Searchpath

Objectives

mod 1 Module 1: Starting Smart

This module covers types of information sources you can use for your topic. When you have completed this section of Searchpath you should be able to:

  • identify a variety of information sources
  • distinguish between popular and scholarly periodicals
  • identify characteristics of information on the Web
  • identify characteristics of library resources

mod 2 Module 2: Choosing a Topic

This module covers topic selection and how to identify keywords to search your topic. When you have completed this module you should be able to:

  • broaden or narrow a topic
  • identify keywords for a topic
  • use connectors and truncation in constructing a search
  • understand the difference between keyword and subject searching

mod 3 Module 3: Using WestCat

This module covers how to search the Library Catalog. When you have completed this module you should be able to:

  • recognize that the Library Catalogcontains more than books
  • find books on a topic using a Guided Keyword search
  • find books by title, author, or subject heading
  • find journals by using a Journal Title search
  • identify the location of books or journals
  • read a call number and use it to find items in the library
  • find an item placed on reserve using a Course Reserve search

mod 4 Module 4: Finding Articles

This module covers how to use article indexes to identify articles on a subject. After completing this module you should be able to:

  • choose an article index appropriate to your information need
  • use it to identify an article on a topic
  • use an index's email function to send a record to yourself
  • search the Journal Portal to locate the periodical that contains your article

mod 5 Module 5: Using the Web

When you have completed this section of Searchpath, you should be able to

  • understand the organization of the Internet
  • identify the major types of Web sites
  • use search engines and metasearch engines to search the Web
  • interpret and evaluate Web search engine results

mod 6 Module 6: Citing Sources

This module covers citing sources, plagiarism, and copyright. When you have completed this module of Searchpath, you should be able to

  • recognize different parts of a citation
  • describe when to cite sources used in your work
  • list ways to avoid plagiarism
  • understand the reasons for copyright
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