Suggested Research Assignments
Student engagement and knowledge retention is improved when their library session is paired with a course research assignment. We are happy to help you find a research project that aligns with your course objectives! Some suggestions are:
Annotated Bibliography
Students prepare an annotated bibliography that includes the best, most useful resources on their topic -- include books, periodical articles, websites, or other relevant sources as specified in type and number by the instructor. In the annotations students evaluate the usefulness of the resource for their particular topic.
Research Journal
Students keep an ongoing record of the library research they do for a project, including methodology, sources consulted, keywords used, etc. Students should note what worked, what didn’t, and how this exercise was useful.
Research Presentation
Can be used as a group project. Students follow the research process, but present their findings rather than writing a formal paper.
Anatomy of a Term Paper
Students conduct research for a term paper and do all necessary steps except actually writing the paper.
Scholarly vs. Popular
Students review publications on a similar topic and compare materials based on audience, focus, purpose, and context, then determine which materials are best for a research paper and why.
Vanderbilt University: Video Tutorial
Scholarly vs. Popular Handout Discussing the Differences
University of Arizona: Popular vs. Scholarly Articles Tutorial
University of Oregon
Primary & Secondary Sources
Students compare primary and secondary sources on the same topic, then, determine when and why to use each one.
Hartness Library: Video Tutorial
Bobish: Primary & Secondary Sources Presentation and In-Class Exercise
Career Assignment
For this assignment, students find information on their chosen career in at least one reference book, general books, journal articles, and web sites. Instructors should specify a set number for each source type sources. Students identify the required qualifications, such as what education, experience and licenses (if any) are needed. They also research salary expectations, possibly places of employment and employment forecasts for their career. This assignment is intended to help students begin to examine their interests, abilities and experience and also learn how to research a real life information need.