GOODBYE WIKIPEDIA!Solutions to Common Research Paper Problems

Erica Nutzman, Network Library Director

Elaine Settergren, Online Librarian

#1 source is you!

Things that go wrong with research• The assignment• The topic list• The resources• The time frame• The expectations• Information management skills: i.e. note taking, citation

• From Jennifer Campbell’s APSCU presentation

Research Disasters

TIPS FOR RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT CREATION AND DELIVERY

Learn the library’s resources

Incorporate your career field knowledge

Talk to your librarian and test your assignment

Split up the project & teach time management

Support library instruction

Set clear expectations & standards

STANDARDS FOR SOURCESTeach selection of sources

Teach citing and avoiding plagiarism

Teach students to choose appropriate and credible sources

Appropriate

•Scholarly•Trade•Popular

Scholarly

Trade

Popular

Paralegal Assignment: Research how new technologies are affecting the day-to-day tasks of paralegals

IT Assignment: Research the efficiency of cloud computing for end users

Business Assignment: Research trends in green business practices

IT Assignment: Research cell phones for your age demographic

Business Assignment: Research what drives word of mouth advertising

Credible: CRAP

•Currency •Reliability•Authority •Purpose

Teach students to cite those sources properly and avoid plagiarism

Use Guides and Manuals

Talk to program deans and writing experts on your campus

Teach a 5-10 min refresher

References and Cool StuffCampbell, J. (2011). "From the ground up: Building a modern library

solution" [Webinar presentation]. APSCU.

Kolowich, S. (2011 August 22). What students don’t know. Inside

Higher Ed. Retrieved from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/22/erial_study_of_student_research_habits_at_illinois_university_libraries_reveals_alarmingly_poor_information_literacy_and_skills

Reimold, D. (2011 September 15). Students ‘grossly underutilize’ campus library resources. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/campuslife /student

s-grossly-underutilize-campus-library-resources

Schick, K. (2011, October 30). Citation obsession? Get over it! Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/article/Citation-Obsession-Get-

Over/129575/

THUSSA (2011 May 23). Infographic: The state of Wikipedia. SOSHABLE. Retrieved from http://soshable.com/infographic- the-state-of-wikipedia/

Photo Credits• MS Word Clip Art• MorgueFile http://www.morguefile.com/ • Stock.Xchng http://www.sxc.hu/ • “2009 Challenge 109/365 – Clock” by Loren Zemlicka

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenzemlicka/3459346334/