SSC 101 Introduction to Information Resources
for the Social Sciences
Course Syllabus Winter 2005
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours
Phone:
Email:
Connie McDowell
LB2127E
After class or by appt.
206-527-3612
cmcdowel@sccd.ctc.edu
Classroom:
Time:
Text book ID:
Textbook PW:
LB2236B & LB2238A
TTh 1-2:20 pm
Ask instructor
Ask instructor
Course Web Site: http://northonline.sccd.ctc.edu/cmcdowell/SSC101/index.htm
Prerequisites: Placement into ENG101.
Course Description
This course develops critical thinking as it is applied to the research process by examining strategies for
locating, evaluating, and applying information resources in the social sciences. Course materials
explore information policy issues such as copyright, censorship, and freedom of information. Emphasis
is on developing proficiency at using various electronic resources, including those available on the
library’s information networks, the library catalog, and the Web, as well as other research tools and
retrieval techniques used to conduct research in the social sciences.
Course Goals
Students who successfully complete this course will:
 Become effective library and information users who can plan and conduct research in the social
sciences and communicate the results in a final report
 Develop confidence information consumers who can find and evaluate information to make
informed decisions for personal, educational, and professional needs
Course Objectives
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
 Define a research topic in the social sciences and select strategies to identify and retrieve
relevant information
 Discover and use a wide variety of information resources
 Comprehend and practice using library and other information organization systems
 Find and evaluate books, periodical articles, reference tools, non-print, and electronic
information sources relevant to the selected research topic
 Demonstrate ability to select resources appropriate to stated research objectives
 Document information sources using standard bibliographic citation format for the social
sciences
NSCC General Education Outcomes Met by Course
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
1. Think critically in reading and writing.
2. Access, evaluate, and apply information from a variety of sources and a variety of contexts.
3. Apply computer competency appropriate to general education and occupational goals.
1
Textbook
Research Methods and Strategies: http://www.seattlecentral.org/library/101/textbook/
The library textbook was created by librarians at Seattle Central Community College and is available to
you on the web at no cost; you may print the entire textbook from the web site as a PDF document if
you wish. There will also be a printed copy available on reserve in the library. Use the link provided on
the course web site for your convenience. You will need to use a username and password to access
this textbook online. This information will be given to you separately in class.
Supplementary Readings
Additional reading materials will be suggested throughout the quarter and placed on reserve and/or a
link will be provided from the class web site.
Required Materials
During this class we will be working in the Library’s electronic classroom LB2236B (computer lab),
which requires the $32.09 Computer Lab (CL) Fee. (This is in addition to your Universal Technology
Fee). If you are already paying this fee for another course, you do not have to pay it twice. You will also
need to develop a system to record and document your research process. You may do this using a
notebook, file cards, or using Microsoft Word, or other software. You will be required to use email for
weekly journal responses.
Special Considerations
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency
medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be
evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.
Chemical Sensitivities
Due to the increasing numbers of individuals developing chemical sensitivities and the increasing
awareness of such conditions, everyone who attends this class is asked to refrain from wearing any
fragrance or perfume.
Methods of Instruction
The course is conducted in both the library classroom and the library computer classroom. Each week
new material and concepts will be introduced and a combination of presentation, practice, and
discussion will reinforce learning of the material. Hands-on computer work will include experimenting
with search strategies and will be complimented by class discussion and evaluating search results.
Student Assignments
There are two parts to each week’s assignments: A written assignment and a weekly email message
sent directly to the instructor at cmcdowel@sccd.ctc.edu. Expect to spend about six hours each week
outside of class to complete the assignments. Unless otherwise instructed the written assignment and
email response will be due on the following Tuesday. Each assignment is designed to help you apply
what you learn, and to generate material you will incorporate into your final project.
Getting Help
If you have questions or need help, feel free to contact me by phone at (527-3612), by email
(cmcdowel@sccd.ctc.edu), or in person at the library. You can also get help from any of the librarians at
the reference desk in the library.
Learning Resources
You will be asked to explore library resources available to you beyond our own library. Your computer
lab fee allows for a student email account and you will use this, or a private email account, to send your
weekly email responses. You will be able to access library databases from home if you have a
computer with an Internet connection at home.
2
Feedback
Your instructor will reply to your weekly email response with notes about your written assignment. You
may use this opportunity to ask questions about course content or any concerns you may have about
the course.
Course Policies:

Late assignments: the penalty for late assignments will be 10% up to one week following the
due date. Please note that late assignments will not be accepted beyond the one-week limit.

Attendance: Please come to class on time and be prepared every day. If you must be absent,
leave a telephone message for me (527-3612), or email me cmcdowel@sccd.ctc.edu. Please
get class notes from a fellow student. You can access homework and reading assignments from
the course web site.

You will be graded on your class participation including asking and answering questions, and
contributing to group discussions and activities. The more involved you are, the more you will
learn and the more your classmates (and I) will learn from you.
Grading
You will receive a grade for each of the weekly assignments, your class participation, and the final
project.
 Class participation = 15% of your grade
 Assignments = 35% of your grade
 Final Project = 50% of your grade
Class Participation = 15% of your grade
Points are earned each week for being present and engaged in the day's assigned activities. You either
earn the points, or you do not. (You don't get credit if you sleep through class or spend class time doing
something else!) If you are absent due to illness, talk to me privately about how to make up lost
participation points.
Assignments = 35% of your grade
Weekly assignments are graded on a credit/no-credit basis. If your assignment is on time and
demonstrates real effort, you will earn credit. My feedback will help you improve your assignments for
the final project. Late assignments will be accepted up to one week late for half credit only.
Final Project = 50% of your grade
Criteria for the final project grading are included in a separate document to be posted on the class web
site.
Course Calendar
NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to make changes to accommodate the progress of the class.
Classroom locations, unless announced otherwise
Tuesdays meet in LB2238A = Lecture classroom (LC)
Thursdays meet in LB2236B = Electronic classroom (EC)
Week
Topic
Readings
Assignment
Week 1
Jan. 4 & 6
Introductions, Course expectations
(yours and mine), Course outline.
Information explosion
Textbook
Survey/Pretest
Chapters 1 and 2
Due Jan. 11
3
Week 2
Jan. 11 & 13
Information cycle; Getting ready for
research; choosing and focusing a
topic; Organization of libraries,
classification systems.
Textbook
Week 3
Jan. 18 & 20
Introduction to the reference section;
focus on social sciences
Using reference sources to define
and refine your topic
Textbook
Week 4
Jan. 25 & 27
Finding and evaluating books; library
catalogs; Primary sources
Textbook
Week 5
Feb. 1 & 3
Plagiarism; Evaluating and
documenting sources - focus on
Chicago and APA styles;
Creating footnotes, bibliographies
Textbook
Week 6
Feb. 8 & 10
Finding and using periodical
literature; Scholarly journals vs.
popular publications
Textbook
Week 7
Feb. 15 & 17
Introducing databases and database
searching
Textbook
Week 8
Feb. 22 & 24
Advanced database searching
Textbook
Week 9
Mar. 1 & 3
The web and scholarly research;
Search engines; scholarly web
sources; Evaluating web sources
Textbook
Week 10
Mar. 8 & 10
Information age issues; privacy,
Patriot Act; Ownership of the media
Textbook
Week 11
Mar. 15 & 17
Last Week of
Class
Presenting results;
Supplemental reading
Student presentations of final projects
Chapters 3 and 4
Chapter 7
Chapter 9 and
supplemental reading
Chapters 5 and 6
Chapter 10 and
supplemental reading
Chapter 8
and supplemental reading
Chapter 8
and supplemental reading
Chapter 11and
supplemental reading
Chapter 12
Finals Week
4
Concept Map
Topic Proposal
Due Jan. 18
Reference Sources
Due Jan. 25
Book Sources
Due Feb. 1
Documenting Sources
Due Feb. 8
Periodical Sources
Due Feb. 15
Indexing
Databases
Due Feb. 22
Draft of your final project
Due: Mar. 1
Web Sources
Due: Mar. 8
Final Project
Due: Mar. 8