Lecture One: Introduction to the Research
Process
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Sharon Rankin
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Introduction
Review of Course Outline
Using Moodle
Connecting to the wireless network
Defining Information Literacy
The Research Process - overview
Concordia Libraries
LC call numbers – shelf marks
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Become more information literate
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Learn about a variety of information sources
http://www.lib.vt.edu/help/research/inf
o-sources.html
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Understand the research process
http://biblio.laurentian.ca/research/pag
es/choosing-topic-1
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Learn how to use information sources to
information about your topic
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Learn how to search more effectively
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Learn how to evaluate sources based on
established criteria
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Strategies for organizing the information you
have selected as relevant
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Organize sources into a bibliography
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Prepare an outline of your research paper,
using a writing style appropriate to academic
writing
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Objectives
Evaluation (Grades)
 Assignment
 Mid-term
 Research paper
 Class participation
Communicating with me
Office Hours
Course text
Lecture slides
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Weekly schedule
Due dates
 Assignment
 Mid-term - in class
 Research paper
Academic integrity
Plagiarism
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Web course software
Uses:
 to submit assignments
 to email me
 copies of lecture slides
 Interesting links
How to connect
 Netname and password
 MyConcordia portal
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From Home
 http://library.concordia.ca/research/databases/anydomain.html
VPN:
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http://www.concordia.ca/iits/services/vpn/
Finding computers on campus
CU labs
http://iits.concordia.ca/services/labs_equipment/index.shtml
Wireless laptops – Library loan
 http://library.concordia.ca/services/computers/laptops
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The set of abilities requiring individuals to
"recognize when information is needed and have
the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively
the needed information.” (American Library
Association)
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Considered essential lifelong learning skills.
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http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/informationliteracyco
mpetency
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“Information literate people will demonstrate an
awareness of how they gather, use, manage,
synthesise and create information and data in an
ethical manner and will have the information
skills to do so effectively.”
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http://www.informationliteracy.org.uk/information-literacy-definitions/
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Webster and Vanier
 First Floor: Circulation, Reference, Gov. Docs, Workstations
 Second Floor: Periodicals and Media Centre (non-print)
 Third floor: Stacks
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A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
General Works
Philosophy, Religion
History
History, Topography (except
America)
America (general), United States
(general)
United States (local), America
(except the United States)
Geography, Anthropology
Social Sciences (general), Statistics,
Economics, Sociology
Political Science
K
L
M
N
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
Z
21 main divisions
Law
Education
Music
Fine Arts
Language and
Literature
Science
Medicine
Agriculture
Technology
Military Science
Naval Science
Bibliography,
Library Science
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Main categories are subdivided by a second capital
letter:
L
LA
LB
LC
LD
LE
LF
LG
LH
LJ
LT
Education
History of Education
Theory and Practice of Education
Special Aspects of Education
Individual Institutions-US
Individual Institutions-America (except US)
Individual Institutions-Europe
Individual Institutions-Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand,
Pacific Is.
College and school magazines and papers
Student Fraternities and Societies
Textbooks
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Further subdivided by numbers 1 to 9999 to which decimals
may be added. Some subdivisions for LC are the following:
65-245
Social aspects of education
68-70
71-120.4
129-139
149-161
251-951
Demographic aspects
Education and the state
Compulsory education
Literacy
Moral and religious education
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Cutter numbers are then assigned:
LC149.7 G63
G63 (Author’s name starts with a G)
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Books about Information Literacy may be
found in several different classes:
LB1028
LC149
P96
TK5105
Z 711.2
ZA3075
Theory & practice of education- Teaching
Social aspects of education-Literacy
Communication-Mass media
Telecommunication
Library Science. Public services
Information resources
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“I hear and I forget,
I see and I believe,
I do and I understand.”
Where does this come from?
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http://biblio.laurentian.ca/research/pag
es/choosing-topic-1
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1.
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Select a topic
Develop a preliminary thesis
Conduct a literature search
Create a working bibliography
Evaluate selected sources
Write a final thesis
Prepare a paper & bibliography
http://biblio.laurentian.ca/research/pag
es/choosing-topic-1
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Overview of library organization
LC Call numbers
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To Do’s
Test your wireless connection
Connect to Moodle to display course info
Explore the Library web site
Consult the course textbook for next week’s
readings
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Next week
Step 1 – Selecting a topic
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