15 Libraries Support for the Program in Writing and Rhetoric
Working with the UW Libraries!
English Composition Librarian:
John Holmes
Head of Curriculum Support: Kathleen Collins
|
English Studies &
Research Commons Librarian: Elliott Stevens
Library Peer Research Consultant & PWR Instructor: Jack Wolfram |
UW Libraries and Learning Services encourages PWR instructors to make use of the wide array of resources collaboratively developed to support your lesson planning, assignment scaffolding, research projects, database navigation, and more. We offer both (1.) asynchronous research tutorials/guides and (2.) in-class workshops alongside year-round opportunities for instructors and students alike to (3.) meet one-on-one with a librarian or a student consultant at your/their convenience for any questions that might arise while engaging with our resources.
You’ll find (4.) multimodal support options available through our branches and UW-IT, too.
(1.) Asynchronous Research Tutorials/Guides
These research guides and tutorials can be woven into your course planning and assignment sequences as/if you so choose. PWR instructors—particularly those teaching 100-level courses—can utilize these walkthroughs to scaffold important research, database, and information literacy skill developments ahead of students’ major assignments.
- The Undergraduate Researcher Tutorial contains six importable Canvas modules that break down critical aspects of finding, evaluating, and using sources for newer students. Instructors can import any of these modules for activity and/or assignment scaffolding.
Questions? Unfamiliar with Canvas importing? Visit this scheduling link or directly email one of the librarians listed.
https://lib.uw.edu/types/researcher-tutorial/
- The UW Library Research 101 Notebook is a self-paced, Google Forms-based interactive activity orienting students to the Libraries’ research tools and helping them begin research. Although designed for asynchronous completion, it can also be used as a class outline if students have the means to complete its prompts and searches in a classroom. For this, you can (a.) have students complete the public version of the Notebook and forward you their results or you can (b.) create a copy for your own class, either using it as-is or adjusting it to suit specific assignments, and receive all results via email directly.
Public Version: https://tinyurl.com/LR101Public
Create-Your-Own: https://tinyurl.com/LR101Copy
- Our UW Libraries YouTube channel’s “Intro to Research” series breaks down research, search query, and citational basics in a similar vein to our Class Workshops, but in short, digestible, five-to-fifteen-minute videos.
https://tinyurl.com/IntroToResearchSeries
- The English Composition Research Guide is a student-facing guide offering a starting point for basic multidisciplinary research resources appropriate for 100-level PWR courses and helps students get into the habit of using the Libraries’ discipline-focused Research Guides as their starting point for source-based research.
English Composition Guide: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/englishcomp
- The Evaluating Information and Citing Sources Research Guides, two of our most-consulted guides, introduce students to basic source evaluation and citation tools.
Evaluating Information: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/evaluate
Citing Sources: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/citations
If appropriate use of any resource seems unclear or you’d like more information, please book a consultation to speak to a librarian about ways to best make these options work for you!
(2.) In-Class Workshops
The following bookable workshops led by peer research consultants can take place in physical or virtual classrooms. Consultants will lead students through one of seven different workshops or presentations, each designed to support a specific aspect of text-based research. These workshops must be booked at least two weeks in advance and can be tailored to your course’s specific assignments and/or content upon receipt of your booking request(s).
Make requests at this link: https://cal.lib.uw.edu/appointments/pwr
- Introduction to UW Library Search (~45 mins):
This hands-on workshop breaks down key instructions and tips for effective search navigation, advanced searches, editing results’ scope, using filters, and the like.
- “Search & Destroy” [Game] (~45-50 mins):
Consultants will introduce database search skills, then set up a multimodal card game (computers also needed) that puts students in casual competition to hone those skills.
- Developing Research Questions (~45 mins):
Consultants walk students through the process of developing clear, specific, relevant, open-ended, and manageable research questions in this presentation.
- Keywords & Search Statements (~45 mins):
Working with research topics that students should identify beforehand, this workshop guides students through crafting lists of varied search terms and queries for their topics.
- Scholarly Articles (~45-50 mins):
In this workshop, students work with a selection of articles (provided by the consultant) to break down which sources might be considered “scholarly” and why.
- Source Evaluation [Two Options—Can Do One or Both]
- o “Trust Issues” [Game] (~45mins):
After critically discussing the concept of credibility, consultants and the instructor lead students through this card game that hones contextual awareness, defense of one’s citational choices, and source evaluation.
- o SIFT (~45mins):
This hands-on workshop asks students to engage with the “[S]ee,” “[I]nvestigate,” “[F]ind better coverage,” and “[T]race to original context” method of source evaluation with a walkthrough and practice session.
The lesson plans and baseline content for each of these workshops are available for you to run yourself, if you so choose, but we strongly suggest consulting with a librarian (see #3 in our introduction above) before doing so. Workshop materials live here: https://tinyurl.com/pwr-library-workshops.
Note that you must use your UW NetID account to access the workshop materials drive.
(Printouts of all workshop lesson plans are available in the Writing Programs Suite (PDL A-11) for review and photocopying as well.)
(3.) One-on-One Consultations
Librarians and research peer consultants maintain availability throughout the year to meet with you and/or your students one-on-one. These meetings can take place virtually or in person at the Research Desk, located within Odegaard Library’s first floor Writing & Research Center.
- (Instructor) Library Consultation appointments provide a great space for you to talk about assignment design, brainstorm ideas for information literacy activities or Canvas materials, help develop library-specific assignments, and more with a librarian! This should be your go-to move for any remotely Library-related questions or clarifications.
[Booking Link: https://cal.lib.uw.edu/appointments/uwlib?g=15419]
- You can encourage your students to make Research Peer Consultation appointments for guidance with defining research questions, exploring background info, narrowing or broadening topics, and identifying useful sources with student consultants.
[Booking Link: https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/owrc-research]
(4.) Multimodal Support
A variety of options to support your and your students’ multimodal composition projects also exist at UW, many of which the UW Libraries maintain. These include the following.
- Odegaard Sound Studio
Odegaard library houses a sound studio that both instructors and their students can book. The second floor desk also checks out microphones that do not pick up sound unless spoken into. It is the perfect space for instructors interested in audio/video pedagogies and podcasts and there are technicians available who can help set up.
https://itconnect.uw.edu/guides-by-topic/technology-facilities/sound-studio/
BOOKING: https://cal.lib.uw.edu/space/11930
Online video workshops include Photoshop fundamentals, Audacity (audio editing application), and iMovie (Apple film editing).
https://itconnect.uw.edu/tools-services-support/teaching-learning/workshops/
BOOKING: https://itconnect.uw.edu/tools-services-support/teaching-learning/workshops/#calendar
Learn tools and techniques to communicate your research in a more engaging manner.
https://www.lib.washington.edu/openscholarship/services/digital-storytelling
- Podcasting & Video Workshops (*Designed for Your Own Projects)
- o SIGN UP FOR A PODCASTING WORKSHOP:
https://sites.uw.edu/libstory/podcasting/syllabus-for-podcasting/
- o SIGN UP FOR A VIDEO STORYTELLING WORKSHOP:
https://sites.uw.edu/libstory/video-storytelling/syllabus-for-video/
For Additional Resources and Information…
Please talk to a librarian and/or catch us at one of our quarterly PWR Teaching Cafes! Our first cafe will be Wednesday, October 23rd, 10:30-12 noon UW Library Search and Critical Information Literacy about UW Library Search and Critical Information Literacy.
Beyond this, additional details on library resources more generally can be found at the UW Libraries Teaching and Learning Portal for Instructors—an overview of all aspects of Libraries support for all courses or sections of any/all subjects.