English 300L - Library Research

General Description:

English 300L is offered in support of 300 Level English courses and is required the first time a student takes a 300 level English course. This course is a deep dive into academic research skills and information literacy and is designed to support students at all levels in developing research skills and confidence.

Learning Goals:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify the contribution that particular articles, books, and other scholarly pieces make to disciplinary knowledge and how the knowledge changes over time.
• Format questions for research based on information gaps or reexamination of existing, possibly conflicting, information.
• Use research tools and markers of authority to determine the credibility of sources.
• Assess the fit between an information product's creation process and a particular information need. ·
• Refine and adjusting needs and search strategies during the research process. 
• Give credit to the original ideas of others through proper attribution and citation. 

You do not need to purchase any books for this class! Everything you need for this class will be available to you through library databases.

In order to earn a "Satisfactory" for this course, you need to complete the following:

• Attend one initial meeting with Kennedy Pasley, Student Success Librarian. 
• Complete an in-depth source evaluation of a source for your 300 level course assignment (about 1 hour). Submit to kpasley@knox.edu.
• Attend at least one individual appointment with Kennedy Pasley (30 minutes) to review your course assignment. You may attend more meetings, or your 300 level course instructor may require more. 
• Once you have done the previous requirements, complete the reflection survey. You will be emailed the survey after meeting other course requirements.

The total amount of time it will take to complete the requirements for this course is about 3-4 hours.

These assignments and requirements are designed to be done alongside coursework in your 300 level English course, and ideally would be completed before your annotated bibliography or final assignment. Completing the assignments after the fact is acceptable, but not in the best interest of your time and success. This is not meant to be busywork, but rather a scaffolded approach to your work in your 300 Level classes.

All assignments MUST be completed by the end of the final exam period.

All four course requirements must be completed in order to earn a satisfactory grade for the course -- this includes submitting both parts of the source evaluation assignment. Completing 3 requirements excellently but not completing the fourth requirement will result in an unsatisfactory grade.

You must show up and be engaged at the initial workshop session & your individual appointment.

The only portion of the class that is traditionally graded is the source evaluation assignment. You will not be given a specific letter grade, but the work must be equivalent to a C- or better in order to meet this requirement.

• If you submit the source evaluation assignment prior to week 8, you will be given the opportunity to revise & resubmit if necessary.

If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in class for which you may require accommodations, please contact the awesome Stephanie Grimes in the office of Disability Support Services (ODSS information; office: SMC E-115; email: sgrimes@​knox.edu) so that such accommodations may be arranged. Note that the accommodations are not retroactive; I do not make adjustments until ODSS contacts me to let me know what I can do. Also note that accommodations must be renewed each term.

Disabilities covered by law include, but are not limited to, learning disabilities, psychological disabilities, health impairments, hearing, and sight or mobility impairments.