Skill 1: Planning a Path to Success

Students determine the nature and extent of the information needed by:

• Choosing and refining a research topic
• Identifying key concepts and terms related to the topic
• Developing an awareness that information exists in various formats (print, electronic, visual, etc.)

Ideas for Effective Assignments

1. Ask small groups of students to address a particular aspect of the course subject content. Working from a list of topics you've given to the class, ask that each group find out what major research sources are in that subject area, including all information formats that apply. Ask that they prepare an oral presentation.

    

2. Working from a list of topics you give to the class, ask students to select a topic and compare how that topic is treated in two to five different sources. Ask students to discuss which sources seem most appropriate, authoritative, or effective in completing a research assignment in that topic area.

    

3. Using the CSN library catalog, ask students to prepare a research journal or concept-map explaining how they've moved from a broad general topic area to a narrower, more specific topic and thesis statement. Ask that they list the broad subject terms used in their searches, all related terms, and the final narrower terms used to locate appropriate information.

    

4. As a preliminary step to a research assignment, ask students to create an annotated bibliography of the sources they used to gain some background knowledge in their general topic area. Ask them to include all information formats.

    

5. Ask students to find relevant information for a research report using all five of the main links on the CSN library home page.