LIV@RIT Objectives
Module One: Identifying Sources
This module explains the different types of information sources you can use for your research. When you have completed this section of LIV@RIT you should be able to:
- identify a variety of information sources
- identify the librarian for your college at RIT and how to contact him/her
- identify characteristics of information on the Web
- identify characteristics of library resources
Module Two: Choosing Topics
This module explains topic selection and how to identify keywords to search your topic. When you have completed this module you should be able to:
- define your purpose for research
- 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
Module Three: Searching the RIT Libraries Catalog
This module covers how to search the RIT Libraries Catalog. When you have completed this module, you should be able to:
- recognize that our catalog contains more than books
- find books on a topic using a keyword, title, author or subject search
- identify the location of books or other library items
- read a call number and use it to find items in the library
- find an item placed on course reserves
Module Four: Finding Articles
This module explains how to use online databases to find articles for your research. When you have completed this module you should be able to:
- distinguish between popular and scholarly periodicals
- choose a periodical database appropriate to your information need
- use it to find an article on a topic
- understand the information on the result list and in the article record in the database
- understand how to access periodical databases on campus and at home
Module Five: Using the Web
This module explains how to use the Web effectively. When you have completed this module you should be able to:
- recognize the difference between the Visible Web and Invisible Web
- get more relevant results from the Visible Web
- use search engines more effectively
- interpret and evaluate Web search results
Module Six: Evaluating Information Sources
This module explains the criteria of evaluating information sources. When you have completed this module you should be able to:
- list 5 criteria for evaluating sources
- use relevant questions to probe for these criteria
- evaluate information resources
Module Seven: Copyright and Plagiarism
This module explains plagiarism and how to avoid it; presents the basics of copyright. When you have completed this module you should be able to:
- understand what constitutes plagiarism
- describe when to cite sources used in your work
- list ways to avoid plagiarism
- understand some basics of copyright
Module Eight: Citing Sources
This module explains citations and how to document your information sources. When you have completed this module you should be able to:
- define a citation
- describe when to cite sources used in your work
- recognize different parts of a citation
- be aware of the formats/styles most commonly used