This document defines what it means to be information literate in college. It explains that college research is more complex than everyday searches and requires determining the extent of needed information, accessing it effectively and evaluating sources critically. Unlike everyday opinions, opinions in academic work must be supported by evidence from peer-reviewed research. Peer-review ensures opinions are based on verifiable facts by having experts in a field review research before publication. Students are directed to use peer-reviewed journals, books and databases accessible through the library for college-level research.

1. What does it mean to be
“information literate” for college?

2. Now you have a basic
idea of where you are
going.
Information literacy isn’t
all that hard an idea to
grasp.

3. So, why is it different now that
you are a college student?
Why make a big deal over
something you do all the time?
You search for things on the
Internet everyday.
You follow a process that helps
you find what you want.

4. College is different.
It’s in a place called
THE
ACADEMIC
WORLD.

5. ACRL
To get official again, let’s look at how the Association
of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) describes
Information Literacy in Higher Education.

6. What does it mean to be “information
literate” for college?
To be information literate in college you
should be able to:
• Determine the extent of information
needed
• Access the needed information
effectively and efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources
critically
• Incorporate selected information into
one’s knowledge base
• Use information effectively to
accomplish a specific purpose
• Understand the economic, legal, and
social issues surrounding the use of
information, and access and use
information ethically and legally

7. Doing research for your college
courses is more complex that finding
information about a computer store.
Here’s why.

8. Usually people talk a lot and give their
opinions about this and that.
No one asks them to support what they
say.
There are opinions given on the Internet
about music stars, athletes, computers,
politics and cat videos.
No one really demands proof that a
personal opinion is backed by evidence.

9. Unlike your everyday world
where your friends and
family accept your opinion
at face value.
For your opinion to matter
in the academic world it
must be based on the
evidence of your research.

10. In the academic world
opinions do not stand alone.
Opinions are built upon the
work of others or upon facts
that can be verified and
independently repeated.
So, when you write a paper
for class your opinions must
be verifiable, based on the
evidence of your research.

11. Here’s something important to remember!
When you write a paper, your professor
wants to know what you have to say
about a topic. But, since you are now
living in the academic world, your
opinion must be based on the facts.
YOUR OPINION DOES MATTER.
Give a cheer. Your opinion matters!

12. Okay, you’re sitting in class.
Minding your own business.
Thinking deep
thoughts.
The professor, out of the blue,
wants you to write a research
paper.
You’re sitting in an American History class.
(Just thought you should know.)

13. Professor provides a list of topics.
You pick one.
It’s “Abraham Lincoln.”
What will you do?

14. The last time you searched
for information you use your
favorite search engine.
In the academic world the
tools you used won’t
provide you with the type of
vital information your
professor wants you to use.

15. Your professor wants you to use something
specific in your research paper.
She talked about using
peer-reviewed
sources?

16. So, what is a peer-
reviewed resource?

17. To quote myself, “In the
academic world opinions do
not stand alone.”
“Opinions are built upon the
work of others or upon facts
that can be verified and
independently repeated.”
Peer-review is all about
verifying research. It makes
sure that academic opinions
are based upon verifiable
evidence.

18. This is how peer-review works.
A scholar develops an opinion
about an important topic and
writes a paper about his research.
The scholar wants the article
published and sends it to a
journal read by other scholars.
The editor reads the paper.

19. She thinks it’s a great
article and wants to
publish it. But, she’s an
editor not a scholar.
In order to verify her
belief that the article is
great, she invites other
scholars (the author’s
equals or peers) in the
same field to review the
article and tell her it’s a
great article.

20. The peers read the article and review
the evidence.
The peers look at many things:
• the logic of the article
• citations
• Reference lists
• other works on the same topic
• the overall academic style

21. The peers pass judgment as to
whether the article is fit for the
academic world.
If it is deemed fit the article is
published.

22. You now have an idea of how
research in the academic world
works
You, also, now know to look for
resources that have gone through
the peer-review process.
Peer-reviewed resources are what
your professor wants you to use in
your research
This is what is expected in higher
education.

23. Where do you find peer-
reviewed sources?

24. You’re in college so it’s easy.
Peer-reviewed journals and scholarly
books are found in the library or
through a subscription database on
the library’s website.
Don’t forget. The librarians are there
will help you through every stage of
your research.

25. That works well for
you, doesn’t it?
The things that you
need are available in
or through the
library.

26. You’ve dealt with the fundamentals of information literacy,
examining how to find a computer store.
You’ve gone through the preliminaries about the type of
information you need for academic work.
Over the next few sessions we will
look at different types of resources
used for research and then discuss
what you need to put it all together.