|
These ideas are simply a jumping-off point for alternatives to
traditional research paper assignments. They require students to
use some of the wide variety of information resources other than the
Web, and teach some information literacy concepts
as well as the subject matter. Feel free to adapt and use the
assignments as you see fit, and please share your experiences or other
assignments with us!
Literature
Use JSTOR to locate literary
criticism written before 1940 and within the last 20 years.
Analyze how critical opinion has changed over time. Do further
research on the historical social conditions which produced each
viewpoint.
History
Use American Slavery: A Composite
Autobiography or Daily Life Through History
to identify a particular aspect of slavery or of a certain time
period. Use other periodical indexes
and web sites (use Felix to
identify selected sites) to further research that aspect.
Trace one topic (e.g. treatment of children) through several
time periods covered in Daily Life Through
History.
Business
Review and summarize several new approaches to personnel management
by using Felix to locate eBooks
published in the last 2 years. Are the approaches really new and
different? Why are there so many management "fads," and
why are so many books published about them?
Using Business & Company,
locate both the company's web site and periodical articles on the
company. Compare the company's outlook as stated on its web site
to its portrayal in the independent media. And/or, compare the
treatment of any environmental or personnel controversies involving the
company.
|
