INF 100 - Fourth Assignment


Required Readings and Preparation:

Carefully read Chapter 4 in Introduction to Information Research, "Analyzing a Research Topic," pages 59-72.

Using the following checklist from CSU Hayward, evaluate two items you checked out of the SJSU libraries on your topic:
http://www.library.csuhayward.edu/staff/li1010/ginno/evaluate.htm
You should use this checklist for every item that you consider putting into your bibliography.

Find an email discussion list related to your topic using the following resources:

You should chose a list that will have experts on your topic who can help you build a good bibliography. Subscribe to that list. When you get the email confirming that you have subscribed, forward it to the instructor at rlitwin@nhu.edu. This will be worth 5 points. Later you will ask the members of the list a question based on your focused topic. For now subscribing and sending in the confirmation message if fine. Be sure to check your email frequently so you can keep up with the discussion on the list. If the list is "dead" and there is no discussion, subscribe to another one. If it is not academic enough or there are no experts present, subscribe to another list.

Print out this page on focusing your research topic (if you don't have it already) and follow the instructions.
http://nhu.edu/library/INF100/focus.doc

Assignment based on the above preparation:

Please answer the following ten questions in the form provided. Your answers will be emailed to the instructor. Each question is worth five points.

Your name:

Your email address:

From the checklist on evaluating resources:

Choose one of the items that you evaluated. What is its title, author, publisher and publication date?

In what ways was the checklist helpful to you and in what ways was it not helpful?

From the assignment to join a discussion list:

What is the email address of the discussion list that you joined?

Did you successfully subscribe and send the instructor a copy of the confirmation message?

From the exercize on focusing your topic:

What is your research topic?

What are the main concepts of your topic, and synonyms for each?

What subject fields does your topic fall into, or what areas of the library and what subject-oriented web sites or databases might help you research this topic?

From the reading in An Introduction to Information Research:

How does Carla List distinguish between a topic, a subject, and a discipline?

If the topic is "The history of bilingual education in California," what are the subject and disciplines of this topic?

What is the "scope" of an information resource?

Back the the Assignments page
INF 100 Home

Last updated July, 2000