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CCOG for LIB 101 Spring 2024

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Course Number:
LIB 101
Course Title:
Introduction to Research: Understand, Find, and Evaluate
Credit Hours:
1
Lecture Hours:
10
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Identifies how different types of information formats are created and how to find, critically evaluate, and cite them as part of a research process. Applies critical thinking to examine different types of expertise and authority in a variety of contexts. Discusses social justice and equity issues in information publishing and access. Prerequisites: Placement into WR 115 or IRW 115. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

  1. Identify how an information source was created.
  2. Find and cite different types of information sources using PCC Library search tools and the free web.
  3. Critically evaluate the relevance and credibility of an information source based on the question or information need.

Aspirational Goals

  1. Identify social justice and equity issues in information publishing and access

Course Activities and Design

Course activities may include, for example:

  • Selecting and exploring a topic of interest
  • Finding and summarizing a variety of types of sources on a particular topic
  • Citing sources using a standard format (APA, MLA, etc.)
  • Describing how a certain type of source was created
  • Describing the differences between scholarly, popular, and professional/trade sources 
  • Critically evaluating or comparing sources 
  • Discussing how cognitive biases impact their evaluation of sources
  • Tracking how evidence is used in a particular source
  • Identifying dominant narratives or describing what voices are missing from a particular conversation
  • Reflecting on their research experience

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Assessment strategies may include:

  • Participation in discussions
  • Research worksheets
  • Quizzes
  • Annotated bibliographies
  • Class presentations
  • Self reflection on their learning

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

THEMES:

  • Information
  • Persistence
  • Critical thinking

CONCEPTS:

  • Economics of information
  • Authority and attribution
  • Academic conversation
  • Dominant narratives

SKILLS:
After this class, students will be able to (demonstrate the ability to):

  • Articulate a research topic, and identify what information they need.
  • Critically evaluate information and recognize the value of various types of information.
  • Identify a variety of sources of information, and the characteristics of the information found in them.
  • Develop a search strategy based on their research topic, and search a variety of information resources effectively.
  • Describe what resources (human, physical and electronic) they can expect to find in a library, and how to access those resources.