Li371courseoutline908

LI 371/ LI 372: INDEPENDENT STUDY – 1 credit ƒ Course Description: Preparation for a senior thesis, capstone, or honors project that requires a serious research component. Students will work one-on-one with a Subject Specialist in the Library to prepare the groundwork for an intensive academic project within their major. Students will be instructed in the organization of information and in sophisticated search strategies for finding, evaluating, and using information. A critical annotated bibliography is required, as well as a strategy for acquiring materials needed for the final project. Students must obtain approval from their academic advisor. Permission of the instructor required. Library Faculty ƒ

Course Outline: A. Topic Formulation – get organized i. What do you know, what do you want or need to know about the topic? ii. Scan databases/journals iii. Keep a research journal/log: should include your database/search engine search queries, printed results lists, and notes/comments on the research process (see Research Log) B. Develop Thesis Question – get focused i. Subject headings ii. Research terms C. Meet with project advisor to: i. Review topic/thesis question ii. Determine bibliographic citation style (MLA, APA, or Chicago, etc) D. Literature Review i. Authors, seminal ii. Citation indexing E. Gather Information i. Print ii. Electronic iii. ILL iv. Identify potential primary resources –Archives/Museums/Other libraries v. Explore/Apply for Student Opportunity Funds http://cms.skidmore.edu/dean_of_studies/funds/index.cfm F. Prepare Outline i. Appropriate sources to support paper ii. What’s missing?

G. Draft the Annotated Bibliography (How to write an annotated bibliography: http://www.skidmore.edu/library/help/annotatedbibliography.htm) i. Appropriate organization ii. Citation format - RefWorks iii. Critical annotations – evaluate sources iv. Variety of resources v. Substantial number of sources (usually a minimum of 25 citations) vi. Sophisticated, scholarly sources H. Meet with project advisor- Review Annotated Bibliography I.

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Complete the Annotated Bibliography : Due Thanksgiving i. Review quality ii. Meet ethical information standards

Grading: Grade based on: ƒ Annotated Bibliography = 50% ƒ Meeting Attendance/Participation = 20% ƒ Research Journal = 20% ƒ Outline = 10%

Students are expected to meet their obligations for the course in a timely and courteous manner. Adherence to the Skidmore Honor code is required for satisfactory completion of the course. See "Ethics of Scholarship" Grades will be given according to the following standard: Grade A+ A AB+ B B-

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Range 97-100 93-96 90-92 87-89 83-86 80-82

Grade C+ C CD+ D F

Range 77-79 73-76 70-72 67-69 65-66 0-64

Time Frame: ƒ Meet a minimum of six or seven times during the semester. ƒ Annotated Bibliography is due by Thanksgiving unless another date is approved. ƒ Within 3 weeks of initial session student should be prepared to submit a draft of three annotated sources. ƒ The research journal will be submitted for review on a periodic basis, preferably every two weeks.

Revised 9.08