LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

ASSESSMENT #1 (Individual)
PART B
Using Print and Online Reference Tools to Locate
Background Information on your Research Topic
10%
Read the entire document before attempting to begin the exercise.
Introduction
Reference tools, both print and online, are an extremely useful category of
information resources. Collectively, they can be used to:

Give definitions / explanations of your research topic.

List synonyms and related terms that can be used as key words.

Become acquainted with the technical terminology, including

correct spelling, used in the subject field / discipline in which
your research topic falls.

Provide a good introduction to and overview of your research

topic.

Provide facts that enable you to ask and answer questions about
the topic.

Help you locate statistics and other data that can be applied in
supporting your thesis and developing your argument.

Select additional books and articles on your topic from the

bibliography at the end of the articles, especially in
encyclopaedias.

Reference tools are excellent information resources to start with when you
are doing research.
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LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

Purpose
This exercise tests your knowledge and analytical skills related to using
reference tools to locate background information on your research topic.
Guidelines
1. Locate a comprehensive listing of print (COSTAATTs Libraries and/or
NALIS libraries) and online reference tools to which you can refer as you
answer the questions. You may also utilize the three web sites and
search tools listed below:
a. http://www.ipl.org
b. http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/
adviceengine.html
c. EBSCOHost database (username: costaatt

password:

newcostaatt)
2. Try to understand how each reference tool is organized in order to
search it efficiently.
3. Distinguish one type of reference tool from another by differentiating
their content and their use.
4. Correctly match the type of reference tool with the information required
of the question(s).
5. Follow the instructions carefully, and answer all questions.
6. In order to successfully summarize and synthesize where you have
been asked to, you must read, understand and correctly interpret the
information located in the article before answering the questions.
The Task
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LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

1. Answer all the questions in each section.
2. For each question, do the following:
a.

List the reference source(s) that you used.

b.

Provide the information requested.

LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

ASSESSMENT #1 (Group)
PART B: Using Print and Online Reference Tools to Locate
Background Information on your Research Topic 10%

Course:

LIBS 130

CRN:

30279

Name of Lecturer:

Mr. Curtis Ramoutar

Names of group
members:

Michelle Glodon

Research topic:

Global Warming

Focused research
question:

What are the effects of Global Warming on the

environment.

You are required to record in the blank boxes on the right, your
responses to the questions/activities in the left column.
Section A: Using a general encyclopaedia and a specialized
encyclopaedia
1. Using the general encyclopaedia
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LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

State the research topic.

Global Warming

List the title of the general Britannica. Com

encyclopaedia selected.
What information does
this encyclopaedia article
provide on your research
topic that will help give it
more focus?

This encyclopaedia gives a detailed

scientific information on the cause and
effects of global warming on the
environment

Provide an
APA/Chicago/MLA citation
for the encyclopaedia
article.

Henrik Selin. (2015). In Encyclopaedia Britannica

Online. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com.

2. Search for the same research topic using a specialized

encyclopaedia

Title of the specialised

Encyclopaedia.com

encyclopaedia
What information does this
article provide that is
different from the first
article and how will it help
you further focus your
research topic?

The specialized encyclopedias provided much more depth

concerning the subject matter. It gave statistical data for
different time periods to explain the causes and expansion
of global warming. In addition, it gives information about
action that was taken to decrease global warming.

Provide an

"Global Warming." International Encyclopedia of the

APA/Chicago/MLA citation

Social Sciences. 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2015 from

for the second

Encyclopedia.com:

encyclopaedia article.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-

Which resource is better

The basic encyclopaedia is a better resource to

3045300933.html

LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

for researching your topic?

use in researching my topic because the

Explain your choice.

information is easier to understand and the

information is precisely what is needed without
the unwanted scientific terms.

Write a brief explanation

Global Warming is the increase in the earth's

(1 paragraph) giving an

average temperature that occurs naturally or

overview or historical

by human activity; such as the burning of fossil

background on your topic

fuels and deforestation increases, greenhouse

by summarising and

gases such as carbon dioxide are released into

synthesizing the

the air. Notably, as the earth's temperature

information that you found

rises, glaciers melt, ocean levels rise, and

in both types of

unusual weather patterns occur. The loss of

encyclopaedia.

ecosystems and the endangerment of human

lives and communities is a result of climate
change.

Section B: Using general and subject dictionaries to help clarify the

terminology related to your research topic.
1. The general dictionary
Topic or primary keyword

Global Warming

Title of dictionary

Cambridge Dictionary

How many definitions of

your keyword does the

The dictionary lists one definition

LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

dictionary list?
Select the most
appropriate definition and
write it here.

Global Warming is a gradual increase in

world temperatures caused by gases such
as Carbon dioxide that are collecting in
the air around the earth and stopping
heat escaping into space.

2. Using a subject dictionary, search for a definition of the same

keyword as the one used above.

Title of subject dictionary

Merriam Webster

Give a brief definition of

It is the warming of the earths atmosphere due

the term in your own

to greenhouse gases trapping Ultraviolet

words.

radiation from escaping into space

How do the definitions in

A general dictionary is one that is for ordinary

the general and in the

day-to-day use by people unfamiliar with the

subject dictionaries

terms listed while a special dictionary focuses

compare or differ?

on some particular class of words: for instance,

dictionaries of slang/ jargon, scientific terms
etc. The definitions are the same for both
dictionaries but the specialized dictionaries had
more scientific terms.

Write a citation in

Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed).

APA/Chicago/MLA format

(2005). Springfield, MA: Merriam Webster.

for the subject dictionary

that you selected.

LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

Section C: Using other types of reference tools
1. Using a thesaurus to locate synonyms or related terms for your
keyword
Title of thesaurus

Collins Dictionary

Select 2 synonyms or

Synonyms:

related terms that you

can use for your
primary keyword above.

Related terms: Climate Change, Greenhouse

gases

2. Using a statistical source to locate data related to your research

topic or thesis statement.
Title of the statistical

The World Factbook - CIA

source
Explain fully why you

The World Factbook provides comprehensive

chose that particular

information on a variety of subject areas such

source.

as history, people, government, economy,

energy, geography, etc for different countries.

Quote some of the

In the United States of America the Carbon

data provided as it

dioxide emissions from consumption of

relates to an overview

energy: 5.27 billion Mt (2012 est.) which has

of your topic.

environment - current issues: in acid rain in

both the US and Canada; water pollution from
runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited
natural freshwater resources in much of the
western part of the country require careful

LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

management; desertification
How does this data

This data shows that due to the large

help support your

emissions of Carbon dioxide into the

thesis statement?

atmosphere by the USA, it has led to

environmental issues over the last two
decades.

Write a citation in

Central Intelligence Agency. (2015). USA. In The World

APA/Chicago/MLA

Factbook. Retrieved from

format for the

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-

statistical source that

factbook/geos/br.html

you selected.

Evaluation / Assessment
The rubric is an assessment tool that allows you and your lecturer to
evaluate your work using the same criteria as listed in the category column.
Select/highlight the level and the score in each category that you think best
describes the work that you have submitted. Your lecturer will mark where
your work falls and you can compare both scores.
Rubric: Using Reference Tools

10%
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LIBS130: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS

Category

Emerging

Proficient

Advanced

Chooses
appropriate
and
relevant
reference
tools and
articles
(2%)
Justifies
resource
selection;
explains
how
articles are
helpful in
refining the
research
topic. (3%)
Accuracy of
citations
provided
(2%)

Selects some
articles and tools
that are not
appropriate and/or
relevant

Selects most
articles and tools
that are
appropriate and/or
relevant

All articles and

tools selected are
appropriate and
relevant
2

.25, .5, .75, 1

No justification or
partial explanation
for selection and
usefulness of the
resources
.25, .5, 1, 1 .25,
1.5, 1.75

1.25, 1.5
Basic justification
or partial
explanation only
for selection and
usefulness of the
resources

Detailed
justification and
explanation for
selection and
usefulness of the
resources
2.75

2, 2.25, 2.5
No citations, or >3
errors in citations.
.25, .5, .75,

1
Appropriate Incorrectly
paraphrasin interprets,
g,
summarises, and
summarisin contrasts/compare
g or
s info retrieved on
quoting
most occasions.
from
.25, .5, .75, 1,
sources
1.5
(3%)

Only 2-3 errors in

citations

Error-free citations
1.75

1.5, 1.75
Correctly
paraphrases,
summarises, and
contrasts/compare
s info retrieved on
most occasions.
2, 2.25,
2.75

2.5,

Correctly
paraphrases,
summarises, and
contrasts/compares
info retrieved on all
occasions.
3

Your Total: 9 / 10 points

Lecturers Total: /10 points

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