SHU Library Instruct

SHU Library Instruct: Information Literacy

Getting Started With Research

Why Information Literacy Matters (Tutorial)

The world has profoundly changed in the last few decades—a change more drastic than any other in human history. We can access almost any information we need, at any time, from any place. The amount of information available is astounding and growing at an exponential rate.

This tutorial will explore how information skills affect you in these areas, and how having the right information at the right time can change your life.

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Life in the Information Age (Video)

While the abundance of texts, images, and videos is a never ending source of entertainment, information overload can negatively impact your ability to locate and evaluate quality sources.

Mastering the ability to find and use the right information in different situations will help you succeed beyond your academic career. In this video, you’ll learn how to develop a responsible, critical mindset to navigate the complicated information landscape.

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Research Process (Video Tutorial)

Research doesn’t have to be daunting. Think of research as a process of discovery. With a research plan and an open mind, you will collect new insights and develop key academic and professional skills.

This video will introduce you to the purpose of research and present strategies to successfully begin your research journey.

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Developing a Research Focus (Tutorial)

When you’re given a research assignment, sometimes the hardest part comes right at the beginning, when you need to determine what to research. Read on to learn about techniques that will help you develop an appropriate, manageable, and interesting research focus.

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How to Narrow Your Topic (Video)

During your academic career, you’ll be assigned research papers that let you choose your own topic. This video will break down the cyclical nature of the research process, and explain how to choose and narrow a topic into an appropriate research question, and how to explore your topic through strategic searching.

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Background Research Tips (Tutorial)

Background research is an essential part of developing a focused topic for your research paper. Conducting background research before you decide on your topic paves the way for more effective and targeted in-depth research.

This tutorial will examine how to:

• Differentiate between background research and in-depth research.
• Locate useful sources for conducting background research.
• Utilize background research to help you refine your paper topic.

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Beginning Research with Wikipedia/Google (Video Tutorial)

Imagine you have an upcoming assignment on the ability to see colors. You may want to start with the tools you already are comfortable with, like Google and Wikipedia.

This video will introduce you to the pros and cons of using Google and Wikipedia as tools for gathering information.

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Thesis Statements (Video)

Constructing a strong thesis statement is an integral part of writing a paper because it guides and structures the argument that you will make in your assignment.

Throughout this video, we’ll outline ways in which you can construct a strong thesis statement by narrowing and focusing your topic, formulating a thesis statement, and developing a "working thesis."

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QUIZ: Thesis Statements Quiz

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Scholarship as Conversation (Tutorial)

A research project is about more than simply submitting an assignment and receiving a grade. Each time you research, you're placing yourself in a conversation with scholars in your field.

Throughout this tutorial, we will explore:

• What it means to contribute to scholarly conversation.
• The importance of crediting others' research contributions.
• How to critically evaluate the contributions of others.

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QUIZ: The Research Process Quiz

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Research for Persuasive Writing (Tutorial)

Creating a successful piece of persuasive writing comes with its own set of research challenges. While many elements go into making a piece of persuasive writing successful, high-quality evidence is essential.

This tutorial will walk you through the process of conducting research for persuasive writing.

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