PORTFOLIO OVERVIEW
The final project will represent the best sources you find for your research. It will also reflect your learning from the experience of identifying and finding information from different types of resources. The assignments you complete for each unit of instruction will form the basis of each part of your portfolio. Reflect on the importance of each resource and the tools and strategies that were required to find them.

INSTRUCTIONS
The portfolio should include all of the items on the following checklist. Each item on the list should be presented in a separate section with its own heading. The entire paper should be either typed or word-processed. All bibliographic citations should be in correct MLA citation form. Please submit these entries in a report folder. I will keep the original for my records, so if you would like a copy with my comments on it, please give me two copies.

GRADING
Refer to the Project Evaluation Criteria. In general, you will be evaluated on your ability to:

• Demonstrate your understanding of information retrieval systems and the strategies and techniques necessary to use them effectively.
• Use MLA citation form accurately. There is a shortened MLA style guide on the library WebPage and the complete MLA Handbook can be found at the Reference Desk.
• Critically evaluate the sources you have selected and demonstrate their value in supporting your research objectives.
• Produce a well-organized and clearly written report of your thoughts and findings.

THE PROJECT CHECKLIST
Cover page
Please give your project a descriptive title that reflects the subject of your research. Include your name and:

WAlls - LIB 101 - WINTER 2005

Introduction
Please present and describe your research topic, including your thesis statement and the scope of your research--that is, what your research does and does not include and the disciplinary perspective you focused on. Explain why your topic is interesting or important to you. Describe any factors or considerations that your reader know about. (about 250 words)

Topic Analysis
This section should include your description of the topic from the point of view of how the information on this topic has been retrieved.
Identify the academic subjects that might include the study of your topic (e.g. medicine, history, psychology, sociology, literature, religion, etc.).
List the Library of Congress Subject Headings that were most effective in identifying material in Online Catalogs.

List the Library of Congress Classification Sections
List the key word terms that helped you use different indexes and databases.
Write a brief description of your experience identifying subject headings and key words
List the most important periodical databases
List the most important Internet search tools

Reference Sources -- 2 sources (does not include general encyclopedias such as Britannica or World Book)
Select 2 of the best reference sources for your topic. The fiirst should be a subject encyclopedia article that provides a good introduction and background for your topic or an important aspect of your topic. Other(s) sources should come from your reference assignment or reference sources you found during your research. Internet sources must be approved by the instructor. Write a citation for each source followed by an annotation that:

Briefly describes the scope of the book as a whole
Describes the relevant information or article and relates it to your research topic
Explains why it is among the best sources you found

Select at least one information source in each of the following sections, but no less than eight in total:

Best Books:
Select the best books for your topic. Write a citation for each source followed by an annotation that:
Briefly describes the scope of the book as a whole
Describes the relevant information or chapters it contains and relates it to your research topic
Explains why it is among the best sources you found
Evaluates the book based on the evaluation standards we developed in class

Best Periodical Articles:
Follow the instructions for the best book source.

Best Internet Sources:
Follow the instructions for best book source. In addition, please comment on the Internet in general as an information resource on your topic.

Non-print or alternative source:

Follow the instructions for the best book source and answers the following:
How might audio-visual materials or other non-print information sources help support your research topic?
How would you go about finding some of these materials?

Self evaluation:
On a separate page, write a description (250 words minimum) of your learning during the research process. I am not looking for a course evaluation or for a detailed description of your research topic; rather, I am looking for an evaluation of your own process of finding information and what you have learned from this class. Include, but do not limit your responses to the following:

Describe the kind of resources that seemed to be better than others for this topic; justifiy the proportion of information sources selected--that is, if you included more of one type of source than another, why did you make that choice? How is the Internet suited/not suited to your topic? Books? Periodicals?

Discuss new learnings about the nature of this topic and the information that was available

Discuss how access to information on this topic may be affected by social, political, or economic conditions

Discuss what you have learned about the research process

Discuss what you have learned from this class

Comment on how you will apply what was learned to current and future classes and in personal or professional life

This page is maintained by Karen Michaelsen