2. ENGL 1102
Information Literacy
Outcomes
 Critically evaluate information using applicable
criteria
 Appropriately use information to fulfill the identified
need

3. Library research
 What do I want to know?
 Define an information need and develop a
strategy
 How do I find it?
 Know where to look
 Implement search strategy
 How do I know if it’s right for me?
 Evaluate information before you use it

4. Define an information need
 Review your assignment
 How many sources? What type(s)? What is the
audience? What is the intended purpose?
 Brainstorm for ideas
 Talk to friends; browse web; read newspaper
 Identify main topic and related concepts
 Use a thesaurus; break down by subtopic
 Put it all together
 Develop a search strategy

5. Search strategy
 Use “ “ or ( ) to keep words together & in
order, i.e., “senior citizens” or (senior citizens)
 Connect with Boolean operators
• AND is
 AND = narrow automatically
used by Google
and other search
engines to
combine terms.
 OR = expand
• Sometimes a
program will
use a + or – to
 NOT = exclude substitute for
AND or NOT

6. PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Developing search terms

7. Search terms
 Use these anywhere
CONCEPT 1 CONCEPT 2 CONCEPT 3
Main topic Related concept Subtopic
OR OR OR
AND AND
synonym synonym synonym
OR OR OR
synonym synonym synonym

8. KNOW WHERE TO LOOK
Books
Articles
Online resources

9. Books
 comprehensive information
 historical perspective
 expert analysis
 find book titles in the CSU Catalog

10. CSU Catalog

11. NOTE: You can
use Boolean logic
in both basic and
advanced
searches.

12. Articles
 contemporary or new information
 narrowly focused perspective
 may be popular, trade, or scholarly
 find articles in a database
 citation
 full-text

13. Articles

14. How to find: Articles
General, multidisciplinary databases

15. Academic Search Complete
Select Advanced Search

17. different ideas connected with
AND
Search Strategy = adoption AND rights AND “gay parents”

18. Use suggested subject
terms for brainstorming

19. similar ideas connected with
OR
Search Strategy = adoption AND (rights OR laws) AND
(“gay parents” OR homosexuals)

20. Limit results by
availability, type, or
date
Remove limiters by
clicking the orange X

21. Article Access Level

22. Detailed Record

23. Online Resources
 today’s information
 broad, variety perspective
 questionable reliability and stability
 find resources from reliable online sources

24. How to find: Internet Resources
 Search engines not all created equal!
 Subject directories organized links to
resources
 Professional & Trade organizations
websites provide industry
news, directories, etc.

25. Know Your Domains
Extension Type
.edu Educational institution
.org Non-profit service organizations
.gov Government agency
.mil Military entities
.biz Businesses
.com Commercial organization
.net Internet service providers

26. EVALUATING
INFORMATION
 Critically evaluate information using applicable
criteria

27. Evaluating Information
 Authority
 Currency
 Content
 Audience
 Purpose/Scope
 Objectivity/Bias
 Accuracy
 Quality
TIP: Trust no one!

28. Evaluate: Authority
Who wrote the information?
What are his/her/their credentials?
What affiliations, if any, does the author
have?
Is contact information provided?
Who published the work?
Who sponsored the work?

29. Evaluate: Currency
When was the work published?
Are there multiple editions?
Examine currency of references
NOTE: Old ≠ Bad!
ex: Historical information does not need to be
revisited as often as technological information

30. Evaluate: Content
Who is the intended audience?
What is the purpose?
What is the scope?
Examine objectivity
Examine for accuracy
Is the information verifiable?
Evaluate overall quality

31. Authority
Currency
Content
Content
Authority

32. Authority
Currency
Content
Content

33. Authority
Content
Authority
Content
Currency

34. Authority
Authority
Currency
Content
Currency

35. Putting it all together
 Know your assignment
 Clarify your topic
 Be flexible in your search
 Critically evaluate your resources

36. Next steps
 Appropriately use information to fulfill the
identified need
 Go to: http://clayton.libguides.com/ENGL1102
for tips on citing sources and avoiding
plagiarism