Library Tips for Composition Teachers

1) The students know both more and less about computers and using them than we think. They are adept at using computers as communication tools (chat, e-mail, video,); for file sharing; for burning CDs; image manipulation; word processing; Power Point.

2) By and large they do not understand databases: how they are structured (and, therefore, how to search them); what their academic function is; what they contain (scholarly and/or popular material)

3) Therefore, I suggest creating an assignment or at least structuring a number of classes around pre-selected materials. For example http://www.wiu.edu/users/wat100/alice/penalty.htm

is a collection of articles of various kinds about the death penalty. You could use this collection as a way to discuss the different sorts and sources of information, how that information would or would not be useful in an argument for or against the death penalty. Because the students are confined to these articles, you could gage how well they put good information to use.

4) After students understand what they are looking for, then they are prepared to use the databases and the reference collection.

5) Students need to come to the library at least twice, once to get confused, the second time to actually learn. The first time we show them what is possible, the second time they learn to do what we showed them. I think a third visit is not unwarranted.

6) The advantage of multiple visits is: students actually learn; you get a feel for what is going right or wrong with the research; you (and I) are there to answer questions; students get good information; lack of excuses about not finding information.

7) When developing a library assignment, talk to a librarian. Be sure that what you want to do is compatible with our collection.

8) Consider having us design a web page to support your assignment:

http://www.wiu.edu/users/wat100/martinelli/moral.htm

http://www.wiu.edu/users/wat100/kyoto/kyoto.htm

http://www.wiu.edu/users/wat100/phycology/wiuphycology.htm

http://www.wiu.edu/users/wat100/psych/lynch.htm

http://www.wiu.edu/users/wat100/balderson/balderson.htm

These sorts of pages help beginners focus their research.