This document outlines the syllabus for an information literacy course. It details the assignments, which make up different percentages of the final grade. The assignments guide students through the research process from topic selection to source evaluation. Students will participate in class discussions, complete a class project analyzing an academic text on Hypothesis, keep an individual research journal tracking their topic development, and produce a final annotated bibliography with sources on their topic. The purpose is to provide hands-on experience in researching, evaluating sources, and using sources to support arguments.

1. Introduction to HU321
Summer 2017
Professor, Mrs. Jennifer Williams
Athens State University Library

2. HU321 Projects &
Grades

3. Class
Participation
 Worth 15% of grade
 Each week (weeks 1-8) you can make up to 2 points (16 points
total)
 No participation = 0 points
 Half-hearted participation = 1 point
 Thoughtful participation = 2 points
 General discussion always available
 Task-based discussion in 6 of the 8 weeks

4. Class Project
 Worth 15% of grade
 Purpose:To familiarize you with what published research looks
like, including the use of sources within the research paper
 Format: Centered around a chapter from an academic book
posted on the online annotation site, Hypothes.is
 WeeklyTasks (weeks 1-4 & 7), 5 points each for a total of 25 points
 Set up an account on the Hypothes.is website, read & highlight the
chapter (2 weeks)
 Determine what kinds of information containers are cited in the
chapter
 Use the chapter bibliography to find related sources
 Recognize use of summary and paraphrase in the chapter

5. Individual
Research
Journal
 Worth 20% of grade
 Purpose:To guide you through the steps of a research paper, from
choosing a topic to understanding how to use your selected
sources (Note:We stop short of writing an actual paper.)
 Format: A Blackboard Journal that can only be seen by you and
your professor
 WeeklyTasks (weeks 1-6 & 8) 5 points each for a total of 40 points:
 Brainstorm topics
 Pose a question within your chosen topic
 Pre-research to begin answering your question
 Keyword & Subject search to find sources of information that have
been published relevant to your question (2 weeks)
 Select & Cite sources of information found in previous two weeks
that are most suited to your question
 CRAAP test evaluations of sources selected & cited in previous week

6. CRAAP
Evaluations
 Worth 25% of grade
 Purpose:To ensure that you understand how to evaluate the
quality and appropriateness of a source of information for a
particular task
 Format: Based on a rough draft in your individual research journal,
you will turn in aWord document evaluating 6 sources that you
found in previous weeks’ assignments
 Each source evaluated will be worth 5 points, for a total of 30
points

7. Annotated
Bibliography
w/Rough Draft
 Worth 20% of grade
 Purpose:To assess your ability to summarize and synthesize
information from sources
 Format: A bibliography of 4 sources, with an introductory
paragraph at the beginning and a synthesis paragraph at the end
 Rough draft due 1 week before final due date, worth up to 5 points
IF AND ONLY IF you incorporate feedback from rough draft into
final draft
 Final draft worth 25 points, according to Annotated Bibliography
Rubric

8. Information
Literacy Pre-
and Post-Test
 Completion of both parts worth 5% of grade
 You must take the Pre-Test before beginning the coursework
 You must take the Post-Test after completing the coursework
 If you complete both, you can make a 100% in the class; If you
complete only one, you cannot make more than 95% in the class

9. ExtraCredit
 Extra credit is available in 3 ways
 Visit the Athens State UniversityWriting Center (either in person or
online) to get help with writing the Annotated Bibliography,
especially effective use of summary, paraphrase, and quotation
 Win the summary & paraphrase contest (2 winners - detailsTBA)
 Proofreading the course. If I have a misspelling, a typo, an
inconsistency, etc. in the course materials for this class, and you are
the first to alert me about it, you will get extra credit.
 Extra credit will be in the form of additional percentage points on
your final grade

10. Weighted
Grading
 Points are not important. Percentages are.
 To calculate your grade:
 (Points earned / Points Possible) * Percent weight as a decimal
 That will get you a decimal, so multiply by 100 to get percentage
 Example:
 If I receive 11/16 on Class Participation, which is weighted as 15% of
my grade, then I divide 11 by 16 and multiply by .15 to get .1
 If I receive 23/30 on my Annotated Bibliography, which is weighted
as 20% of my grade, then I divide 23 by 30 and multiply by .2 to get
.15
 Of the 35% I’ve added up so far, I would have 25%
 Don’t worry about the math too much – Blackboard calculates this
automatically for you

11. Expectations
Why are we here?

12. My
Expectations
forYou
 This course is set up to allow for growth. Fifty percent of your
grade in this class is from the last two assignments in the class.
The other 50% comes from the work you do to get from where
you are now to where you need to be to accomplish those last two
assignments.Thus, I expect you to do the work, to be willing to
make mistakes, and to learn from your mistakes.
 I expect you to be familiar with the rules in the syllabus and to
check the class announcements regularly.
 I expect you to try.
 I expect you to think.
 I expect you to ask questions.

13. WhatYouCan
Expect From
Me
 I am available and responsive, but usually not on the weekend.
Therefore, if you expect you are going to miss a deadline, please
let me know by the end of the work day on Friday.
 If you turn in an assignment late without either prior permission or
valid excuse, you will still be expected to do the work, but will not
get credit for it.This is because each assignment builds on the
previous one.
 That said, I am willing to work with you if you communicate.

14. WhatYouCan
Expect From
Me
(Continued)
 This course is very hands-on, meaning you will get a lot of
individual, tailored feedback from me. But there are 50 of you and
only one of me. If my comments ever seem terse, they are not
meant to be; it’s just that I am trying to get to everyone in a
limited amount of time.
 I try to be aware and understanding of limitations on your time.
 I love getting questions from students.
 I am human. I make mistakes. If you think I’ve made one, ask.

15. WhyAreWe
DoingThis,
Anyway?
 This class will give you hands-on experience doing research, from
coming up with a topic through compiling your sources.
Everything short of actually writing the paper, in fact.
 The biggest focus of the class will be on evaluating the quality and
usefulness of sources of information. Sources are used for a
variety of reasons in writing.
 To support your argument
 To frame, or give background on, an ongoing debate or conversation
 To provide specific data or statistics
 In a nutshell, we are here to learn how to find appropriate source
material, use it effectively, and cite it correctly.