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.

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