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McConnell Library Radford University

Instruction a la Carte Menu What is this?

Not sure what we can teach, or how long a topic will take? The below list shows our most popular topics. This is not an exhaustive list; if you would like other resources or topics addressed, we’d be happy to discuss the options with you.

We have two "menus": one is a general list that is applicable to any class (For All Classes), and one that lists offerings for students with some basic library research skills (For Upper Level Classes). We also have a list of "other options" for our Univ 100 and E102 classes.

Topics and Time Requirements

For All Classes

Will your students need to…

Points Covered

Time Required

Develop a search strategy? (highly recommended)

  • Brainstorming a topic
  • Narrowing topics
  • Identifying keywords and synonyms

10 minutes

Find full text articles?

  • Identifying different parts of article citations
  • Basic introduction to accessing full text articles from print and online citations

20 minutes

Use the library’s catalog to look for books or DVDs?

  • Finding books and videos on a topic
  • Accessing electronic books
  • Using call numbers to locate items in the building

10 minutes

Know the difference between popular and scholarly articles?

  • Comparing and contrasting journals vs magazines articles
  • Discussing the publication process

20 minutes

Evaluate Websites?

  • Analyzing sites for credibility

40 minutes

Learn how to avoid plagiarism?

  • Recognizing what is plagiarism
  • Understanding paraphrasing
  • Ethics and issues of academic integrity

40 minutes

Use general interest databases to find articles on common, popular topics?

  • Using databases like Academic Search Complete to find articles on topics
  • Using the "find full text" link to retrieve articles

15 minutes per database

Use APA, MLA or Chicago/Turabian?

  • Location of APA and MLA help pages
  • Identifying different parts of article citations
  • Citing a print article in APA or MLA
  • (Note: we have stand-alone Survivor workshops that go into much more detail about APA, MLA and Chicago)

30 minutes for brief overview

50 minutes for more in-depth coverage

 

 

For Upper Level Classes (Students have library basics)

Will your students need to…

Points Covered

Time Required

Mine a good article to discover other relevants sources on their topics?

  • Find full text from a bibliography or works cited list
  • Reading citations
  • Distinguishing between book and article citations
  • Finding the full titles of abbreviated journal names
  • Using the catalog and journal finder to locate items
  • Searching a database to find related articles (especially through the use of subject headings)

30 minutes

Track the literature to find articles which cited an important work?

  • Using Web of Knowledge and other tools to find citation information

20 minutes

Identify the different types of scholarly articles?

  • Comparing and distinguishing between: research articles and literature reviews; primary vs. secondary
  • Discussing what peer-reviewed means

15 minutes

Use EndNote?

  • How to import citations from a database into EndNote
  • How to create a works cited page in EndNote
  • How to change journal styles for the works cited page
  • How to attach PDFs

Demo- 15 minutes

 

Hands-on- 50 minutes

Search specialized databases for their fields?

  • How to search for topics in PsycINFO, CINAHL; ERIC; Sociological Abstracts, Web of Science, etc.

30 minutes per database

Request articles and books through Interlibrary Loan?

  • How to log in to ILL
  • How to request an article
  • How to access articles received

10 minutes (demo)

 

Other Options:

Univ100 Library Challenge! = 50 minutes
Students play a Jeopardy-style game, complete with buzzers and prizes, to learn about McConnell Library. Both faculty and peer instructors are required to attend, and the students need to complete the library exercise in the textbook before attending the session.

Eng 102 Library Session I = 50 minutes
Searching for articles: CQ Researcher; Understanding Citations; Search Strategy; InfoTrac PowerSearch OR Lexis Nexis.

Eng 102 Library Session II = 50 minutes
Evaluating sources: Website Evaluation; Wikipedia; Popular vs. Scholarly sources

You may also suggest your students attend Library Survivor workshops. These are a great way to help students with library skills outside of class time.

To set up a library session, use the online form. We ask that you request a session at least one week in advance; you will receive a confirmation usually within 24 hours of its receipt.

You can also contact any of the instruction librarians directly: