Name__________________                          Date______                Section_____

 

PASSAIC COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Library / LRC

Information Literacy Exercise for COL 102

                                                            FALL, 2008

 

·         BE SURE TO READ DIRECTIONS BEFORE ANSWERING QUESTIONS!

 

Part I:

 

·         Refer to the Library Home page (www.pccc.edu/library) to answer these question:

 

  1. When was the Library Web page last updated?

 

·         For questions 2-6, click on the blue highlighted Virtual Tour of the Library. (text version)

 

  1. Where in the Library do you borrow and return library books?

 

 

  1. What is another term for "journals, magazines, and newspapers?"

 

  1. Where in the Library do you go to ask a librarian a research question?

 

 

  1. Where in the Library are you most likely to find general works, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and almanacs?

 

  1. Who has first priority to use computers in the computer area?

 

 

·         Go back to the Library Home page. Select the appropriate Online Tutorial in the drop-down list.

 

  1. Why are Encyclopedias good starting points for getting information on a topic?

 

 

 

 

·          Find and take the PLAGIARISM. tutorial   You Quote It, You Note It” (Look under CITING YOUR SOURCES in the drop-down list of tutorials). 

     

       8.  What is a PARAPHRASE?

 

 

9.   Is it necessary to cite your source if you paraphrase some information?        Why or why not?

 

 

.

 

 

     

 

The following questions follow a process you can use when doing your own research:

 

·          Click on ENCYCLOPEDIAS In the red sidebar under Online Resources --> Click on WorldBook Online Reference Center (in “World Book Student” box). Type “ELECTORAL COLLEGE” in the SearchWorld Book” box at the top of the page. --> Click “GO”.

 

10.   How many articles (items) are listed?

 

 

11     What is the first sentence of the article that will probably provide the most information on the ELECTORAL COLLEGE?

 

 

·         Click on “ELECTORAL COLLEGE”  (go to the article). On the LEFT SIDEBAR click on “Distribution of Electoral Votes”

     

12.  According to the article, what determines the number of votes for each state in the Electoral College?

 

                 

 

13. According to the chart, how many votes does New Jersey have in the Electoral College?   ______     How many votes does Florida have? _______

 

 

             

·          Go back to the main article and scroll to the bottom of the article.

 

14.Who is the Contributor (author) of this article?

 

a.      Why is he qualified to write this article?

 

 

·          Return to the Library Homepage.  Click on Online Databases

 

15.   Which database is described as “an excellent resource for current events and sociopolitical topics?”

 

·          Click on the link to the CQ Researcher online database.

 

16.   List the topics of three recent reports.

a.

 

b.

 

c.

 

·          Type “Electoral College” in the Quick Search box near the top of the CQ Researcher page--> Click GO.

 

17.  List the titles and dates and scores of the 2 articles with the highest scores.

a.

 

b

.

·          Click on the article with the highest score above-->Click on Pro/Con on the left side of the page. .

 

18.   What question is asked in Pro/Con? 

 

 

·          Go back to the Library Home page. Click on “Online Tutorials”

 

19.  What Online Resource can you use for Finding Books in the Library?

 

 

·          Go to the online Library Catalog.

 

20.   Use the online Library Catalog to find a PCCC Library book that probably includes some information on the topic “Electoral College” (Type “Electoral College” into the search box.   Select a title, then click on “DETAILS .  Locate and write  the following information about the book:

a.      Author:

b.      Title:

c.      Publisher:

d.      Copyright (Pub) date:

e.      PCCC Call Number (at the bottom of “Holdings”)

f.        Location in PCCC library

 

   Click on the “CATALOG RECORD” tab and list the following:

 

g.      Place of Publication (Publication Information):

 

21.  What are the first two  subject terms  listed for this book?

a.

 

b.

 

 

·          Go back to the Library Home page and the Online Tutorial Finding Articles.

 

22.    Why would you use a periodical article for your research?

 

 

23.    What can you use to find articles in periodical literature?

 

 

24.  What is the difference between an online database and an internet search engine?

 

          Click on Online Databases in the red sidebar on the left side of the page

 

25.   Which database includes” a variety of general and subject-specific databases?”

 

 

 

·          Click on EBSCOhost     Check   Academic Search Premier.  Click on “continue”   Type” Electoral College” in the search screen (next to the word “Find”)     Limit your search to full text.    Click on “Search

 

26.  How many results are listed?

 

·          Further limit your search in the next line by clicking on Magazines in the Left sidebar.

 

27.  How many results are listed?

 

·          Sort by Relevance

 

28.  Find a periodical (magazine) article that deals with the Electoral College in the United States.  Click “citation” of the article and answer these questions.

 

a.      Author:

 

b.      Article title:

 

c.      Periodical  (Magazine) title :

 

d.      Date published

 

e.      Number of pages

 

f.        Full text word count

 

              

 

·          Go back to the Library Home page. Click on the drop-down Online Tutorial  Biographical Information.

 

29.  List 2 possible sources of biographical information about a person.

 

a.       

 

b.        

 

·          Go back to the Library Home page. Click on the drop-down Online Tutorial Using the Internet.

 

30.  List 2 reasons why the Internet may NOT be the best or easiest way to find information on a topic?

a.        

 

b.       

  

·          Click on the section of the tutorial called “When to use the Internet.”

 

31.   List 2 kinds of information for which the Internet may be preferable to other sources.

  

a.        

 

b.       

 

 

 

 

Go forward until you reach the part of the tutorial on evaluating web pages.

 

32.   List 3 criteria for evaluating Web pages.  

a.        

 

b.       

 

c.        

 

·          Click on the link to Search Engines in the red sidebar.  Click on Google.  Search for a web site that explains “electoral college”

 

33.  What is the Web Address (URL) of the site you chose?

 

34.  Use the criteria for evaluating Web pages to explain why it is (not) a reliable site.

 

 

 

·          Go back to the Library Home page. Refer to the Web Links.

 

35.  Which Web link would you use to find information on your representatives in the NJ State (not federal) legislature?  ( Hint:  you are interested in government information for the New Jersey State Legislature)

 

36.   Click on that Web link and answer the following questions. 

a.      What town/city do you live in?

 

b.      What district is it in?

 

c.      Who is your state senator representing your district?

 

d.      Who are your state assembly representatives representing your district?

 

37.   Where did you find the answers to questions b, c & d?

 

 

 

·          Go back to the Library Homepage. Click on the drop-down Web Link for Local Resources. Select one link and click on it.

 

 

38.  Which link did you select?

 

39.  What is its Web address?

 

40.  Write a short description of this Web site.

                                                                                                       

 

 

                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

PART II:

·         Go to the Library/LRC. Register at the Circulation Desk and get a Library barcode affixed to your PCCC ID card.

 

Write the number of your Library barcode:  ______________________________

 

Get the signature of the staff member at the Circulation Desk: _____________________

 

 

                                                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To access Library databases from off-campus, follow the directions on the LRC home page under “off-campus access” or use the following passwords:

 

WORLD BOOK ONLINE   ID:  passaic   PW: passaic

 

CQ RESEARCHER           ID:  passaic   PW: countycc

 

EBSCOHost                      ID: s4924371   PW: p0156709

 

(Note:  Online Library Catalog does not require passwords)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                           Hamann/Bencivengo  revised October, 2008.