Information Literacy Assignments
Information for faculty
Karen Bronshteyn
Information literacy assignments are most effective when they clearly state a research objective that gives students practice in higher-level searching and critical evaluation. Stating an expectation for the types of sources is generally helpful to students that are used to gathering information in a fast-paced, collaborative, and non-academic online environment. A scoring rubric, for example, may clearly state that students are to use a minimum of three print sources (or sources that originally appeared in print,) and a maximum of two ".com" (commercial) internet-only sources. This is tricky, though, because it should also define what is meant by a print source. Print sources are frequently accessed via the internet, and often through a database vendor whose site is hosted in the .com domain. Basic library instruction usually covers information formats, such as print periodicals and periodical databases, therefore a combination of clear expectations (written assignment and a scoring rubric,) plus library instruction, will steer students in the right direction for looking for a variety of information formats.
Assignment design should also consider the students' writing skill level. If the objective of the assignment is to gain information-gathering experience and to practice critical evaluation, then requiring a traditional 10-page research paper of students who are still developing academic writing skills would shift the focus from information literacy to nuts-and-bolts writing issues, as well as increase their anxiety level and promote procrastination, and possibly even plagiarism. To match an information literacy objective with beginning academic writing skills, consider some of these alternatives to the "10-page" research paper.
Ideas for Information Literacy assignments include:
| Annotated bibliographies: An annotated listing of 10 sources, no more than 2 of which are taken from the “free”/public portion of the Internet. | Research paper proposal: Instead of an entire research paper, simply a proposal including a thesis statement, a loose outline, and list of sources. |
| A compare & contrast essay: A brief essay (1-2 pages) comparing & contrasting print materials that have been chosen by the instructor and placed on course reserve. (Perhaps a scholarly article vs. a popular article or a primary source vs. a secondary source.) | Documented speech on opposing viewpoints: Students give a brief presentation designed to introduce both sides of a controversial issue. Require six quotations from reputable sources on index cards, three from each side of the issue. |
| Library worksheet: Provide a worksheet to groups of students that requires print resources or library databases. Ask a librarian if one already exists or for one that can be modified. | Research portfolio: In addition to an annotated bibliography, actual sources are collected and turned in along with a description of how it could be utilized. |
| Historical or biographical synopsis: Identify a significant event, publication, or important person in the discipline by using biographical dictionaries and subject encyclopedias in the Library reference section. Have students write a synopsis of their findings, and informally present it to the class (Zinsser, 1986). | Article review: Require a written, one-page review of a scholarly article. Provide instruction on what constitutes a scholarly article and how to locate one. Explain that they will be critiqued on their choice of an article as well as their critical analysis. |
Additional information literacy assignment ideas:
On effective, meaningful library assignments. by Alicia Ellison
Designing research assignments. by Jody Caldwell
Alternatives to term papers. Lawrence University Library.
Creative library assignments from our faculty. Gustavus Adolphus College.
Rubric assistance:
Rubric examples. Marquette University Library.
Annotated bibliography handouts:
A brief tip sheet on annotated bibliographies is available from Cornell University Library (Engle & Cosgrave, 2004).
A more detailed APA style handout, suitable for handing out to students for guidance, is available from Lesley University Library (APA format…, 2002).
A handout which details the types and purposes of annotated bibliographies, (very useful in designing your assignment sheet,) is available from Western Washington University (How to prepare…, n.d.).
Scholarly journals:
A handout from McIntyre Library effectively shows the differences between scholarly and popular articles in a side-by-side chart.
Online tutorials effectively illustrate the difference between scholarly and popular. McIntyre Library's TILT tutorial explains the difference in Lesson One.
A longer tutorial from Rutgers University explains how to determine if it a journal is scholarly by looking it up in Ulrich's Periodical Directory.
References cited above:
Zinsser, W. (1986, April 13). A bolder way to teach writing. New York Times, p. EEUC58.
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