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ENG120 Faculty Resources - TruthQuest

This guide is compatible with TruthQuest for instructors of ENG120.

Assessments of Information Literacy 

(How will we know that the students know it?)


Information formats

Types of Information (Information Creation as a Process)

  • Name/List them (orally, written) Examples from TruthQuest include: texts; memes; narrative videos; news analysis articles; etc.
  • Find different types (physically, virtually)
  • Use different types (citation analysis of their papers/projects/presentations)

Where to find information (Searching as Strategic Exploration)

  • Locate resources (physically, virtually, orally – databases, websites, interviews, etc.)
  • List/name places to find resources (orally, written, research journal, etc.)

Open vs. Proprietary (Information has Value)

  • Demonstrate personalization in their Google search (compared to another student’s search for the same search term)
  • Identify and articulate differences between search results for same search term – Google vs. Databases
  • Explain why full text of articles in Google or Google Scholar are unavailable

Accessing Information (Searching as Strategic Exploration; Research as Inquiry)

Access information using a variety of search strategies

  • Keep a search log with reflections and explanations of HOW each source was found
  • Search history (recorded by databases)

Select resources to search

  • Search log
  • Given a research question
    • ​​Write a list of appropriate databases to search
    • Ask “Who might “care” about (provide expertise, research, be vested in) this topic?” Create a list of individuals/organizations/websites to look for information

Generate search terms

  • Brainstorm and record key words to use in searching
  • After locating and reading a Reference Source (specialized encyclopedia or dictionary), write a list of potential keywords
  • Record a list of other search terms, such as “Subject Terms” in specific databases appropriate to the topic

Find additional sources

  • By looking for other books on the shelf near a found book - Value of serendipitous browsing
  • By looking at the other articles in a journal issue housing a found article
  • By looking up the author of a source and finding other sources by that author
  • By looking up the outputs of other participants in a program or research study
  • By looking up articles in a Reference List of a found article

Evaluate Information (Authority is Constructed and Contextual)

Identify criteria to evaluate sources

  • Create a list of criteria (written) to evaluate a web document, database source, print source or electronic resource. 

Apply criteria to evaluate sources

  • Use criteria to explain (orally/written) why a source would/would not be useful for research paper
  • Demonstrate a search (online? Database?) and verbally describe the source selection process (and tools) used for a results list
  • Use criteria to evaluate several sources and choose one as best suited for the purpose at hand
  • Write an annotation for a source(s)

Authority

  • Identify/list specific criteria for defining/evaluating authority for the use/topic
  • Source choices reflect a connection between expertise and topic (Citation analysis)
  • Provide written/oral validation or evidence to support choices of sources (possibly in a research log)
  • Screen shot of a source – student circles clues to credibility (or lack of) of source

Manage the Search Process (Searching as Strategic Exploration)

  • Save results – Database folder, document folder, email folder
  • Emailed links to searches or to individual sources
  • Citation Manager folder
  • Bibliography for a paper
  • Saved links are “Permalinks” or “Stable URLs” etc. not URLs alone

Ask for Help

  • Chat Transcripts, Emails, Documented Walk-up sessions or phone calls or meetings
  • List ways to contact a librarian (written/screen shots)
  • Recount (written/oral/acted out-role played/video/storyboard in photos) a story of when (s)he asked for help (librarian, faculty member, friend, TA, classmate)