LIBR 665 SELECTED TOPICS: INFORMATION SKILLS FOR RISING SCHOLARS

Fall 2006

Fridays beginning October 6, 2006

11:10- 12noon

Instructor: Teresa Morris, Librarian

Phone Number: 650-574-6579

Office: CSM Library

Email: morrist@smccd.edu

Office Hours: By appointment

 

Course Description and Objectives

An introduction to the library and research for members of the EOPS Rising Scholars Learning Community. Includes instruction on using the catalog, library databases, and the Internet, as well as critical evaluation of sources. Credit/No Credit grading. May be taken up to four times for a maximum of 2 units.

 

Objectives for this course include:

·       Students will be able to describe the location of basic resources and services in the physical library and the library website.

·       Students will be able to evaluate and critique online information and websites.

·       Students will be able to explain the concept of plagiarism and demonstrate methods of citing sources.

 

Class Format: Class sessions will include group discussions, lectures, demonstrations and hands on exercises.

Required Texts and Materials

List-Handley, Carla. (2005). Information Literacy and Technology. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing. ON RESERVE AT CSM LIBRARY

College of San Mateo Catalog 2006-2007 http://collegeofsanmateo.edu/files/01_cat_0607.pdf

Class Website: http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/morrist/libr665.html

Course Requirements

Your grade for the semester will be based on the following assignments and activities:

·       In-Class and Out of Class Assignments:. The first five minutes of some class periods will be a reflective writing assignment. Two out of class exercises will be assigned.

·       Final Exam Presentation: Students will be presenting an evaluation of a library tutorial. Criteria for this evaluation will be discussed in class.    

·       Class Participation: Students should attend all meetings of their classes, not only because they are responsible for material discussed therein, but also because active participation is essential to insure maximum benefit for all members of the class. Quality class participation includes volunteering information and ideas to class discussions, as well as contributing (with solid effort) to group in-class activities.

Grading Policies and Assessment Standards

Submission Policy: Out-of-class assignments are due at the beginning of class periods – hand it to the instructor in person or send by email before class to morrist@smccd.edu  - send assignment as an attachment to the email. Late assignments will have 2 points deducted from the grade until there are no more points available. Exceptions require an official notice from a doctor, court officer, or other official.

 

Assignment Format: All out-of-class assignments must be typed and printed single-sided on white paper. Papers must be formatted as with double line spacing, 1” margins, and a standard font such as Times or Geneva set at 12-point size.

 

Grading: This class has Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) grading. Students must earn at least Satisfactory to receive a CR grade.

Excellent                                 90 – 100 points

Good                                       80 – 89 points

Satisfactory                             70 – 79 points

Less than Satisfactory              60 – 69 points

Failing                                     0 - 59 points

 

Assignment Weight:

Assignment

Points

4 In Class Reflective Writing (10 points each)

40

Book Assignment

15

Journal Article Assignment

15

Class Participation

10

Final Examination

20

Total

100

 

Course Schedule

Reading assignments listed are to be completed by the date listed.

Date

Topic of the Day

Assignments or Readings for Class Period

10/6

Introduction and review of syllabus.

 

10/13

Finding and refining a topic

Before class: Read pp 61-64 in Information Literacy and Technology. Stop reading on page 64 at the header “Getting Help in Analyzing Your Topic: Tools for Research

In Class: Reflective writing#1

In Class Tools:

Scenarios

First Brainstorming

Steps for Refining Your Topic

10/20

CSM Library Website

In Class: Reflective Writing #2

In Class Tools:

Library Websites

10/27

Library catalog

In Class: Reflective Writing #3 POSTPONED until Friday 11/3/06

Using the library catalog

Library of Congress classification system

How books are arranged in the CSM Library

11/3

Evaluating Websites

Before Class: Read pp109 – 115 from Information Literacy and Technology

Due by Start of Class: Library Catalog assignment

In Class: Reflective Writing #3

Evaluating Websites

11/10

Veterans Day Holiday – NO CLASS – HOLIDAY RECESS

11/17

Using and Finding Journal Articles

In Class: Reflective Writing #4 POSTPONED until Friday 12/1/06

Finding Journal Articles 

11/24

Thanksgiving Holiday – NO CLASS – HOLIDAY RECESS

12/1

Plagiarism, Giving Credit and Proper Citation

Before class: Read pp33-34 in College of San Mateo Catalog 2006 -2007. Section: Guidelines Addressing Cheating and Plagiarism

Due by Start of Class: Journal Article assignment.

12/8

Last Day of Class

Before Class: Read pp123 – 130 from Information Literacy and Technology

“Tell me what you know” Review

Understanding Plagiarism website from Indiana University

12/12

12/13

TAKE NOTICE ! (schedule of classes has incorrect day)

Final Examination 11:10am – 1:40pm in CSM Library Classroom

Academic Integrity Policy

Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s language, images, data, or ideas without proper attribution. It is a very serious offense in both academic and professional environments. In essence, plagiarism is both theft and lying: you have stolen someone else’s ideas, and then lied by implying that they are your own.  Plagiarism will lead to grade penalties. It might also result in you failing the course and/or having the incident permanently noted in your CSM student records. If you are unsure what plagiarism is, it is your responsibility to educate yourself, or ask for an explanation, before you hand in written work

 

CSM Definitions

“Cheating” refers to unauthorized help on an assignment, quiz, or examination as follows:

(1) a student must not receive from any other student or give to any other student any information, answers, or help during an exam; (2) a student must not use unauthorized sources for answers during an exam, must not take notes or books to the exam when such aids are forbidden, and must not refer to any book or notes while taking the exam unless the instructor indicates it is an “open book” exam; and (3) a student must not obtain exam questions illegally before an exam or tamper with an exam after it has been corrected.

“Plagiarism” means submitting work that is someone else’s as one’s own. For example, copying material from a book or other source without acknowledging that the words or ideas are someone else’s, and not one’s own, is plagiarism. If a student copies an author’s words exactly, he or she should treat the passage as a direct quotation and supply the appropriate citation. If someone else’s ideas are used, even if it is paraphrased, appropriate credit should be given. Lastly, a student commits plagiarism when a term paper is purchased and/or submitted which he or she did not write.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students requiring accommodations for a certified disability that may affect class performance are requested to schedule an appointment during the first week of the semester with a staff member at the Disability Resource Center (DRC) so that appropriate arrangements can be made. The DRC is located in Bldg. 16 Room 150. phone: 574-6438