An experimental introduction to research for undergraduate students. Obviously, tons of commentary, stories, examples, interaction, conversation ... would accompany the slides.

1. WELCOME

2. Research

3. Our Agenda
Information Literacy
The Research Process
Research Resources

4. Information Literacy
• Is not just a necessity, but
a basic human right that
promotes social inclusion
in all nations.
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)

5. Critical Thinking Skills
• the ability to reflect critically upon
and evaluate their own research
strategies,
• the tools used,
• the resources found
• and the context in which the
resources were produced.

6. Text
Text
Text
Where do I begin?

8. Research Process
1. Find and develop a topic
2. Find background information
3. Find books about your topic
4. Find newspaper and journal articles
about your topic
5. Find Websites
6. Evaluate what you find
7. Cite the material you use

9. Library As Portal

10. Most topics are way too big!

11. FIND AND DEVELOP A TOPIC
• Narrow it down
• Break it down to sub-topics
• Remember assignment instructions
• What am I interested in?
• e.g. Global Warming

12. FIND BACKGROUND INFO
• Learn general terms and context
• Encyclopedia and Dictionaries
• e.g. Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change
GE 149 E443 2002
• Check bibliographies (works cited,
recommended resources, for more ideas)

13. FINDING BOOKS

14. FINDING ARTICLES
• Newspapers and Magazines
for popular views and info
• Academic Journal Articles
for the latest research
• Peer Review/ Scholarly Journals

15. FINDING ARTICLES

16. EVALUATE WHAT YOU FIND
• Author • Objective
Reasoning
• Date of Publication
• Coverage
• Edition or Revision
• Writing Style
• Publisher
• Evaluative
• Title of Journal Reviews
• Intended Audience • http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/
research/evaluate.html

17. INTERNET

18. • EVALUATING WEBSITES
• World Trade
Organization
• Dihydrogen Monoxide
• United Nations

19. LOOK FOR:
• Accuracy of the web site
• Authority
• Objectivity
• Currency
• Coverage
• http://www.uwindsor.ca/units/leddy/leddy.nsf/SearchTheWeb!OpenForm

20. Citing Your Sources

21. Writing Tools
•APA and MLA Styles
•Academic Writing
Centre
•Writing Help Page

22. Research Process
1. Find and develop a topic
2. Find background information
3. Find books about your topic
4. Find newspaper and journal articles
about your topic
5. Find Websites
6. Evaluate what you find
7. Cite the material you use

23. Here’s An Example
• Global Warming >
• Alternative Energies >
• Wind, Solar, Tidal, Thermal >
• World > Canada
• Trend: the use of solar energy
in Canada

24. Library As Portal

25. Thank you!