ENGL--201

Stebbins’ Model of Information Literacy

*Adapted

Introduction

• What is information literacy?• Information literacy is the ability to identify the various

types of information needed to answer inquiries.• The ability to find bona fide sources• The ability to evaluate the validly of sources• The ability to share the information

Introduction

• Why do we need information literacy skills?• Students use information literacy skills to conduct academic

research.• Most professors will require students to research at least

one topic and write an essay on his/her discoveries. • On the job, we are expected to find, evaluate, and share

information with co-workers as well as give presentations.• Information literacy skills can help us become well informed

citizens; therefore, when voting or buying products, we will have the ability to make educated decisions.

Stebbins’ Model of Information Literacy*Adapted

Step One• Define the

research question

Step Two• Develop a

research strategy

Step Three• Develop• effective

search techniques

Stebbins’ Model of Information Literacy*Adapted

Step Four• Locate

materials

Step Five• Seek

meaning in sources

Step Six• Cite• sources

Step One Defining Research Question

• Be sure to choose a topic of interest because you will be spending a lot of time learning more about that topic.

• Start with a broad subject, i.e., business or advertising.• Narrow it down to a topic that is easier to manage.• There are several differences between subjects and

topics such as:• Subjects are broad and difficult to research effectively because

they cover all manner of information within the subject.• Topics are more like specific areas of a subject, questions,

issues, or problems within the subject.• When choosing a general topic ask the following

questions:• What are some common themes that relate to the topic?• How have others approached the topic?• Are there any controversies about the topic?

Step One Defining the Research Question

• Are there any controversies about the topic?• I picked advertising as my subject.• I wanted to find out if there were any controversies

about advertising, so I Googled “controversies in advertising.”

• And then Googled “advertising alcohol and cigarettes to youth”

• I started with a broad subject• Narrowed it down to controversies in advertising• Narrowed it down further by exploring various

controversies• I might choose advertising alcohol beverages and

cigarettes to youth? Maybe, I not married to the idea.• Hypothesis: Does advertising promote drinking by youths

?

Step TwoDevelop Research Strategy

• Developing an effective research strategy includes knowing what resources are available

• TIP: Don’t wait until the last minute to do research because finding the best and most relevant information can be challenging as well as time consuming.

• What type of resources are in the JFK library and how are they useful?

• Books—scholarly books provide background information, a broad and deep overview, and an analysis of the topic.

• Journals—scholarly journals focus on one narrowly defined aspect of an issue using current research that is being done it that area.

• Newspapers—are written by journalists who are generalists not specialist. The information may not be accurate and it could very well be bias.

• Government information—federal and state—census, statistics, maps, Pacific Northwest publications, state laws, regulations, and codes (JFK library).

• Special collections

Step Three and Step FourSearch Techniques and Locating Material

• After deciding which library resources to pursue, the next step is to create a search that does not retrieve too many or too few hits.• Using truncation can help to expand the search.• For example, when searching for sources, if we use the

words political AND campaign, the results will be sources that only have these exact terms in them.

• However, if we use truncation and place an asterisk* in the place of the first letter that might change, i.e., politic* AND campaign* our results should render

• Campaign, campaigns, campaigning, AND politics, political, politician etc…

Let us try a search

Step FiveSeeking Meaning

Critical reading means active reading

• Begin by scanning the material

• Read the table of contents• Read the abstract• Read the preface• Read the headings

TIP: Don’t spend countless hours reading the whole book, only read and summarize your topic areas of interest.

Remember: Summarizing means putting the author’s ideas into your own words

Take lots of notes

• Record the authors' credentials

• Record the publisher• Record the key points• What are the main

arguments?• What is the author’s purpose?

• Inform• Persuade• entertain

• What kind of information is it?• Primary• Secondary• Objective • Subjective

TIP: Create an electronic folder where you can organize your notes and don’t forget to back it

The Characteristics of Information

Factual information• Consists of facts• A fact is statement that

can be proved.• Facts are always the same. • Often found in reference

materials• Encyclopedias• Information produced by

the government

Analytical • Interpretations and

analysis of facts. • Usually produced by

experts• Often found in books and

periodical articles

Step SixCiting Sources

• When you read scholarly material you are entering into an ongoing conversation about that topic.

• By citing other authors, a researcher ties his/her research into the conversation.

• Citing other authors strengthens your research by demonstrating that your arguments are supported/not supported by other scholars.

• And it honors the intellectual property of others.• In your notes, be sure to include all citation information to be

used later in the bibliography.

MLA Documentation StyleSixth Edition

• TIP: When using a documentation style, such as MLA, be sure to adhere to conventions• Format• Mechanics• Abbreviations• Works cited list

Format of the list of works cited list• The list of the works cited appears at the end of the paper.• The page number appears in the upper right hand corner ½” from the

top of the page and flush with the right margins.• Center the title “Works Cited.”• Double space between the title and first entry.• Each entry will be flush with the left margin, subsequent lines will have

a hanging indent.• Double space the entire list.• Alphabetize all entries by last name.

MLA Works Cited

• Book• Author’s name. Title of the book. Publication information.• Here is an example:Nelson, Francis. Our Posthuman Furture: Consequences of the Biotechnology

Revolution. New York: Norton, 2002.

• A book by two or more authors:Eggins, Suzanne, and Diana Slade. Analyzing Casual Conversation.

London:Cassell, 1997.Marquart, James W., Sheldon E. Olson, and Jonathan R. Sorensen. The Rope, the Chair, and the Needle: Capital Punishment in Texas. New

York: Simon, 1965.

• Entry for a scholarly journal Trump, Katie. “Do Word Meanings Exist?” Computers and the

Humanities. 34 (2002):205-15.

Works Cited

Gibaldi, Joesph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. NewYork:Modern

Language Association of America, 2003.Stebbins, Leslie F. Student Guide toResearch in the

Digital Age: How to Locate and Evaluate Information Sources. Westport, Connecticut:Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006.