1. Research Workshop:
Spch 1311
Multicultural Project
Amy Ferguson
Richland College Library
August 26, 2009

2. Think about your last research
assignment. What was the biggest
or hardest challenge?
 I couldn’t find enough information.
 I couldn’t tell good information and not-so-good
information apart.
 I didn’t find scholarly or academic information.
 I didn’t know how to get started.
 I found too much information.
 Other

3. Receive the Information
Literacy Certificate
Attend all 3 workshops in the Library Instruction
Program
Research 1: Introduction to College
Research
Research 2: Electronic Research -
Sources and Strategies
Research 3: MLA - Avoiding Plagiarism
and Documenting Sources.

4. “Research is a process,
not an event.”
Requires
commitment
Supports your thesis
Best information
and evidence

5. Information Fluency

6. 1: What information am I looking for?
Image Source: “International Flags” by Manny Proebster from www.sxc.hu

7. 1: What information am I looking
for?
Image created at www.wordle.net

8. 2: Where will I find the information?
Reference Books Books and essays Periodical articles
Information Sources
Informed individuals Authoritative documents on the Web

9. 3: How Will I Get There?
Research Tools
Use “Library Tools” First
Library Catalog
Library Databases
Image Source: “Tools 2” by Sanja Gjenero from www.sxc.hu

10. 3: How Will I Get There?
Web Tools
Recommended Web Tools
Project Research Guide
libguides.richlandcollege.edu
/multicultural
Undergraduate Research Engine
research-engine.net
Librarians Internet Index
lii.org

11. 4: How good is my information?
Evaluate Your Sources
 Use CARB to evaluate every source
• Currency
• Authority
• Relevancy
• Bias

12. 5: How do I ethically use this
information?
 Come to the Library’s Research 3 class to
learn how to document your papers in MLA
format
 Learn to use NoodleTools
 Examine the sample research paper on the
Richland Library Web site.
Cite Your Sources

13. 1: Do I need additional sources?
 Remember…
Research is a process, not an event.
You may need to go back to step one,
“What information am I looking for?”
Revise and do additional research.