Information Literacy: Goal 1

Student should be able to articulate the need for information and be able to define and narrow the topic.

Indicators

• Student is able to develop a thesis statement and formulate questions based on the information needed.
• Student understands that using general information sources increases familiarity with the topic.
• Student recognizes that the topic may need to be defined or modified to achieve a manageable focus.
• Student identifies key concepts and terms that describe the information needed.

Tutorials

SFCC Library Tutorial: “Choosing a Topic”
http://library.spokanefalls.edu/research/ChoosingTopic/01_First_Steps.htm

Narrowing from a Topic to a Thesis
By Margaret Oakes, Furman University.
http://facweb.furman.edu/~moakes/Powerwrite/narrow.htm

Handouts on Thesis Statements, Problem Posing
Temple University Writing Center.
http://www.temple.edu/writingctr/student_resources/sr_argument.htm

Assignments

Using Encyclopedia Britannica Online
Description: Use Encyclopedia Britannica online to identify current issues and link to authoritative web sources.
http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/inetshare/FacultyServiceswebpg/SourceEvalALLFlorio240.doc

Keyword Worksheet
This worksheet requires that students articulate their topic in keywords with Boolean operators. Examples of this process of going from topic to keywords are included.
http://library.spokanefalls.edu/docs/Int_Keyword.doc

Writing Assignments on Current Topics
http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/inetshare/FacultyServiceswebpg/Writing%20Assigncurrentissue.doc