Sample Information Literacy Assignments

 

There are numerous assignments to incorporate information literacy instruction into your classes.  Please read and consider if one or more of these sample assignments might be appropriate for your class of students.  Encourage students to seek help at the Research Services Desk if they have questions about how to work on these assignments.

Suggested Assignments

 

 

Research journal

Keep an ongoing record of the library research you do for an assigned project -- use journal format.  Include methodology, sources or databases consulted, and keywords or subject headings searched in your entries. In the journal, list the sources you find that will be most useful for your research paper or project. Includes research journal guidelines to provide a suggested structure for keeping your research journal.

Purpose:

  • Provides students an opportunity to practice writing.

  • Provides an introduction to how information is organized, and orients students to Ramsey Library.

  • Encourages students to think critically about evaluating quality of resources.

  • Provides practice using a bibliographic citation style.

Evaluative annotated bibliography

Prepare an annotated bibliography that includes the best, most useful resources on your topic -- include books, periodical articles, websites, or other relevant sources as specified in type and number by your instructor.  In the annotations you'll evaluate the usefulness of the resource for your particular topic. Entries should be properly cited. 

Purpose:

  • Helps students develop skills in searching, reading and reviewing the literature on their topic.

  • Allows students to identify a source’s thesis and key ideas.

  • Allows students to clarify a source’s argumentative structure.

  • Affords students an opportunity to imagine how a secondary source might fit into their own argument.

  • Encourages students to think critically about selecting quality resources, and also provides practice in using a bibliographic citation style.

Using the InfoTrac periodical index to find relevant articles

For a proposed research topic, write a list of keywords or search terms you might use to search for information about this topic. Locate articles on this particular topic by selecting and searching in the InfoTrac Expanded Academic database.

Purpose:

  • Provides practice in using an electronic periodical index to access information.

  • Teaches the mechanics of searching.

  • Provides practice using a bibliographic citation style.

Web searching and evaluation

Find several web pages or sites related to your writing or research assignment as specified in number by your instructor.  Write a brief (two paragraph) evaluation of each site, and be sure to cite the pages in an appropriate style. Print and submit the first page of each site. 

Includes an alternate In-Class Small Student Group Assignment, and list of essential considerations to help students with their critical evaluation process.

Purpose:

  • Helps students develop skills in Web searching.

  • Encourages students to develop skills for critically evaluating quality of Web resources.

  • Provides practice in using a bibliographic citation style.

Literature review

Review the literature on a specific topic for a given time period as assigned by your instructor. A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic (in books, periodical articles, websites, and other relevant sources) by accredited scholars and researchers. Synthesize your results into a summary of what is and is not known on the topic. Be sure to cite the sources you consulted.

Purpose:

  • Provides practice in using electronic databases and print resources to access information.

  • Provides practice in scanning resources efficiently.

  • Helps to develop the ability to apply critical appraisal skills to the literature of a discipline.

  • Provides practice using a bibliographic citation style.

Database searching

Provide a precise statement of a proposed research topic and a list of keywords or search terms you would use to search for information about this topic. Select an appropriate database from the subject list on the library home page. Explain why you selected any particular database(s). Carry out the search, and list the number of relevant resources returned. Comment on the usefulness of the results.

Purpose:

  • Provides practice in using electronic databases to access information.

  • Illustrates the necessity of preparing a search strategy.

  • Teaches the mechanics of searching.

  • Provides practice using a bibliographic citation style.

 

Don't see exactly what you're looking for listed above?  Interested in creating your own information literacy assignments?

Please consult our page Designing Successful Info Lit / Library Research Assignments for tips on creating assignments that Ramsey Library can support effectively, and that will require students to find, evaluate, cite and use information.

Your subject library liaison is also available for consultation, and can help you create assignments that teach students how to find relevant research materials and utilize Ramsey Library's resources.

Schedule a Library & Information Literacy Instruction Session

Select this option to schedule a class workshop tailored to the specific needs of your students.  We strongly suggest that you contact your subject library liaison no later than two weeks prior to any desired instruction session date to ensure adequate preparation time and classroom availability.  Please have a range of possible dates in mind to ensure library instructor availability and classroom scheduling.

 

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This page created by Janet Ferguson. Last updated 27 September 2007. Comments to the Library Web Team.

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