Library Skills & Knowledge

To take you from High School to College

Using a Library Catalog• At college or University, books are arranged using

the Library of Congress Classification system. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/

• It is similar to the Dewey Decimal system, except that it uses letters and numbers to subcategorize subject areas.

• It is universally used in Universities and Colleges.• When you are looking for a book, you can search the

catalog by Author, Title or Subject. Once you find an appropriate book, you will get a Call Number, which is the “address” of the book on the shelves.

• Once you have the call number, find the shelf with that range of letter/numbers in the stacks, and get your book.

Two types of Resources

Books• Published, edited,

reviewed• Broad/

comprehensive information on a topic - comprehensive

• Mostly viewpoint of one or more author

• Currency not as important

Journals• Published, edited,

reviewed• Narrow or specific

analysis on a topic – limited

• Mostly viewpoint of one author

• Currency important – published frequently – important in university research

Scholarly or Peer Reviewed VS popular Sources

Scholarly or Peer Reviewed Popular

• Published – edited and peer reviewed

• Replicated, scrutinized, reviewed & critiqued by respected authorities in the field

• Not for profit – usually subsidized by a scholarly organization

• Ongoing scholarship in a multitude of fields

• Review process takes time & thought

• Can be published – authors often on staff/journalists

• Reviewed only in-house by an editor

• For profit – commercial• Whatever’s popular,

trendy or will sell copies• Instant

response/comment on events

Reading to build knowledgeIt is expected that you will read assigned

materials to build your knowledge of the subject area.

This is different from reading for content. Although understanding of content is important, your reading at college should facilitate the expansion of your knowledge, your ability to synthesize ideas from a number of sources and capacity to “play with ideas” and offer new insight.

https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/social-justice-12-wage-gap.pdf

Online Databases• An Online Database is a comprehensive collection of information

in electronic form and organized for quick retrieval. Typically it is comprised of a large collection of encyclopedia, magazine, and/or newspaper articles, and occasionally other media such as transcripts, interviews, maps, historical documents, photos and videos. Databases, like encyclopedias can be general or subject specific.

• Importantly, information contained in published articles has gone through some degree of editing. That means knowledgeable people from the field have reviewed and edited the information before it is published. We call this process refereeing.

• You cannot Google these articles – they are available only through subscription.

• Through your University/College Library, you will have access to many online databases. Check the catalog or with your librarian.

• To access our databases go to: Surreyschools.ca >Students • >Homework Help >Digital Resources >Secondary

Google vs Library Database

Google Database• Search Engine• “Free” – as long as

you have a computer and internet access

• Limited – approximately 3% of the internet

• Anyone, can say anything, anytime!

• Curated collection of published information

• Subscription paid for by Library

• Comprehensive and subject specific

• Published, edited and peer reviewed

Critically Evaluating Webpages• University professors expect

only credible websites for research

• You must learn how determine if information is accurate, reliable and from a respected source

Accuracy Author indicated? Qualifications indicated? Can you contact him/her?   Authority Is the publishing institution indicated? Purpose of publishing institution

indicated? Is this website attached to an

“institution”?

Objectivity Are the goals/objectives of the page met? Is the information comprehensive or

complete? Are there opinions expressed by the

author?

Currency Is the page dated? Has the page been updated? Are the links up-to-date?   Coverage Do the links compliment the page? Is there a balance of text & images? Is the information presented cited

correctly?

https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/evaluating-webpages-3.pdf

Plagiarism Citing Sources

Whenever you use someone else’s ideas or data in your work, you must give them credit. Failure to give credit is call Plagiarism.

• You give credit to your source by using a specific citation style: MLA (Modern Languages Association), APA (American Psychological Association) etc.

• At the beginning of your course, your instructor will give you a course outline which will indicate which style you are to use.

• Citing a source is very technical; the style format used demands that you use required information in a specific order, accurately punctuated.

• Douglas College has a great handout entitled Plagiarism How to Avoid It, accessible here:

http://library.douglascollege.ca/~/media/7B07E4D717074B02AB9091B033D6843E.ashx?la=en

https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/citing-sources-quick-guide.pdf

Plagiarism Summarizing and Paraphrasing To Summarize means to put a main

idea into your own words. It is a succinct, brief overview.

https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/summarizing.pdfTo Paraphrase also means to put your

source material into your own words. It is a condensing of a broad section of the original source.

https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/paraphrasing.pdf

In-Text Citations• Parenthetical References or In-Text Citations are

references placed within the body of your writing that document ideas, information, data, opinions and quotations that you have taken from your sources. Remember, you must always give credit to the authors whose ideas or information you have used in your Works Cited List and in the body of your writing through In-Text Citations. The In-Text Citation and the Work Cited List are linked and it is clear to the reader from where/whom the idea or information came.

https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/in-text-citations3.pdf

• Kwantlen University guide http://libguides.kpu.ca/c.php?g=183915&p=1212581

Bibliography • A Bibliography or Work Cited List is the list of sources you have used

to obtain information and/or ideas for your work (written or otherwise)• Any information you obtain from another source, published or not,

must be cited (including images)• Plagiarism can get you put on academic probation or expelled• A very specific and rigid format must be followed• Your instructor will tell you which format is to be used: eg. MLA, APA,

Chicago• Kwantlen University citation guide http://libguides.kpu.ca/citations • MLA style example: Author last name, author fisrt name. Title. City where

published:Publusher, date. Slover, Tanya. The Instant Genius: an indispensable handbook

for know-it-alls. Los Angeles:General Publishing Group, 1998.

https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/citing-sources-quick-guide.pdf

The Research Question• Sometimes you will be given topics to research,

sometimes you will have to create your own• You must read widely and understand the topic well –

opposing viewpoints, major researchers/writers in the field

• A Research Paper involves: Critical thinking Source evaluation Exploration & interpretation of primary & secondary

sources Organization & composition are critical Not an informed summary – interpretations & a

unique perspective on issues are offered OWL at Purdue https

://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/1/

Thesis Statement• Must be debatable – it is a claim that is argumentative or

persuasive• Must be narrow & clear – supported by academic evidence

• Types of claims Claims of fact or definition – is something an established fact Claims of cause and effect – often supported by data, one

event caused another to occur Claims about value – the subjective worth of an event or issue Claims about solutions or policies – argue for or against a

certain solution OWL at Purdue https

://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/ Ddouglas Collegehttps://www.douglascollege.ca/~/media/BA0F480C2C734758B7C66D55F44CF94B.ashx

Post-Secondary Writing• Different kinds of writing Analytical – evaluates an issue or idea by considering component parts Expository – explains an issue or idea Argumentative – supports a stated claim by using evidence

• Presenting an argument – one method is the Toulmin Method Claim – overall thesis Data – evidence to support claim Warrant or bridge – how the data supports the claim Backing – additional logic to support claim Counterclaim – what are counter arguments Rebuttal – addressing the counter arguments OWL at Purdue https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/2/

Technical writing standards are also important. For example, MLA offers a style guide for setting up your writing on the page.

https://northsurreylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/writing-standards-for-social-studies-papers.pdf

Organizing your research

Organizing your ideas and research is one of the most difficult aspects of essay writing.

Create an Outline of your essay before you begin. 1. Create a Thesis Statement2. List the “reasons” why this statement is true.3. Now, each of these “reasons” is used to create a

Topic Sentence and Body Paragraph.4. Finally write a concluding paragraph, restating your

thesis and summarizing your arguments.• Douglas College has a great tutorial, Making an Outline

from the Top Down, which can be accessed here:

http://www.douglascollege.ca/~/media/F6560411057D4E5BAFD2D5261AC1980A.ashx?la=en

Study Skills & Time management: You are responsible for your own success• Keep a planner – schedule everything• Keep your notes organized – learn a note taking

system• Sticky notes & highlighters very useful• “Thinking early leads to starting early.” – don’t put

off what you need to do• Break work down into small, achievable chunks• Have a quiet, organized place to study and turn-off

the social media• Know your study style – what works for you• Take breaks• Exercise and eat well (not too much coffee!)• Get help when you need it• Procrastination only pays off now!

The class Lectures are designed to provide you

with enough background to support your learning.

Instructors in college and university just touch on the highlights in class.

You are expected to learn from your reading, not just content but knowledge.

Exams will include questions on lecture material as well as material you were expected to learn on your own.

Ask a Librarian

Ask a Librarian!

Thank you!

This presentation was created byMartha Cameron, North Surrey Secondary

Maureen McDonough, Semiahmoo Secondary

This presentation is available online through the

North Surrey Library website, www.northsurreylibrary.com

Click on Student Toolkit, then Library Skills and Knowledge