Slide 1
Introduction
This Appalachian State University Library tutorial is designed to guide you in the use of the ASU Libraries and introduce you to the basic tools and concepts necessary for college level research.
The tutorial has six modules that can be completed in any
order, with a quiz at the end to be submitted to your professor.
Begin by selecting from the menu.
Services
Slide 1
This section outlines
Library Service Centers
Slide 2
Lower Level
The Instructional Materials Center also known as IMC provides education students with
resources you would find in a K-12 school library. In the WNCLN library catalog, look for
ASU IMC as a Location.
Slide 3
Lower Level
Periodicals Maps Movies Government Documents
Copy Machines
Microfiche and film readers
Use the service desk to check out books, DVDs and get assistance.
Slide 4
Lower Level
The University Writing Center
Room 008- The staff in the University Writing Center will assist you with any aspect of
the writing process.
Slide 5
First Floor - Reference & Instruction
Need help? Contact us
Walk up, Call 828-262-2820, Instant Message or Email
We also provide RAP sessions our one on one Research Advisory Program
Slide 6
First Floor
Circulation services- Check out
Books, DVDs and more
Reserves
Laptop computers for library use
Viewing & group study rooms
Slide 7
Second Floor
ASU Main Stacks Call Numbers A through J
Multimedia study rooms
Group Study rooms that can be reserved
Slide 8
Third Floor
ASU Main Stacks Call Numbers K through Z
Quiet study
Group Study Rooms are first come first serve
Slide 9
Third Floor Digital Media Studio Room 355
Learn to create and use digital media
Check out digital cameras
Slide 10
Fourth Floor Special Collections
Appalachian Collection
Stock Car Racing Collection
University Archives & Records
Slide 11
Music Library
Located on the second floor of the Broyhill Music Center
Supports the School of Music
Contains books, scores, and recordings
In the WNCLN library catalog, look for ASU Music as a location
Slide 12
Congratulations!
You have completed the
Services Module
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Information Sources
Slide 1
Information Sources
Learn what makes a quality information source
Slide 2
This section cover:
Popular Sources versus Scholarly Sources
Primary Sources versus Secondary Sources
Internet Sources versus Library Databases
Slide 3
Popular Sources
Written for: The general public
Report on: Current topics and events
Purpose: To entertain, to persuade
Writing style: Non technical, conversational
Examples shown: E online Website; Sue Grafton L is for Lawless book cover
Slide 4
Popular Sources:
Layout: Glossy, magazines have lots of photos & advertisements
Sources: May refer to a study or book but do not include formal citations
Peer reviewed? No
Published by: Popular press or magazine company
Example shown: People Magazine (cover)
Slide 5
Scholarly Sources:
Written for and by: Academic Community, researchers
Report on: Research and data analysis
Purpose: To educate
Writing style: Academic or technical
Example shown: The Transformation of Chinese Socialism by Lin Chun (journal cover)
Slide 6
Scholarly Sources:
Layout: Formal, may contain graphs & charts
Sources: Cited in footnotes and bibliographies
Peer reviewed: By editorial board or outside experts
Published by: University or association press
Example shown: Academic Search Premier database search page with Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals checked.
Slide 7
Test Your Knowledge
Time Magazine is an example of a popular source.
A) True
B) False
Answer: True. Time Magazine
is a popular source written for the general public.
Slide 8
Primary versus Secondary
Sometimes your professor will require your research
to be from primary sources.
Example of primary source shown: Congressional Hearing on "Overclassification and Pseudo-classification.
Slide 9
Primary sources:
Are the raw materials of research. They include first- hand descriptions of events by
people who were there at the time.
Slide 10
Examples of Primary sources:
Letters, speeches, diaries, memoirs, oral histories
Audio recordings, video recordings, photographs
Newspaper accounts
Example of front page of newspaper shown: The Daily Review
Slide 11
Primary sources also include:
Official documents produced by governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations
Congressional hearings
Financial reports
Statistics
Research data sets and files
Historical artifacts such as tools, clothing, maps
Slide 12
Secondary sources:
Are created by people who have gathered research on a subject and analyzed it - even if
the author also experienced it first-hand.
Example of book shown: What Roe versus Wade Should Have Done
Slide 13
Examples of Secondary sources:
Books
Biographies
Commentaries
Dissertations
Journal Articles
Example of book shown: America's Constitution A Biography
Slide 14
Test Your Knowledge
A biography is a primary source
A) True
B) False
Answer: False. A Biography is a secondary source
Slide 15
The Web as a source of information
Has all kinds of information from all sorts of places.
You can find something on almost anything.
It is an especially good source for information about government agencies, nonprofit
corporations and businesses.
Example of a Web search shown
Slide 16
The downside of the web
Most of the material has not been reviewed for its suitability as an academic resource.
You must evaluate web sites before using them as an academic resource.
Slide 17
The downside of the web
The web may be an ocean but it isn’t very deep. Relatively few older resources are on the
web.
The web doesn’t have uniform subject headings to help you find information on specific
topics.
Image of ocean shown
Slide 18
Library databases
are organized collections of information which:
are carefully selected & developed to meet the academic needs of college students.
use subject headings & special search features so you can easily look for additional
information on your topic.
Example shown: Academic Search Premier database search page with arrow pointing at
subject headings
Slide 19
Library Databases as Information Sources
Access to library databases is a service provided to
you as a student at Appalachian. Your tuition helps
pay for access to these databases both on and off
campus.
Example shown: CQ Researcher database page
Slide 20
Test Your Knowledge
Library Databases are the same as the Internet.
A) True
B) False
Answer:
False. Although you access library databases through a web browser, they are usually paid
databases that are not free through the internet.
Slide 21
Congratulations!
You have completed the
Information Sources Module
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Search Strategy
Slide 1
Search Strategy
Find relevant information quickly
Slide 2
This section will cover tips for
conducting effective searches
Develop a thesis statement
Use background sources
Identify key concepts
Combine search terms
Identify synonyms
Use truncation
Slide 3
Develop a thesis statement
State the topic
Identify important questions you would like to answer about the topic
Identify what you already know about the topic
TIP: It is often smart to do some research before you finalize your thesis statement (to
make sure resources are available)
Slide 4
Gather background information
If you do not know a lot about your topic you may need to gather background information.
Reference sources help you get up to speed on a research topic.
Example shown: book cover of The world Almanac 2007 and book cover of Atlas of the World.
Slide 5
Many Reference Sources
are available through the library's website
Example shown: Image list of General Databases shown with an arrow pointing to Encyclopedias.
Slide 6
Background information
The purpose of a reference source is to get you started
(not to provide ALL the information you need).
Some types of background sources include
subject specific encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks.
Example shown: book cover of Handbook of Reagents for Organic Synthesis
Slide 7
Identify Key Concepts
Once you have written a thesis statement and gathered background information you
should have a good start on identifying the main ideas for your research. We will call these
main ideas key concepts.
Slide 8
Identify Key Concepts
For example, if you are looking for information about the prevalence of eating disorders
among athletes
Your key concepts would be:
eating disorders and athletes
Slide 9
In a database, the word AND is called a Boolean operator. It requires both words to
appear in the results.
Example shown: Boolean operator AND being used in a search
Slide 10
Use AND to combine key concepts
(eating disorders AND athletes)
Slide 11
The Boolean operator AND will:
A) Increase the number of results
B) Decrease the number of results
Answer: B. Using AND decreases the number of results in a search because both terms must
appear in the record
Slide 12
Identify Synonyms
In addition to identifying key concepts it is also useful to think about alternative terms that
can be used to describe concepts (synonyms)
Slide 13
Identify Synonyms
Some synonyms for eating disorders and athletes could include the following:
anorexia nervosa
athletics
eating habits
bulimia
gymnasts OR wrestlers
Slide 14
Synonyms Broaden a Search
Often in a background source, you can get ideas for alternate words to describe a topic.
Using synonyms helps broaden a search.
Slide 15
Test your knowledge
Pick a synonym for "University"
A) college
B) Academia
C) Institution of Higher Education
D) All the above
Answer: D is the best answer, A, B and C
are all synonyms.
Slide 16
To combine synonyms use the Boolean operator OR.
(eating disorders OR anorexia nervosa)
Slide 17
In a database, the Boolean operator OR broadens a search by looking for EITHER of the
terms. Both terms don't have to appear in a record.
Example shown: Boolean operator OR being used in a search
Slide 18
Truncation symbols
Use truncation to find alternate spellings or variant forms for a search term. For example
in the WNCLN library catalog using teach* will retrieve Teaches, Teachers, Teaching,
Teacher, Teachings.
Example shown: Advanced Keyword search in the WNCLN catalog using teach* and disab*
Slide 19
Using truncation is another way of expanding the search results. In this
example checking for teach* (teaching, teachers, etc.) and disab*
(disablilities, disabled etc.)
Slide 20
Test your knowledge
Which is the best search strategy to use when looking for articles on managing organizational
change?
A) Organizational change* AND manag*
B) managing organization changes
Answer: A. Organizational change* AND manag* searches for "change" and
changes AND manage, management, managing...
Slide 21
Congratulations!
You have completed the
Search Strategy Module
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Finding Materials
Please contact Megan Johnson at 262-2823 for assistance with this section of the tutorial.
Evaluating Information Sources
Slide 1
Evaluating Information Sources
Learn the five steps to evaluate what you've found.
Slide 2
Evaluating Information Sources
Critical evaluation of information sources is an
important skill to develop.
Asking questions can make the difference between
just finding information and finding quality information.
Slide 3
Use the C R A A P test
To evaluate the:
Currency
Relevance
Authority
Accuracy, and
Purpose
of your information source.
Slide 4
Currency
When was the information published or updated?
Is there more recent information available on your topic?
Slide 5
Relevance
Who is the intended audience (elementary school children or brain surgeons)?
How in-depth is the information?
Is the information overly basic or highly specialized?
Is the information appropriate for your research?
Slide 6
Authority
Can you find information about the author from other sources?
Is the author a self-proclaimed expert or enthusiast?
What are the author’s or publisher’s credentials?
For websites, what does the URL signify- is it a .gov, .com, .edu?
TIP: an author may be an individual, an organization, or a corporation.
Slide 7
Accuracy
Is the information well written?
Is the information verifiable elsewhere?
Are the sources of information documented?
Slide 8
Purpose
Is the information biased or prejudiced?
Is the information designed to entertain, disseminate scholarly information, or sell
something?
Is the information presented complete?
For internet sources, how is the site funded?
Slide 9
Test Your Knowledge
What questions should you ask yourself to see if information on a website is appropriate for
your research?
A) What is the purpose of this site? commercial, entertainment or educational?
B) Can I can verify the information elsewhere?
C) When was the information published or updated?
D) All of the above.
Answer: D. All of these are all criteria for evaluating information on web sites.
Slide 10
Congratulations!
You have completed the
Evaluating Information Sources Module
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Avoiding Plagiarism
Slide 1
What is Plagiarism
Learn the facts to keep yourself out of trouble.
Slide 2
The Appalachian State University Academic Integrity Code defines plagiarism as
"presenting the words or ideas of another as one's own work or ideas."
It's okay to use other people’s words, but you need to cite them correctly. Even if it’s
unintentional, plagiarism is still a serious academic offense.
Slide 3
Examples of Plagiarism
You have committed plagiarism when you:
Use the words or ideas of another person without crediting that person
Paraphrase another author’s words without citing them
Buy or use work written by someone else
Cut and paste passages from the web, a book, or an article and insert them into your
paper without citing them
Slide 4
Common Knowledge
Common knowledge does not need to be cited. It includes facts that are known by a lot of
people and can be found in many sources.
Slide 5
Common Knowledge
For example, you do not need to cite the following:
Shakespeare was born in 1564
Jennifer Aniston starred on the TV show Friends
World War II began in 1939
Slide 6
Avoiding Plagiarism
In the following slide you will be asked to review two statements. Choose the one that
needs to be cited because it is not common knowlege.
Slide 7
Which example needs to be cited?
A) Sandra Day O’Conner was the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme
Court.
B) When asked how she would like to be remembered, Judge O’Connor replied that she
hoped her tombstone might say, "Here lies a good judge."
Answer:
The correct answer is B) This information is not common knowledge and therefore needs a citation.
Slide 8
Tips to Avoid Plagiarism
Take good notes, include complete citation information for each item you use and give
credit when using another person’s words, ideas, or opinions.
Use quotation marks when using someone else's exact words.
Paraphrasing is using another persons ideas, but expressing it in your own words (not just
changing the order of words in a sentence).
Slide 9
Using Direct Quotes
When quoting someone else’s exact words, the quoted words (sentences, etc.) should be
enclosed within quotation marks and include a citation to show the original source.
Example shown: Quotation (in APA style):
When Suskind (2006) asserts that "these are not ordinary times. Knowledge, in fact, is
power, enough to burn off fear," our complacency toward the inner workings of our
government is challenged (p. 10).
Example shown: Works cited:
Suskind, R. (2006). The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America’s Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11. New York: Simon &
Schuster.
Slide 10
How do I Paraphrase?
Paraphrasing is putting another author’s thoughts or ideas into your own words.
Remember to cite the source of the paraphrased material.
Paraphrasing
In the following slides you will be asked to review an original passage and two
paraphrases of it. You will then be asked to decide if either is an acceptable paraphrase.
Read the original passage carefully and then make your decisions.
Slide 11
What is paraphrasing?
Original passage from:
Burd, Stephen. (2006, June 9). Working-class students feel the pinch. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved October 2, 2006, from
<http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i40/40a02001.htm>
Original passage:
With the cost of attending even the least-expensive public four-year colleges growing
rapidly each year, and dwindling financial support for higher education from the federal
government and states, students from blue-collar backgrounds increasingly find four-year
public and private colleges to be out of their reach.
Slide 12
Is this is an acceptable paraphrase?
Students from working-class families who would like to attend four-year institutions of
higher learning are facing a twofold challenge: escalating costs of attendance and
reductions in the amount of financial support being offered by the federal and state
governments. (Burd, 2006)
A) Yes
B) No
Answer: Yes. This is an acceptable paraphrase; it restates ideas of the author and cites the original
passage.
Slide 13
Is this second example an acceptable paraphrase?
With the increasing cost of attending even the least-expensive public four-year colleges
coupled with dwindling financial support for higher education by the federal government
and the states, many students from low-income families are finding that an education at
four-year public or private institutions is beyond their means. (Burd, 2006).
Is this second example an acceptable paraphase?
A) Yes
B) No
Answer: No. This is not acceptable as a paraphrase because it follows the original passage too
closely.
Slide 14
Additional Resources:
For more information on how to properly cite sources, see
http://www.library.appstate.edu/reference/howTo/cite/index.html
If in doubt, ask your instructor or visit the University Writing Center.
http://www.writingcenter.appstate.edu
Slide 15
Congratulations!
You have completed the plagairism module