Library Skills & Knowledge

1. Library Skills & Knowledge To take you from High School to College

2. Using a Library Catalog • At college or University, books are arranged using the Library of Congress Classification system. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/ • It is similar to the Dewey Decimal system, except that it uses letters and numbers to subcategorize subject areas. • It is universally used in Universities and Colleges. • When you are looking for a book, you can search the catalog by Author, Title or Subject. Once you find an appropriate book, you will get a Call Number, which is the “address” of the book on the shelves. • Once you have the call number, find the shelf with that range of letter/numbers in the stacks, and get your book.

3. Two types of Resources Books • Published, edited, reviewed • Broad/comprehensive information on a topic - comprehensive • Mostly viewpoint of one or more author • Currency not as important Journals • Published, edited, reviewed • Narrow or specific analysis on a topic – limited • Mostly viewpoint of one author • Currency important – published frequently – important in university research

4. Scholarly or Peer Reviewed Popular • Published – edited and peer reviewed • Replicated, scrutinized, reviewed & critiqued by respected authorities in the field • Not for profit – usually subsidized by a scholarly organization • Ongoing scholarship in a multitude of fields • Review process takes time & thought • Can be published – authors often on staff/journalists • Reviewed only in-house by an editor • For profit – commercial • Whatever’s popular, trendy or will sell copies • Instant response/comment on events Scholarly or Peer Reviewed VS popular Sources

5. Reading to build knowledge • It is expected that you will read assigned materials to build your knowledge of the subject area. • This is different from reading for content. Although understanding of content is important, your reading at college should facilitate the expansion of your knowledge, your ability to synthesize ideas from a number of sources and capacity to “play with ideas” and offer new insight. https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/social-justice-12-wage-gap.pdf

6. Online Databases • An Online Database is a comprehensive collection of information in electronic form and organized for quick retrieval. Typically it is comprised of a large collection of encyclopedia, magazine, and/or newspaper articles, and occasionally other media such as transcripts, interviews, maps, historical documents, photos and videos. Databases, like encyclopedias can be general or subject specific. • Importantly, information contained in published articles has gone through some degree of editing. That means knowledgeable people from the field have reviewed and edited the information before it is published. We call this process refereeing. • You cannot Google these articles – they are available only through subscription. • Through your University/College Library, you will have access to many online databases. Check the catalog or with your librarian. • To access our databases go to: Surreyschools.ca >Students • >Homework Help >Digital Resources >Secondary

7. Google Database • Search Engine • “Free” – as long as you have a computer and internet access • Limited – approximately 3% of the internet • Anyone, can say anything, anytime! • Curated collection of published information • Subscription paid for by Library • Comprehensive and subject specific • Published, edited and peer reviewed Google vs Library Database

8. Critically Evaluating Webpages • University professors expect only credible websites for research • You must learn how determine if information is accurate, reliable and from a respected source • Accuracy • Author indicated? • Qualifications indicated? • Can you contact him/her? • Authority • Is the publishing institution indicated? • Purpose of publishing institution indicated? • Is this website attached to an “institution”? • Objectivity • Are the goals/objectives of the page met? • Is the information comprehensive or complete? • Are there opinions expressed by the author? • Currency • Is the page dated? • Has the page been updated? • Are the links up-to-date? • Coverage • Do the links compliment the page? • Is there a balance of text & images? • Is the information presented cited correctly? https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/evaluating-webpages-3.pdf

9. Plagiarism • Click below and take 10 minutes to learn about plagiarism from the Vaughan Memorial Library

10. Plagiarism Citing Sources Whenever you use someone else’s ideas or data in your work, you must give them credit. Failure to give credit is call Plagiarism. • You give credit to your source by using a specific citation style: MLA (Modern Languages Association), APA (American Psychological Association) etc. • At the beginning of your course, your instructor will give you a course outline which will indicate which style you are to use. • Citing a source is very technical; the style format used demands that you use required information in a specific order, accurately punctuated. • Douglas College has a great handout entitled Plagiarism How to Avoid It, accessible here: http://library.douglascollege.ca/~/media/7B07E4D717074B02AB9091B033D6843E.ashx?la=en https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/citing-sources-quick-guide.pdf

11. Plagiarism Summarizing and Paraphrasing • To Summarize means to put a main idea into your own words. It is a succinct, brief overview. https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/summarizing.pdf • To Paraphrase also means to put your source material into your own words. It is a condensing of a broad section of the original source. https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/paraphrasing.pdf

12. Bibliography • A Bibliography or Work Cited List is the list of sources you have used to obtain information and/or ideas for your work (written or otherwise) • Any information you obtain from another source, published or not, must be cited (including images) • Plagiarism can get you put on academic probation or expelled • A very specific and rigid format must be followed • Your instructor will tell you which format is to be used: eg. MLA, APA, Chicago • Kwantlen University citation guide http://libguides.kpu.ca/citations • MLA style example: • Author last name, author fisrt name. Title. City where published:Publusher, date. • Slover, Tanya. The Instant Genius: an indispensable handbook for know-it-alls. Los Angeles:General Publishing Group, 1998. https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/citing-sources-quick-guide.pdf

13. Annotated Bibliography • An Annotated Bibliography is an expanded list of sources you have consulted. The source is briefly described and how it will be used is indicated. All bibliographic information is recorded. • Pugnetti, Gino. Simon and Schuster’s Guide to Dogs. New York: Fireside, 1980. Print • This comprehensive guide provides well illustrated information on the history of the species, their relationship with humans, the development of “breeds” and dog showing and more. Each breed group is discussed in detail. This source will be used for information on the history of dogs. • Creating an Annotated Bibliography from Douglas College https://goo.gl/f31dnH

14. In-Text Citations • Parenthetical References or In-Text Citations are references placed within the body of your writing that document ideas, information, data, opinions and quotations that you have taken from your sources. Remember, you must always give credit to the authors whose ideas or information you have used in your Works Cited List and in the body of your writing through In-Text Citations. The In-Text Citation and the Work Cited List are linked and it is clear to the reader from where/whom the idea or information came. https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/in-text-citations3.pdf • KwantlenUniversity guide http://libguides.kpu.ca/c.php?g=183915&p=1212581

15. The Research Question • Sometimes you will be given topics to research, sometimes you will have to create your own • You must read widely and understand the topic well – opposing viewpoints, major researchers/writers in the field • A Research Paper involves: • Critical thinking • Source evaluation • Exploration & interpretation of primary & secondary sources • Organization & composition are critical • Not an informed summary – interpretations & a unique perspective on issues are offered • OWL at Purdue https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/1/

16. Thesis Statement • Must be debatable – it is a claim that is argumentative or persuasive • Must be narrow & clear – supported by academic evidence • Types of claims • Claims of fact or definition – is something an established fact • Claims of cause and effect – often supported by data, one event caused another to occur • Claims about value – the subjective worth of an event or issue • Claims about solutions or policies – argue for or against a certain solution • OWL at Purdue https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/ • Ddouglas College https://www.douglascollege.ca/~/media/BA0F480C2C734758B7C66D55F44CF94B.ashx

17. Post-Secondary Writing • Different kinds of writing • Analytical – evaluates an issue or idea by considering component parts • Expository – explains an issue or idea • Argumentative – supports a stated claim by using evidence • Presenting an argument – one method is the Toulmin Method • Claim – overall thesis • Data – evidence to support claim • Warrant or bridge – how the data supports the claim • Backing – additional logic to support claim • Counterclaim – what are counter arguments • Rebuttal – addressing the counter arguments • OWL at Purdue https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/2/ • Technical writing standards are also important. For example, MLA offers a style guide for setting up your writing on the page. https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/writing-standards-for-social-studies-papers.pdf

18. Organizing your research • Organizing your ideas and research is one of the most difficult aspects of essay writing. • Create an Outline of your essay before you begin. • Create a Thesis Statement • List the “reasons” why this statement is true. • Now, each of these “reasons” is used to create a Topic Sentence and Body Paragraph. • Finally write a concluding paragraph, restating your thesis and summarizing your arguments. • Douglas College has a great tutorial, Making an Outline from the Top Down, which can be accessed here: http://www.douglascollege.ca/~/media/F6560411057D4E5BAFD2D5261AC1980A.ashx?la=en

19. Study Skills & Time management: You are responsible for your own success • Keep a planner – schedule everything • Keep your notes organized – learn a note taking system • Sticky notes & highlighters very useful • “Thinking early leads to starting early.” – don’t put off what you need to do • Break work down into small, achievable chunks • Have a quiet, organized place to study and turn-off the social media • Know your study style – what works for you • Take breaks • Exercise and eat well (not too much coffee!) • Get help when you need it • Procrastination only pays off now!

20. The class • Lectures are designed to provide you with enough background to support your learning. • Instructors in college and university just touch on the highlights in class. • You are expected to learn from your reading, not just content but knowledge. • Exams will include questions on lecture material as well as material you were expected to learn on your own.

21. The Class con’t • Know how to take notes! It is expected that you know how to do this before you enter college • Research shows that students who take notes by hand score hight than those who take notes on a computer Take Good Notes https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/take-good-notes.pdf Taking Notes from a Reference Source https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/taking-notes-from-a-reference-source.pdf • Most instructors do not allow recording

22. Communicating with your instructor • Emails should be formal and not chatty • Show respect by addressing the professor correctly and signing off correctly • Get to the point • Do not expect an instant reply

23. Ask a Librarian Ask a Librarian!

24. Thank you! This presentation was created by Martha Cameron, North Surrey Secondary Maureen McDonough, Semiahmoo Secondary This presentation is available online through the North Surrey Library website, www.northsurreylibrary.com Click on Student Toolkit, then Library Skills and Knowledge