Welcome to the Library!

Dr. John Hugh Gillis Grade XII Students

Prepared by Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Public Services Librarian

December 2013

What will we discuss today?

• Why use the Library?• Critical Thinking• Popular vs. Scholarly Sources• Primary vs. Secondary Sources• Cite what you write!• Survey?

Where do you go to look for information?

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Why is it important to use the Library?

Critical Thinking

Analyse your assignment questions:

What does this question mean?How much detail does your teacher require?

Where do I begin?Read about your topic – know your subject matter!Brainstorm ideasThink about Key Words & Key ConceptsWrite your thesis statement

You must demonstrate that you are willing to examine popular beliefs, assumptions and opinions and weigh them against facts. Support your thesis statement with research.

Question! Question! Question!

Is this source reliable? Is this source current? Have opinions changed? What are the current trends in this research area? Are there any gaps in the research? Is something missing? Who is the author? Are they an expert in this field? Do they represent multiple points of view or do they express bias for their

own point of view?

How can I remember all these questions?

Currency

How recent is the information?

Can you locate a date when the resource was written/created/updated?

Based on your topic, is this current enough?

Why might the date matter for your topic?

Reliability

What kind of information is included in the resource?

Is the content primarily opinion?

Is the information balanced or biased?

Does the author provide citations & references for data?

Authority

Can you determine who the author/creator is?

What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience)?

Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site?

Is this publisher/sponsor reputable?

Purpose / Point of View What’s the intent of the article (to persuade you, to sell something)?

For Web resources, what is the domain (.edu, .com, etc.)? How might that influence the purpose/point of view?

Are there ads on the Web site? How do they relate to the topic? Is the author presenting fact or opinion?

C

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Scholarly vs. Popular Sources

Popular

• Magazines• Written by journalists, students, popular

authors, or no author listed• Flashy covers• Advertisements• Brief articles• Trade Journals: Business, Finance,

Industry (Written by experts, but may not be peer reviewed)

• Newspapers

Scholarly

• Journals• Written by experts• Evaluated by experts: “Peer Reviewed”• Authoritative Source• Usually include:

– Credentials of the Author– Abstract– Bibliography– Specialized vocabulary– Reference List

Can books be considered scholarly or popular sources too?

Scholarly Books

Popular

• Novels, i.e, Harlequin Romance• Written by journalists, students, popular

authors, or no author listed• May be written by a professional, but

content intended for mass audience or advertising purposes

• Flashy covers• No references or alternative sources

listed

Scholarly

• Written by experts• Evaluated and/or edited by experts: “Peer

Reviewed”• Authoritative Source• Publishers, i.e., University Presses• Usually include:

– Credentials of the Author– Abstract– Bibliography– Specialized vocabulary– Reference List

Suzanne van den Hoogen, MLIS

Exercise: Let’s look at these websites

• http://www.who.int/en/• http://carca.ca/

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Secondary• Written after primary sources• Often use or discuss primary

sources• May include bias regarding

an event or primary source• May include:

• Biographies• Journal articles• History texts• Movies of historical

events

Primary• Original, first person accounts of an event• Usually written at the time of or shortly after the

event

Examples:• Audio—oral histories or memoirs, interviews, music

• Images—photographs, videos, film, fine art

• Objects—clothing (fashion or uniforms), tools, pottery, gravestones, inventions, weapons, memorabilia

• Statistics—census data, population statistics, weather records

• Text—letters, diaries, original documents, legal

agreements, treaties, maps, laws, advertisements, recipes, genealogical information, sermons/lectures

NOTE: Primary Sources are not just documents

and written reports!

Why do we cite sources?

• Copyright: provides acknowledgement of the original author/creator

• Evidence: • provides documentation to support

your argument.• Allows your teacher to find the

sources you have cited.• Research: demonstrates that you have

researched your topic and used a variety of sources.

• Plagiarism & Academic Integrity: allows you to maintain academic integrity and avoid being accused of plagiarism.

Image Source: http://robcrispe.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/info_overload.jpg

Don’t let this be you!

Ask a Librarian: We’re here to help you!

• In-Library• In-Person

• Reference Desk• Personal Appointments• Email: refdesk@stfx.ca• Telephone: 867- 2242

• Online• LiveHelp

Questions?