Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery

• Be clear about the assignment's objectives and evaluation criteria
• Describe the specific requirements of the assignment and the desired outcomes
• Test the assignment
• Set up intermediate deadlines
• Guide the students in the use of web resources
• Keep the assignments current
• Provide students with guidelines on academic integrity
• Consider a library session for your students

• Compile an Annotated Bibliography

  A bibliography of information sources on a specific topic with descriptive and/or evaluative summaries

  Purdue Online Writing Lab

• Create a Research Pathfinder

  An annotated Web guide of the best resources and search techniques on a particular topic

  The SILS Digital Project Repository

• Complete a Research Log

  A log in which a student documents the steps in his/her research process

  University of Utah Research Log

These assignment ideas are especially relevant to courses in the social sciences, humanities, and various first year seminars.

• Compare popular and scholarly publications on the same topic

Purpose: To compare levels of expertise and objectivity of information in these two formats.

• Select a controversial subject in several types of sources (book; scholarly journal, magazine, and newspaper articles.) Compare the sources for content, style, bias, audience, etc.

Purpose: To see the difference of presenting information in various formats.

• Research the publications and career of a prominent scholar

Purpose: To see the career directions and development of research interests of a given scholar. Students learn the personalities and history of the field.

• Prepare a research prospectus

Purpose: To allow students to identify a research question, goals and methods. It will allow them to summarize the available scholarly literature on a topic and will help them to form a hypothesis that will be explored in subsequent research.

• Write a literature review

Purpose: To explore available information on a given topic, and analyze it according to the research goals.

• Create a poster highlighting sources on a topic

Purpose: To learn how to present information to a specific audience and to practice public speaking.

For more ideas please see selected sample assignments.