University of Rhode Island

Picture of Library

University of Rhode Island Libraries
HELIN Catalog
E-Journals
Reference Databases
Internet Resources
User Guides
Library Skills Tutorial
Special Collections

   
University of Rhode Island Libraries Web Site Header

Libraries HomeLibrary hoursSite IndexContact Information

University Libraries

Last updated: 6/25/09

Instruction Services
Department of Writing and Rhetoric / WRT 104/105/106

University Library faculty provide library instruction for all sections of the first-year Writing courses offered by the URI Department of Writing and Rhetoric. Each semester approximately sixty sections visit the library where students learn to retrieve citations to periodical articles from a reference database and to access the text of those articles to support a research assignment. They learn not only the mechanics of using a database, but also search strategies and evaluation of the sources they find. In additions, several classes enrolled in the Early Credit High School Program in Composition come to the library each semester for the same instruction.

Goals:

  • Students will learn how to retrieve citations from credible articles published in journals and magazines.
  • Students will learn how to access those articles from URI Library.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will create a concept map in order to focus their research.
  • Students will use the concept map to write a research question and identify its main concepts in order to formulate a search strategy.
  • Students will use their search strategy in a general reference database in order to identify citations to appropriate articles that will help answer their research question.
  • Students will use the database tools in order to access the full text for the citations they find.
  • Students will evaluate their results in order to determine their credibility, authority, currency, accuracy, and bias.

For more information regarding the Library's sessions for the College Writing Program, please contact Jim Kinnie at (401) 874-9240 or jkinnie@uri.edu.

Contact information
If you have any questions about the Libraries’ Instruction Services, please contact Chair of Public Services Deborah Mongeau or Information Literacy Librarian Mary MacDonald. Deborah can be reached by e-mail at dmongeau@uri.edu or by telephone at (401) 874-4610. Mary can be reached by e-mail at marymac@uri.edu or by telephone at (401) 874-4635.

University of Rhode Island Libraries

URI Logo


Copyright © 1994-2005 University of Rhode Island. All rights reserved. Disclaimer.  For comments about this page, please email libweb@etal.uri.edu.