Text - Readings

Week 1: Reading to be completed by February 1:

• How to Use Netscape - available in print at orientation meeting
• The Information Age
• What is Research?
• Research Process Models
• Reference Tools for Background Information
• What is a Database?

Week 2: Reading to be completed by February 8:

• Periodicals & Periodical Databases
• Subject Headings
• Selecting a Topic
• Using Web-Based InfoTrac Databases in "Subject Guide" Mode

Week 3: Reading to be completed by February 15:

• Subject Heading Lists
• Circulating Books
• Library Of Congress Call Numbers
• Using the PLS Web PAC (Public Access Catalog)
• Library Catalogs on the World Wide Web

Week 4: Reading to be completed by February 22:

• Developing a Research Question
• Search Strategy
• Using Web-Based InfoTrac Databases in "Advanced Search" Mode

Week 5: Reading to be completed by February 29:

• Reviewing Search Results & Revising Search Strategy
• Subject-Specific Periodical Databases
• Using WilsonWeb Databases

Week 6: Reading to be completed by March 7:

• Newspaper Databases
• Advanced Search Strategy
• Using Proquest Newspaper Databases
• Optional:
  • How to Search the SF Gate (Chronicle & Examiner) archives database
  • SF Gate archives database

Week 7: Reading to be completed by March 14:

• Using General Web Search Tools
• Optional:
  • "Unraveling the Web" (S.F. Chronicle article)

Week 8: Reading to be completed by March 21:

• Evaluating Web Pages
• Evaluating Information on the Internet (from Purdue University Libraries)
• Understanding Web Addresses
• For additional information on evaluating Internet information (OPTIONAL), see:
  • Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources (from Virginia Tech University)

Week 9: Reading to be completed by March 28:

• What is Lexis-Nexis?
• Using Lexis-Nexis
• Optional (recommended for more information on legal research):
  • Lexis-Nexis: Legal Search Frequently Asked Search Questions
  • Lexis Paralegal Update Newsletters

Week 10: Reading to be completed by April 4:

• Evaluating Sources

Week 11: Reading to be completed by April 11:

• Web Databases
• E-mail Discussion Groups
• Politics of Information

Week 12: Reading to be completed by April 25:

• Using Dialog

Weeks 13-15: Reading to be completed by May 2:

• Citing Sources
• Optional:
• How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography

Weeks 16-17: Reading to be completed by May 16:

• Developing a Final Project Webpage

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These materials may be used for educational purposes if you inform and credit the author and cite the source as: LSCI 105 Online Research. All commercial rights are reserved. To contact the author, send comments or suggestions, please email: Eric Brenner at brenner@smcccd.cc.ca.us