This document provides information about a library research session conducted by Laksamee Putnam for students. It includes Laksamee's contact information and an agenda for the session which involves evaluating online resources, developing keywords, and finding a website resource. Students are instructed to use the CRAP test to assess resource reliability and validity. They practice developing keywords for a sample topic and searching online using their keywords. The session aims to help students effectively search for and evaluate information for their research needs.

1. Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
Research & Instruction Librarian
http://bit.ly/tsemluthersp16c1

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
 410.704.2462.
 IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Albert S. Cook Facebook profile!

3. • Finding articles and books
• Library printing and technology
• Navigating the library’s resources
• Getting started with research
• Citation resources
• No question is a bad question
The struggle is real. Let us help!
Students in the A-LIST program
will be available to help you
with your research needs!
Look for their gold shirts on all floors of the library and at the Writing Center!

4. Agenda
 Pre-class reading Discussion
 Evaluating Resources - TIL
 Keywords
 Find a website resource

5. Wikipedia Woes and Google Gaffs
 How did you score on the quiz?
 What did you find interesting about
these articles/video?
 Who is responsible for “filtering”
information, you or
Facebook/Google/etc?
 What are the pros and cons of so much
information being online?
 What do you do to be sure you’re finding
credible resources? How do you evaluate
the information you find while
researching?
 Why is it important to support your
argument with valid sources?
Funk, C., and Goo, S.K. (2015) A look at what the public knows
and does not know about science. Pew Research Center.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/09/10/what-the-public-
knows-and-does-not-know-about-science/
A or B. (2015). Planet Money podcast.
http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/12/11/459412925/epis
ode-669-a-or-b
Fortune Video. (2015). Facebook study doesn’t silence filter-
bubble criticism.
http://fortune.com/video/2015/05/08/facebook-study-doesnt-
silence-filter-bubble-criticism/

6. Today I Learned (TIL)
 In Reddit people share “headlines” in TIL format
 Which resources are “good”
 Which resources are “bad”
 How do you know?

7. Today I Learned (TIL)

8. Check for CRAP
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View

9. Check for CRAP
 Currency
 How recent is the
information?
 Can you locate a date
when the resource was
written/created/updated?
 Based on your topic, is this
current enough?
 Why might the date
matter for your topic?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/si
zes/m/in/photostream/

10. Check for CRAP
 Reliability
 What kind of
information is included
in the resource?
 Does the author provide
citations & references
for quotations & data
 Where am I accessing
this information?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/

11. Check for CRAP
 Authority
 Can you determine who
the author/creator is?
 What are their
credentials (education,
affiliation, experience,
etc.)?
 Who is the publisher or
sponsor of the
work/site?
 Is this publisher/sponsor
reputable
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/

12. Check for CRAP
 Purpose/Point of View
 Is the content primarily
opinion?
 Is the information
balanced or biased?
 What is the purpose of
the information? Is it to
inform, teach, sell,
entertain or persuade
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/
photostream/

13. Which words?
 Take a look at these pictures.
What do you see?
 Go here and fill in a word to
describe each picture
A
D C
B

14. Keywords are critical!
 Sample topic:
 What is being done to close the gender gap in
technology related careers in the United States?
 First, break the question down into key concepts:
 Concept #1: gender gap
 Concept #2: technology careers
 Concept #3: United States

15. More on keywords…
 Expand your list to include synonyms then add
to it once you have done some background
reading.
 What is being done to close the gender gap in
technology related careers in the United States?
Gender gap technology careers United States
women
under represented
female equality
STEM
Computer Science
Engineer
America
North America
Maryland

16. Putting it all together…
 What is being done to close the gender gap in
technology related careers in the United States?
Gender gap OR women OR female equality
AND
Technology OR STEM OR Computer Science
AND
United States OR America OR North America
Gender gap technology careers United States
women
under represented
female equality
STEM
Computer Science
Engineer
America
North America
Maryland

17. Create keywords
 Complete Part 1 of your worksheet
 Write your research topic on your worksheet
 Pass it to a group member
 Group member fills in key concepts and synonyms
 Give the worksheet back to the original owner

18. Improve Google
Women AND Computer Science AND USA
 Advanced Google
searching
 Duck Duck Go
 Cook Library’s Guide to
the Web
 Edutopia

19. Find a website resource!
 Use your keywords in Google/Duck Duck
Go/Edutopia/CooksGuide
 Pick the most interesting results
 Enter 2 of your results here:
 http://padlet.com/lputnam/tsemsp16lutherpadlet
 Enter your name, search string, and a link to the website

20. Take a look at the results
 Assess the results posted with the CRAP assessment
 What problems did you have ….
 Coming up with keywords?
 Searching for a website?
 Remember you need to find 3 scholarly websites for
you bibliography assignment!

21. Thanks for listening!
 Fill out Part 2 of your paper worksheet
 Fill out 3 TIL statements about your library session today
 Hand the worksheet in to the librarian
 Next library session:
 Pre-class reading and prepare for discussion
 Use your keywords to find books/articles

22. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 410.704.2462.
 IM – tucookchat