Time Schedule:
Anne E. Zald
GEOG 492
Seattle Campus
Introduction to library research methods in geography. Review and assessment of geographical bibliographies and abstract services for monographs, periodicals, gazetteers, dictionaries, encyclopedias, government publications, and statistical sources. Credit/no credit only.
Class description
This course has three goals: 1.To familiarize you with a research process that integrates traditional geographic literature and electronic information tools and resources 2.To familiarize you with the scholarly and professional literature of geography and your major concentration 3.To provide you with a foundation set of skills that you can apply to the balance of your course work here at the UW as well as in your personal and professional life outside the university
At the end of this course you will be able to: -identify when you need to seek information -understand how information is produced resulting in publications for different audiences, uses, and of different styles and quality -identify appropriate resources to solve that information need, whether these are people or materials published traditionally or electronically -effectively use those resources to identify information -evaluate the usefulness, credibility, and reliability of information for the project you are working on -locate that material successfully, whether it is in the UW Libraries, another library in the region or nation, or on the Internet -use print and electronic information in a legal and ethical manner through familiarity with copyright laws and citation style -be able to create basic www pages
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Taught in a computer-equipped classroom, this class will combine short lecture, hands-on activities, library tours, readings, and discussion. Use of electronic mail for class communication and for turning in assignments is required. Students will also be required to make a web page as their final project.
Recommended preparation
Simultaneous enrollment, or previous completion, of Geography 397 Tutorial for Majors is strongly recommended. If you have not taken, or will not be taking Geography 397, it would be helpful to have some idea of your interest within Geography. Consult with the departmental advising staff and/or a faculty member in your area of interest. All class participants must have a UW uniform access account for Internet and email use. If you don't have a uniform access account prior to registration, you will need to get one at the beginning of the course. Previous computer experience is not required, but helpful. If you have an opportunity to take a basic class on email or the web (free classes are offered on campus and tutorials are available on the web) it will help you in this class.
Class assignments and grading
There will be several small assignments during the quarter, due on a weekly basis, to familiarize you with various tools, resources, and research processes. Each of these small assignments will contribute to the final project, which is an annotated bibliography on the topic of your major concentration within Geography. By completing each of the assignments you should be able to identify the resources to be included in your final project as the quarter progresses.
Completeness, thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and timeliness of the weekly assignments and the final project. Class participation.
