LASI 170 Introduction to Library Research

LASI 170 Introduction to Library Research is a practical, applied class that will be useful not only throughout your career as a student, but basic research concepts are useful throughout life.

This 1-credit 8-week course will take you through each step in the process of writing a term paper: choosing a topic, locating relevant information in a variety of sources, organizing the information, and creating the bibliography. This class is offered both F2F and online. Register for classes through the myWSU portal.

This library guide includes information found on the syllabus and some course materials easily transferable to a web page. Course content is actually in Blackboard.

This course focuses on each step in the research process, with an emphasis on identifying appropriate sources and critically analyzing information in order to apply it to a research topic. Assignments will take students through the steps of preparing a research paper or project including refining a topic, selecting a variety of appropriate sources, and organizing information. The concepts taught in LASI 170 are meant to be transferable and used across disciplines. In order to more thoroughly practice the concepts taught in class, students are encouraged to use topics from research papers in their other classes for assignments in LASI 170.

1. Select relevant and appropriate information sources for a topic.
2. Construct an effective search strategy in order to find information on a topic.
3. Synthesize and analyze information from different sources in order to create an outline for a research project.
4. Identify the parts of a citation and write a bibliography in a recognized citation style. 

As the Instruction and Outreach Librarian at University Libraries, one of my primary responsibilities is teaching LASI 170. I also work with most student groups not affiliated with a college, i.e. TRIO programs and International Education Office as well as area K-12 groups as crucial outreach duties. (It is mostly juniors and seniors in high school who come to do research, but 4-H clubs and elementary classes that come here for library tours are extra fun!)

You will also find me working several hours weekly at the Reference Desk, including some evening and weekend hours, so I hope I am easy for you to reach if you have questions about this class or other research projects. As a K-12 school librarian, I taught various study skills, including reading textbooks, writing class notes and taking tests. Please take advantage of my teaching experience or just stop by the Reference Desk to say hello.