Contents
Introduction
How to Use This Book
Defining Information Literacy
Lesson 1: Research as Inquiry: Defining the Scope of Your Research
Choosing a Topic to Investigate
Refining the Topic and Finding Relevant Research
Task 1.2: Reflecting on Narrowed Topics of Interest
Lesson Connection
Lesson 2: Inquiry as a Path to Exploration: Identifying Key Words in the Conversation
Examining Class Materials
Task 2.1: Creating a Key Word List
Examining Other Sources
Task 2.2: Revising Your Key Word List
Lesson Connection
Lesson 3: Scholarship as Conversation 1: Identifying Possible Directions for the Conversation
Idea Maps as Tools to Identify Research Focus
Task 3.1: Creating an Idea Map
Lesson Connection
Lesson 4: Scholarship as Conversation 2: Understanding the Research Paradigm and Bias
Task 4.1: Reflecting on What You Have to Say
Confirmation Bias
Task 4.3: Recognizing Your Own Bias
Lesson Connection
Lesson 5: Using Databases to Find Sources
Academic Databases
Task 5.1: Discovering Good Databases for Particular Areas of Research
Task 5.2: Expanding Your Key Word List to Conduct an Effective Database Search
Task 5.3: Conducting a Boolean Search
Task 5.4: Comparing Characteristics of Databases
Lesson Connection
The Structure of a Research Article
Strategies for Reading Research
Task 6.1: Reading to Find Useful Information
Bias in the Process of Reading
Lesson Connection
Currency and Place in the Information Cycle
Task 7.1: Distinguishing between Primary and Secondary Sources
Identifying Source Characteristics
Accessibility of Sources and Bias
Lesson Connection
Lesson 8: Authority Is Constructed and Contextual 2: Examining Source Characteristics and Bias to Determine Appropriateness
Considering the Why to Recognize Bias
Determining the Appropriateness of Where: Assessing Authority
Determining the Appropriateness of When: Assessing Currency and Place in the Information Cycle
Determining the Appropriateness of Who: Assessing Authority
Determining the Appropriateness of What (Content): Assessing Relevance, Accuracy, and Comprehensiveness
Task 8.5: Examining the What
Performing a Complete Evaluation of a Source
Lesson Connection
Appendix A: Information Literacy Skills and the Research Cycle
Appendix B: Citing and Using Sources
Appendix C: Lesson Checklists
Glossary
References