Information Literacy for General Education Breadth Courses  Tags: general_education breadth information_literacy  

1. Compare Writing about Science
Created by Vicki Rosen and Flora Shrode for USU 1350
Class size: @100

Students will work in small groups to locate and evaluate three different kinds of writing in science: a popular news article, a serious popular science magazine (e.g. The Smithsonian, Scientific American), and a scholarly article on a closely related topic. Students will then analyze and compare the different kinds of writing. They will also focus on finding hypotheses and evidence in science writing.

1. Finding Articles/Evaluating Websites
Created by Vicki Rosen and Flora Shrode for USU 1350
Class size: @120-150

Two short assignments that require students to find science information, both popular and scholarly and via the library and the World Wide Web. Can be staggered throughout the semester for large classes. Worksheet for assignment

2. Science in the News
Created by Vicki Rosen and Flora Shrode for USU 1350
Class size: @120-150

Students summarize an article related to some aspect of science and then explain why the topic is important enough to be relevant to the general public.

3.Finding the Best Article
Adapted by Deleyne Wentz from “Suggestions For Assignments” from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Students and instructor decide on a topic of interest for the class. A librarian shows students how to find articles related to that topic. The entire class discusses and determines the criteria for what makes a really good article, based on the articles they found. Students write an annotation of their article based upon the class-generated criteria. Can be staggered throughout the semester, with smaller groups of students. Can also be completed via an electronic discussion board, such as Blackboard.