Syllabus and Readings

Time	MW 2:00-3:15
Location	Albin O. Kuhn Library, Room 259

Website	http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/reference/honors/honors201.php
Instructors	Katy Sullivan, Reference Librarian, Albin O. Kuhn Library, sullivan@umbc.edu, 455-1783 Linda Mirvis, Reference Librarian, Albin O. Kuhn Library, mirvis@umbc.edu, 455-6825
Guest Instructors	Drew Alfgren, alfgren@umbc.edu Scott Burright, burright@umbc.edu James McKusick, mckusick@umbc.edu Teresa Neely, neely@umbc.edu Eric Rector, rector@umbc.edu Michael Romary, romary@umbc.edu Simmona Simmons-Hodo, simmons@umbc.edu
Office Hours	By appointment
Required Text	Quaratiello, Arlene Rodda. (2003). The College Student's Research Companion. 3rd. ed. New York, New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

Course Objectives
Students will learn how to:

recognize and define a research need
construct and implement search strategies
determine and locate the proper tools to locate needed material
distinguish between scholarly and popular works and primary and secondary sources
evaluate resources based on accuracy, reliability, currency, scope, and coverage
synthesize research findings into an original product
appreciate the issues of copyright, plagiarism, and citation

Assignments

Annotated Bibliography	Minimum of 25 resources, with some resources from at least four of the following categories: books; reference tools; journal, magazine, and newspaper articles; statistical resources; government documents; and web resources. Students may also include audio or video cassettes, archival materials or any other resources covered in class. Other resources may be used with prior approval of the instructor. Bibliography should be interdisciplinary in nature.	40%
Presentation	15-20 minute presentation on the student’s research process and observations concerning that process.	20%
Assignments	Readings, assignments, mini-presentations, and in-class exercises.	15%
Attendance and Participation	A maximum of two unexcused absences allowed. Your course grade will be lowered for any unexcused absences beyond these two. When an absence occurs, it is the student's responsibility to make up work missed. This is a discussion-based course and participation is strongly encouraged.	10%
Quizzes	Unannounced questions related to assigned readings and class discussion.	10%
Peer Evaluations	Evaluations of final presentation of peers.	5%

Course Outline

Date	Instructor	Topic	Assignments/Readings Due
September 1	KS, LM	Introduction to syllabus, mentors, and expectations First-contact survey
September 8	SB, KS	Overview of the research process Disciplines of study Meet in room 353G (Library)	Assignment: Expectations Reading: List pp.59-70
September 13	KS, (LM)	Description of final project (annotated bibliography) Discussion of topic ideas	Reading: Quaratiello pp. 1-15 Reading: Thiroux pp. 91-111
September 15	KS, (LM)	Search techniques for keyword and controlled vocabulary searching	Assignment: Topic ideas Reading: Quaratiello pp. 17-36
September 20	KS, (LM)	Classification systems Use of the University System of Maryland's online catalog: catalogusmai	Reading: Quaratiello pp. 37-48
September 22	KS, (LM)	WorldCat; Sailor Accessing materials through ILLiad	Assignment: Citations (UMBC, Request Item)
September 27	KS, (LM)	Discussion of reference tools Tour of Library's reference collection	Assignment: Citations (ILLiad) Reading: Quaratiello pp. 49-64
September 29	KS, (LM)	Discuss "Reference Sources" assignment Student presentation of sources	Assignment: Reference sources assignment Assignment: Book presentation
October 4	KS, (LM)	Overview of electronic access to periodicals Types of databases/specific interfaces	Reading: Quaratiello pp. 65-119
October 6	KS, (LM)	Research Port Searching electronic resources
October 11	KS, (LM)	Hands-on practice and in-class exercise Database presentations	Assignment: Arrange meeting with mentor Assignment:Database presentation
October 13	KS, (LM)	Biographical information - when to use it, how to access it, how to evaluate it	Assignment: Article citations
October 18	KS, (LM)	Evaluating print and electronic sources - issues of currency and levels of scholarship	Assignment: Biographical information on authors Reading: List pp. 53-55
October 20	KS, (LM)	Research day
October 25	JM, KS	Nature of interdisciplinary research	Reading: Nissani pp. 1-5
October 27	KS, (LM)	Interpreting a citation: Is it a book? A chapter? An article? A proceeding?
November 1	ER, KS	Government Information - organization, major finding aids, locating items	Assignment: Citation assignment Reading: Bolner pp. 245-258
November 3	ER, KS	Statistical finding aids (Lexis Nexis Statistical) and microdata
November 8	DA, KS	Overview of primary research and the use of Special Collections Overview of archival collections	Reading: List pp. 11-15 Assignment: Arrange meeting with mentor
November 10	KS, (LM)	Peer evaluations and discussion	Assignment: Sample annotations (to be evaluated by peers)
November 15	SSH, KS	Presentation style - appropriate techniques to use when speaking to a group	Assignment: Revised annotations Reading: Naughton pp. 78-81 Reading: Fisher pp. 42-45 Reading: Masikiewicz pp. 20-23
November 17	KS, (LM)	Advanced Web searching Evaluating Web pages/sites	Reading: Quaratiello pp. 121-142 Reading: Harris pp. 1-10
November 22	MR, KS	Issues of academic integrity/plagiarism Citation styles	Assignment: Web citations and evaluations Reading: Quaratiello pp. 143-155 Reading: DePauw pp. 1-6 Reading: Thiroux pp. 181-199, 201-210
November 24	LM, (KS)	Publication process	Assignment: Annotated Bibliography
November 29	TN, KS	Overview of faculty research
December 1	KS, LM	Student presentations	Assignment: Presentation evaluations (completed in class)
December 6	KS, LM	Student presentations	Assignment: Presentation evaluations (completed in class)
December 8	KS, LM	Student presentations	Assignment: Presentation evaluations (completed in class)
December 13	KS, LM	Student presentations Course evaluations	Assignment: Presentation evaluations (completed in class)

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