T r i n i t y    W e s t e r n    U n i v e r s i t y

UNIV 110 (Richmond)

Scholarly Inquiry and Research Methods

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Co-requisites or Pre-requisites: None

Semester Hours: 2 

Instructor: Qinqin Zhang

Contact Information: qinqin.zhang@twu.ca; 604-513-2121, ext. 3904

Office Hours:   Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (please contact in advance)

Introduction to the skills and tools of information research in a high tech environment, beginning with topic analysis, drafting a report outline, planning a research strategy, carrying out the research and ending with a sound, analytical research report.  Emphasis is placed on the development of critical thinking strategies, within the conventions of scholarly inquiry, that are transferable to most information tasks.  Skills developed through this course will have marketplace application. 

 

Course Premise

This course is based on the work of Professor William (Bill)​ Badke, Associate Librarian for ACTS (Associated Canadian Theological Schools) and Information Literacy at TWU. Professor Badke has developed this course for the Adult Degree Completion program on TWU's Langley campus several years ago, and he is the author of the textbook for this course. It is my privilege to work closely with him as a fellow librarian at TWU’s Alloway Library and learn from his effective ways of teaching information literacy to post-secondary and adult students.

Besides teaching scholarly inquiry and research in the academic framework of information literacy, I will also incorporate hands-on exercises during the lecture to let students practice the skills we learn in class. Email correspondence after class is highly encouraged for questions regarding lectures and assignments.

 

The student will:

1.     Gain an understanding of the characteristics of information and its dissemination in the information age.

2.     Develop an appreciation for topic analysis and research focused around a question or hypothesis.

3.     Learn to strategize research procedures using a wide variety of tools and information sources, based on an understanding of information systems and their manner of operation.

4.     Acquire a deeper ability to use critical thinking to interact with diverse concepts, evaluate truth claims, synthesize data and make conclusions.

5.     Show an appreciation for the ethical requirements of research and writing within Christian and marketplace contexts.

 

Required Texts and Materials:

Badke, William.  Research Strategies: Finding your Way through the Information Fog, 6^th ed. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse.com, 2017.

The course requirements consist of five assignments, all of which are posted at http://libguides.twu.ca/univ110r-qz.  All assignments must be completed and receive a minimum grade of D- in order to pass the course.  Assignments are to be sent by e-mail attachment to qinqin.zhang@twu.ca.

Tues, Oct 30 - Session One Introducing Scholarly Inquiry in Today’s Information Environment  Introduction to Today’s World of Information Information literacy defined in the context of scholarly inquiry The nature of scholarly research Types of information sources Assignment One - Due at the beginning of next class (Nov 5, 2018)

Tues, Nov. 6 - Session Two Developing Goals in a Context of Research as Conversation  Development of research questions Development of preliminary outlines Scholarly vs. Popular sources Overview of the TWU Library resources Close reading of a research article Literature review Assignment Two - Due at the beginning of next class (Nov 12, 2018)

Tues, Nov 13 - Session Three Search Techniques and Conventions  Keyword searching – Library OneSearch & the Internet Controlled vocabularies & subject heading searches Searching for books Citing sources Assignment Three - Due at the beginning next class (Nov 19, 2018)

Tues, Nov 20 - Session Four Journal Research  The role of journals in scholarly inquiry Introduction to today’s journal literature Searching for journal articles Searching for other sources Citation management tools Assignment Four  - Due at the beginning of next class (Nov 26, 2018)

Tues, Nov 27 - Session Five Information Evaluation and Special Topics The challenge of academic authority Evaluating sources Organizing found resources for research writing Research Ethics - Plagiarism and copyright Research sources on a shoestring Assignment Five - Due one week after the final class (Dec 4, 2018)

 

TWU-Extension Standard Grading System

Letter Grade	% Range	Grade Point	Grade  Description
A+	98-100	4.3	Unusually outstanding work; completely error-free work at the highest level attainable
A	94-97	4.0	Outstanding, excellent work
A-	90-93	3.7	Outstanding, excellent work with very minor flaws
B+	87-89	3.3	Very good work with few flaws
B	83-86	3.0	Good, competent work
B-	80-82	2.7	Good, competent work with noticeable flaws in one or more areas of content, syntax, formatting, and/or APA usage
C+	75-79	2.3	Adequate, reasonably satisfactory work with significant flaws in one or more areas
C	70-74	2.0	Adequate, reasonably satisfactory work with significant flaws in two or more areas
C-	65-69	1.7	Adequate, reasonably satisfactory work with significant flaws in three or more areas
D+	60-64	1.3	Minimally acceptable work
D	55-59	1.0	Minimally acceptable work
D-	50-54	.7	Minimally acceptable work
F	Below 50	0	Inadequate work

Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism at TWU

As Christian scholars pursuing higher education, academic integrity is a core value of the entire TWU community. Students are invited into this scholarly culture and required to abide by the principles of sound academic scholarship at TWU. This includes, but is not limited to, avoiding all forms of plagiarism and cheating in scholarly work. TWU has a strict policy on plagiarism (see academic calendar).  Learning what constitutes plagiarism and avoiding it is the student's responsibility. An excellent resource describing plagiarism and how to avoid it has been prepared by TWU Librarian William Badke and is freely available for download (PPT file) or used as flash (self running) tutorials of varying lengths from:

http://williambadke.com/plagiarism.ppt
http://williambadke.com/Plagiarism.swf (14 minute flash tutorial)
http://williambadke.com/Plagiarism_Short.swf  (8 minute flash tutorial)

Campus Closure and Class Cancellation Policy

In the event of extreme weather conditions or other emergency situations, please consider the TWU website the primary source of information, along with the TWU bulletin line 604.513.2147. The University will communicate information regarding the cancellation of classes to the following radio stations: CKNW (980 AM), CKWX (1130 AM), STAR FM (107.1 FM), PRAISE (106.5 FM) and KARI (550 AM). Should there be conflicting reports regarding campus closures, the CKWX (1130 AM), STAR FM (107.1 FM), PRAISE (106.5 FM) and KARI (550 AM). Should there be conflicting reports regarding campus closures, the TWU website and bulletin line are to be considered correct.

The first announcement regarding status of campus is made at 6:30 am and covers the period up to 1:00 p.m. The second announcement will be made at 11 am and will cover afternoon classes. Students and faculty should assume that all night classes will continue to operate. If the emergency continues into the evening, students and faculty may check for a class cancellation notice on the University's weather bulletin line or the website after 3:00 p.m. that day.

If this specific class must be canceled for any other reason, the instructor will communicate this in advance. In the case of an unexpected cancellation, a sign will be posted on the classroom door.