Tips for Effective Library Assignments - LPC Library
Many LPC students are unfamiliar with Las Positas College
Library or with doing research in any academic library. Librarians
have consistently found that library research related to specific
class assignments is the most meaningful vehicle for teaching
library research techniques. It is vital to plan those class
assignments so that students can be successful in the library.
Students who have positive research experiences will be more
enthusiastic about future research assignments. Here are some
suggestions for designing library and research projects which
should foster student success.
- Assign individual or small group projects on
a variety of topics so that students are not competing for
the same materials. Place appropriate materials on reserve
if necessary.
- Verify the accuracy of references given to
students and make sure that the library owns the cited materials.
- Give clear instructions, preferably in writing;
students frequently misunderstand or forget an oral assignment.
- Avoid the "trivial pursuit" or "scavenger
hunt" type of assignment. Students have no idea where
to find answers, become very frustrated, and ask a librarian
for help with every question. They do not learn research
skills that help them in the future.
- Provide a list of appropriate resources to
give students something from which to work. These would include
electronic print resources and databases, subject encyclopedias,
and other reference books.
- Send a copy of your assignment to the LPC Library
Faculty. The librarians will be better prepared to assist
your students.
- The reference librarians are glad to consult
with you about designing successful library assignments.
We will suggest appropriate library sources, and/or teach
your class about research strategies and sources.
Teaching Research Strategies
A research strategy is an appropriate method for organizing
a research project that takes into account the kinds of information
sought and the sequence in which sources should be consulted.
While such strategies may seem obvious to experienced researchers,
they are often unknown to students. Steps in undergraduate
research strategies may include:
- Defining and narrowing the topic using a subject
encyclopedia article, textbook chapter, or current periodical
article for background information.
- Using appropriate electronic print resources
and databases to find reference resources, recent magazine,
newspaper, or journal articles.
- Using the Library catalog to locate books and
audiovisual materials on the topic.
Designing a research assignment in stages helps students learn
the steps of a research strategy and provides them with feedback
before they write their paper. For example, a preliminary assignment
may include a summary of an encyclopedia article, a bibliography
of proposed sources, and an abstract of a key article or book.
This process also provides you the opportunity to make sure
students are choosing appropriate sources for their assignments.
Alternatives to the Research Paper
Depending on the course, it may be more appropriate to assign
something besides the traditional research paper. Here are
some suggestions:
- Students prepare an annotated bibliography
of sources on a specific topic. (Hint: Provide a sample citation
and annotation or show students the links provided to samples
of annotations at LPC Library - Citation Style Guides.
- Students write abstracts of periodical articles
on a specific topic (Hint: Provide a sample citation and
abstract.)
- Students compare a popular magazine article
with a scholarly article on the same topic.
- Students compare a liberal magazine article
with a conservative magazine article on the same controversial
topic.
- Students compare two or more scholarly book
reviews on an important book in the subject area of the course.
(Hint: Provide a list of books and have each student choose
a different book. Check with the Library Faculty that book
reviews can be found on the chosen books.)
Student Citation of Sources
Las Positas College Library faculty prepare a guide to citation
of sources using the MLA and APA format in printed templates and online. These guides may be found in the Library or online. The guide is made available on the Library Hompage
at Citation Style Guides. An online bibliography composer, NoodleBib, may also be found online at the Library Homepage and on the Citation Style Guides link.
Faculty asking for cited research assignments should consider
using MLA for the following reasons:
- The Library Faculty is familiar with MLA so
that they can help students with citation difficulties.
- The LPC Library Citation Style Guides pages are often updated to reflect the changing collection in the
Library, including electronic resouces.
- MLA is not the only citation method, however,
it is more important for student to learn a standard method
of citation in the short two years they are here than it
is for them to attempt to learn the various styles for each
discipline.
- If students understand the basics required
of citation, such as, author, article title, title of book
or website, imprint (place, publisher, date), web address,
and date of access, and why such basics are required, they
will leave Las Positas with transferable knowledge.
- They will be able to identify the basic components
of a citation, and transfer those components into a citation
in whatever format is required (whether A.P.A., CBE Scientific,
Turabian, or Chicago Style) when they begin their upper
division major research projects.
Thanks to Nancy Fogarty and Kathy
Crowe, Reference Department, Walter Clinton Jackson
Library, University of North Carolina, Greensboro [http://library.uncg.edu/depts/ref/libinstruction/assigntips.html] for
the information from which these suggestions were adapted.
Email
a Librarian
Library Telephone: 925.424.1150
Library Fax: 925.606.7249
