1. Students will learn how to determine the nature and extent of information needed in order to identify a suitable research topic.

• What research question can be reasonably covered in a 5, 10 or 20 page paper
• How many sources will you need to consult in preparing for your paper

2. Students will become familiar with the strengths and limitations of different types of information resources and the media through which these resources are presented in order to access resources effectively.

• What is the difference between the information in reference resources, books and journal articles
• Which disciplines use and publish more in books than journals, and vice versa
• How does the publishing process and academic tenure influence the information we read

3. Students will learn strategies for the critical evaluation of information in order to evaluate the reliability of a resource and determine the biases that are inherent in a resource.

• What should you look for when searching for good books and articles
• Does the publisher or author of the information impact how reliable it is

4. Students will learn how to structure and implement their own research strategies in order to plan and execute an effective search.

• How do you choose a topic and turn it into a research question
• How do you organize your paper and your research process
• How do you search to get the best results

5. Students will acquire in-depth knowledge of library services and resources in order to be lifelong learners.

• What are the differences between the library catalog and the library databases, between reference resources and books
• What library services can I use

6. Students will develop awareness of the legal, economic, political and social aspects of information resources in order to use information ethically.

• How do privacy issues and copyright impact the way we use information
• How does the web change our relationship with information