HE 100: College Success: Critical Reading and Thinking  Tags: critical_thinking information_literacy college_success human_ecology he100 human_ecology social_sciences  

10 Steps to Better Research:

10. Find a web site.

 9. Find a better web site.

 8. Find the Library web site.

 7. Find books on our topic.

 6. Find articles on your topic.

 5. Evaluate your information.

 4. Cite your information.

 3. Find yourself in a library.

 2. Find more....

 1. Ask Your Questions.

If you don't know how to find the information that you need, you may be in Library Limbo. Use this guide to learn more about finding, accessing, evaluating, and citing information properly using the vast reources of the Cornell University Library.

Library Limbo is a 1920's style cartoon created by a Cornell Film Animation class about how students do their research in Uris Library. Click on the image above to watch this film on YouTube.

At the end of this library session, you should be able to:

Find a topic for your factual research paper and test its viability. (See Tab #8.)

Use a variety of resources to find more information about your topic. (See Tabs #9, 8, 7, 6.)

Explore and navigate both the digital and physical libraries at Cornell. (See Tabs #8, 3.)

Begin thinking critically about the information that you find. (See Tab #5.)

Assignment: Short Research Paper [2-3 pages]

 A factual research paper based on any item or topic that you find in She's Come Undone Part I; this assignment does not include any literary analysis.  Use Strunk & White's Elements of Style for help with grammar.  Use MLA format for your citations (see "External Links" on the course blackboard for more information about MLA format).

 Although it is factual, the paper should be fun and interesting to read.  A short list of possible research topics from Part I might include:

• the effects of TV/video games on child development
• teen smoking trends
• the psychological effects of obesity
• the ramifications or statistics of physical abuse

 or choose your own topic. Use at least three sources for your paper [since it is a short research paper, it might be difficult to use more than three].  Include at least one professional journal and one book in your sources.

NOTE: Students should come to the section on July 9^th prepared to share a 2-3 minute summary of your research paper with the class.  Please include an overview of the topic, sources used, and any important findings from you research.  We will also explore the writing process as a group.

Please put your name, assignment, class and due date on the top left corner of all assignments.  For example:

YOUR NAME

Short Research Paper

College Success HE 100

July 9, 2008

Please be sure to indicate your research paper topic at the beginning of the paper. For example: The Psychological Effects of Obesity

 DUE:  Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Information Literacy 

The ability to identify, locate, access, evaluate, and use information effectively is an essential skill. It is a measure of your information literacy.

An information literate individual is able to:

• Determine the extent of information needed
• Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
• Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
• Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
• Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally"