IDPT 101: FYS in Critical Enquiry
Assigned: 9/16/03
Section XX: Dr. W. Glassey (Course Description)

• Development of WWW search strategies
• Use of general reference sources to construct an initial search strategy
• Evaluation of information sources

Hands-on tutorial (WVG and Library Staff to lead)

• WWW search strategy and evaluation of sources
• Search Topic: Bloody Friday

Use the WWW to locate accounts of a major event that shaped Northern Irish society during the period 1969-81. Do not begin your search until you have agreed on the topic with the instructor. Rank the sources you obtain in terms of their “credibility”. The document receiving the highest ranking should be the one that you would most trust as a source of reliable information. Submit examples of sources you would regard as highly credible, somewhat credible, not very credible, and incredible (!). Identify the characteristics of individual sources used to construct your ranking and justify your approach.

Give a point-by-point summary of your search process as part of your report. Include a copy of the first page of each results set you obtain during your search and a full text hard copy of each source you submit for evaluation. You may be asked to justify your ranking in a follow-up discussion in-class.

• Construction and refinement of WWW searches
• Use of general reference sources (on-line encyclopedias etc.)
• Evaluation of information sources based on content, origin, author bias, etc.

9/19 IL assignment 3 due by noon on Friday 9/19

Rev. WVG
04/01/03