HUDSONFALLSCENTRALSCHOOL DISTRICT

Introduction to Information Literacy

Spring 2005

CLASS SYLLABUS

Class Time: B Days, 3rd Block

Location: Senior High School Library

Instructor: Mr. Winyall

E-Mail:

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide instruction and practice in finding, critically evaluating and communicating information from a variety of electronic and print sources. Students will learn the concepts of the research process and how information is organized. They will learn the effective use of college library catalogs, periodical indexes and databases, traditional scholarly resources, and use of the Internet for research. Students will learn to think critically when developing research strategies and evaluating information resources, and they will learn to cite and communicate their results effectively and appropriately.

Units to be Covered:

1.THE EFFECTS OF THE MEDIA

A. Stereotyping

B. Advertising

2. THE INTERNET

A. Selecting

B. Searching

C. Evaluating

D. Citing

3. BIAS IN THE NEWS

A. Newspapers

B. Magazines

C. Radio

D. Television

4. COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE

A. History

B. Censorship

C. Plagiarism

D. Music (Parody

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Choose and focus a topic and formulate a research question
  • Develop systematic search strategies that you can use when doing research for class projects.
  • Understand how information is generated and how information resources and libraries are organized.
  • Understand and use basic reference sources, online catalogs, periodical indexes and databases, and use the Internet to locate and retrieve information.
  • Critically evaluate the validity of the information you find and its appropriateness for your research projects.
  • Understand some of the ethical and legal issues surrounding information, especially the rights and responsibilities involved with the production, use, and transmission of information.
  • Cite information using a particular citation format/style.

Assignments:

A. IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

  • There will be in-class exercises involving hands-on use of electronic databases. In-class exercises will be turned in at the end of that day’s class.
  • There will also be in-class activities that you will complete with the instructor and fellow students.

B. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

  • You are expected to spend some time outside of class to study class readings and class handouts, do homework assignments, and practice using resources introduced in class.
  • Due dates for each assignment are indicated in the course schedule and on the assignment itself.
  • Homework assignments and most accompanying handouts can be found posted on the class’s home page at:

, after they have been distributed in class.

Grading Policy:

  • Weighting of work will be as follows:

Homework Assignments:

Quizzes, In-Class Assignments, and Class Participation:

Final:

  • Final letter grade will be based on the following scale:

A =

A- =

B+ =

B =

B- =

C+ =

C =

C- =

D+ =

D =

D- =

F =