from the readings and handouts. Each quiz will be worth 5 points. *

Class / Date / Class Topics and Activities / Readings / Homework / Projects
To be completed in preparation for this class
1 / 12 Oct 09 / Introduction - Course Syllabus
Pre-test– Vocabulary of Info Lit /
  1. In Class: Discussion of Syllabus and Expectations
  2. Handout: The Vocabulary of Information Literacy
  3. Handout: List of potential research projects

2 / 14 Oct 09 / In Your Own Backyard
Tour of the Library - Overview of the library’s website - Reserves /
  1. Turn in: Your research topic – see me if you need help
  2. Read: Oxford Guide To Library Research: Preface (pages xiii-xx)

3 / 19 Oct 09 / Finding and Evaluating Books
Library online catalog (OPAC) - Boolean operators -What is a record–Library of Congress Classification /
  1. Read: Oxford, Chapter 10 (pages 153-175)
  2. Read: “The Basics of LC and Dewey," by Sheryl Stump and Rick Torgerson, on Reserve at the Library
  3. Brochure: Library of Congress Classification System

4 / 21 Oct 09 / Organization – You and LC
Library of Congress Subject Headings– Organization Skills /
  1. Read: Oxford, Chapter 2 (pages 18-45)
  2. Read: A Writer’s Reference, pages 317-352
  3. In- class group collaboration on organization skills

5 / 26 Oct 09 / Reference – Encyclopedias –Dictionaries – Atlases – Etc / Read: Oxford, Chapter 1 (pages 1-17)
6 / 28 Oct 09 / What is a Citation?
Citation Styles - Bibliographies / Read: A Writer’s Reference, pages 353-386 and page 412. This is on MLA Style. You will NOT be tested on MLA Style; refer to these pages to complete your projects.
7 / 02 Nov 09 / Do The Right Thing
Copyright & Plagiarism
Academic Freedom & Censorship /
  1. Turn in Project # 1: Evaluating Books
  2. Read: "What is Plagiarism?”, by Scott McLemee, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Volume 51, Issue 17, Page A9
  3. In-class group collaboration on censorship

8 / 04 Nov 09 / Evaluating Periodical Articles Scholarly Journals vs. Popular -
In Class Group Project /
  1. Read Handout: Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines
  2. In-class group participation project on scholarly journals

9 / 09 Nov 09 / How to Navigate Databases
Keywords – Search Strategies - Controlled Vocabularies /
  1. Read: Oxford, Chapter 4 – 5 (pages 65-119)
  2. Read: "Controlled Vocabularies: A Primer," by Julia Marshall, Key Words 13, no. 4 (October 2005): 120-124.

10 / 11 Nov 09 / Advanced Search - First Search
Abstract vs. Full Text - pdf vs. html /
  1. Read: Oxford, Chapter 8 (pages 134-140)
  2. Read: A Writer’s Reference, pages 386-404

11 / 16 Nov 09 / … And More
JSTOR - Wilson Web - NY Times -Sport Discus- Lexis Nexis / No reading today! Continue your work on Project #2.
12 / 18 Nov 09 / Evaluating Internet Resources
The good, the bad, and the ugly -
Wikipedia – Google– open searching –“good enough” info /
  1. Turn in Project # 2: Evaluating Periodical Articles
  2. Find and Read: “Researching with Wikipedia,”

13 / 23 Nov 09 / The Big World of Information
World Cat - Other Libraries – InterLibrary Loan /
  1. Find, print, and turn in any article from the New York Times for the day you were born
  2. Read: Oxford, Chapter 11 (pages 176-184)
  3. Read: “What is WorldCat?”

14 / 30 Nov 09 / What’s New & What’s Next?
Non-Traditional Sources - Web 2.0 - Social Tagging – Listservs & Chats – Lifelong Learning /
  1. Read:"Subject Headings 2.0: Folksonomies and Tags," by Jessamyn West,
  2. Read: “Thinking Critically about Web 2.0 and Beyond”, by Esther Grassian

15 / 02 Dec 09 / Wrap-up, Evaluation & Post-test / Read: Oxford,Appendix: Wisdom (pages 275-281)
14 Dec 09 / Final Research Project due 5 pm / Finding and Evaluating Information Resources

ATTENDANCE POLICY- ACADEMIC HONESTY – SPECIAL NEEDS

  • More than ONE unexcused absence will result in a lower grade. More than TWO unexcused class absences will result in automatic failure. Your attendance and participation are required.
  • Athletic or social eventsor do not count as excused absences. If you decide to miss a class for such a non-academic event this may result in a lower grade. You should talk to your professors in advance to see if it is possible to make up some of the work or earn extra credit.
  • Your full attention and participation in each class are expected. Texting, emailing, games or other non-class activities may result in a lowered grade.
  • Scholastic dishonesty is the submission of work material that is not one’s own. If this occurs, the guidelines established within the Honor Code for Georgetown College Students will be followed.
  • Special Needs: Please contact Dr. Lloyd Clarkat the WellnessCenter (502) 863-7074 to receive documentation for special needs. Your instructor will need notice of this during the first week of class so that arrangements can be made to accommodate your needs. Please don’t hesitate to see me for further assistance.

GSC 180: Syllabus Page 1 of 8