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The research paper has been the most commonly used method of evaluating whether students can successfully apply information seeking skills, but there are other ways that are especially suitable for undergraduates at the two-year level. Below are some alternatives. Contact your librarian to discuss how any of these assignments may be adapted for your course.
1. Journal/Magazine Articles
Locate articles on a particular topic using a specified online
periodical index. Write a short summary of each article and why
it is considered relevant to the search topic.
Purpose: Students learn how to search by subject in an online index, interpret citations, evaluate the relevance of citations, locate the articles in the library's collection, as needed, and read critically for the essential information.
2. Reference Sources
Find information on an assigned topic(s) or find answers to assigned
questions among a selected group of reference sources in the course
subject area.
Purpose: Students learn how particular reference sources in the subject area being studied can be useful to augment the textbook and lecture material.
3. Popular Vs. Scholarly Information
Find two articles on the same topic, one from a popular magazine
and the other from a professional journal, preferably a research
study. Compare the treatment of the same topic written by a non-expert
and one written by an expert considering such things as accuracy,
objectivity, coverage and accuracy.
Purpose: Teaches the students to consider the source of their information and to appreciate research activity and scholarship in the given field.
4. All But the Research Paper
Conduct the research for a term paper.
Do everything except write it. Students submit a clearly defined
topic, an annotated bibliography of useful sources, an outline
of a paper, a thesis statement, and an opening paragraph and summary.
Purpose: Focuses on the stages of research and the parts of a paper, rather than on the writing of it.
5. Internet Search
Write a precise statement of the search
topic and the keywords chosen for the topic. Run the search on
two different search engines. List the steps taken to find the
needed information. Evaluate the results from the two searches
using particular criteria presented by the librarian.
Purpose: Teaches the mechanics of Internet searching, the importance of evaluating all sources retrieved from the Internet, the importance of preparing a search before going online, and the value in using more than one source for an information search.
6, Database Search
Prepare the search by selecting keywords
or thesaurus terms, when available. Conduct a search in a pre-selected
database (or have the students pick the most appropriate one).
Find a specified number of references and write a short explanation
on why the particular reference is relevant to the search topic.
Purpose: Shows the importance of advance preparation of the search and teaches how to use a particular database. Challenges students to find relevant sources and justify their selections.
7. Examine Coverage of A Controversial Issue
Examine the treatment of a controversial issue in several different
sources such as newspapers, books, magazines, scholarly journals,
and web sites. Write a paper that presents a balanced point of
view on the issue or ask the students to take a position based
on the information.
Purpose: Gives them experience in locating different kinds of sources and selecting from a large volume of references. Emphasizes that there are multiple perspectives on any issue and stresses the importance of making informed decisions.
8. Finding Supporting Information
Give the students an article to critique.
Have them locate two sources (other articles, web sites) which
support (or not) the points made in the original article.
Purpose: Gives the students an opportunity to understand the importance of using more than one source when gathering information.
9. Comparing Print and Web Resources
Locate and examine a print source and
a web site on the same topic to determine indicators of quality
in each item; where exactly they found those indicators; and the
appropriate use for each item.
Purpose: Students will learn that the Web has not replaced print resources but rather the Web should be used as a complement to them.
Adapted from a list published by the Memorial University of Newfoundland Libraries (2000).
Diana Fitzwater
College of DuPage Library
rev. June 2003
