Library Services for First Year Writing Instructors

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Library Instruction

The library supports the First Year Writing Program by providing library instruction for English 1-4 classes. The workshops for classes provide an introduction to library resources and effective research skills.
Topics covered during the session include

Upon instructor request, additional topics can also be addressed such as

Students get the most from these workshops when they are scheduled after their research assignment has been fully explained and their topics are selected. Part of the session will be dedicated to hands-on time for students to get started with their research.
To request a library instruction session, please fill out the workshop request form or contact Laurie Sabol, (617-627-5167, laurie.sabol@tufts.edu). Instructors are encouraged to provide a copy of the class research paper assignment at least two weeks prior to the instruction session. This allows the librarian working with the class enough time to tailor the session to the students' specific information needs.

Course Research Guides

Online research guides can be created specifically for your courses.  These guides can quickly and easily be designed to fit the needs of your specific research assignment.  Web 2.0 features include the ability to embed RSS feeds, podcasts, and videos as well as provide a place for student comments or questions.  Contact Laurie Sabol (laurie.sabol@tufts.edu) to have an online course guide made for your class.  Or feel free to link to the general guides made for English 1 and English 2 students from your Blackboard course page.

Self-Guided Library Tours

Walking Tour Activity

Assign your students one of our self-paced library tours to familiarize themselves with the library catalog, the physical layout, and the different types of library materials available to them. Self-guided tours are available on a variety of research topics and include an activity for students to complete. See the Global Warming Self-Guided Tour for a sample, or e-mail laurie.sabol@tufts.edu for all available copies.
If your class completes the tour a week or two before a library instruction session, completed tours can be sent to the librarian teaching your class. The librarian will look over tours to identify problems and, if any, address them at the start of the instruction session.

Podcast Tour Activity

Assign students to listen to the Tisch Talks Podcasts as an orientation to the library. Ask your students to listen to the Introduction to the Building, Orientation to the Library Homepage, or the Introduction to the Library Catalog podcasts and then have them complete a short quiz on what they learned. For copies of the quizzes that correspond to each podcast, e-mail laurie.sabol@tufts.edu.

Research Paper Navigator

Incorporate Research Paper Navigator into your research paper assignment. Created by Tisch Library, First Year Writing Program, and the Writing Center, the Navigator is an online tool that provides help with time management, research, writing and citing sources for research papers. Ask students to try it out when you give them their research paper assignment or assign students a specific section such as Find Background Information or Avoid Plagiarism. Go to Navigator's Instructor Resources page or contact laurie.sabol@tufts.edu for more information.

Assignment Consultation

Creating a new research assignment or revising an existing one? A librarian can help you to

To make an appointment for an assignment consultation contact laurie.sabol@tufts.edu. Don't have time to meet? See the Tips for Effective Library Assignments page for help.


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