Learning Outcomes for First Year Students, Spring Semester

Second semester English (EN104) students will be able to...

• Understand the components of the research process and how they fit together
• Define the research or information need
• Recognize and understand the purpose of various types of reference resources (specialized encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, etc.)
• Understand the difference between keyword and subject searching
• Evaluate and select information for relevance, accuracy, authority, and reliability
• Construct effective search strategies using Boolean operators, truncation, and controlled vocabulary in the online catalog and research databases
• Perform and refine searches in an identified e-reference resource
• Perform and refine searches in an identified subject-specific database
• Distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources
• Use online help, guides, and tutorials to improve search outcomes
• Understand the need for obtaining additional resources via Interlibrary Loan
• Download citation information for use in bibliographies