Missouri State University Libraries
Suggested Research Assignments
Well-designed, course-related library assignments are an effective way to introduce students to library research. Students learn best about library resources when the instruction is linked to a specific, focused research assignment. Many effective research assignments are often “low stakes”; that is, they engage students in the process of finding and evaluating information without the pressure or expectations of a final term paper. The assignments listed below are offered as alternatives to the traditional research paper, but they are not exclusive of longer projects.
Annotated Bibliography
Assign an annotated bibliography as an early step in the research process. Students will evaluate the usefulness of their resources for their topic. Students should discuss the quality of each item in relationship to academic research on the topic. Also students could include items that they would not use in their papers, and explain why. Resources can include books, periodical articles, websites or other relevant sources as specified in type and number by the instructor.
Dartmouth College: Annotated Bibliography Assignment
UNC-Asheville: Annotated Bibliography Assignment
Heald & McCarthy: Annotated Bibliography Project Worksheets
Research Journal
For this assignment, students would keep an ongoing record of the library research they do for an assigned project. The journal would include methodology, sources consulted (databases, websites, catalog, etc.), keywords used, noting what worked and what did not. In the journal, students should list the sources they found would be most useful for their research paper or project. This assignment introduces students to the research process.
UNC-Asheville: Keeping A Research Journal
Research Presentation
The research presentation assignment can be used as a group project. This assignment requires students to follow the research process; developing topics, finding information, evaluating resources and creating a final product, but instead of a formal written paper it is in the form of a presentation.
Heller-Ross: Research Presentation Assignment HandoutAnatomy of a Term Paper
For this assignment, students would conduct the research for a term paper and do all necessary steps except actually write the term paper. This assignment focuses on the stages of research and the parts of a paper instead of the actual writing of the paper.
Assignment: Conduct the research for a term paper. Do everything except write it.
At various stages, students submit:
- Topic clearly defined
- Annotated bibliography of useful sources
- Outline of paper
- Thesis statement
- Opening paragraph and summary
Scholarly vs. Popular
For this assignment, students would review a range of publications on a similar topic and compare the materials in terms of audience, focus, purpose and context. They should determine if the materials would be appropriate for a research paper on a given topic and justify why or why not.
Pace University: Scholarly vs. Popular In-Class Exercise
Scholarly vs. Popular Handout Discussing the Differences
Pace University: Unique Characteristics of Scholarly Journal and Popular Magazine Articles
University of Arizona: Popular vs. Scholarly Articles Tutorial
Primary & Secondary Sources
For this assignment, students would compare primary and secondary sources on the same topic. They should determine when and why to use each one.
San Jose State University: Primary & Secondary Sources Handout
UC-Irvine: Primary & Secondary Sources Tutorial
Bobish: Primary & Secondary Sources Presentation and In-Class Exercise
Career Assignment
For this assignment, students research a career of their choice. They should find information on their chosen career in at least one reference book, general books, journal articles, and web sites. Instructors should specify a set number for each source type sources. Students should be able to identify the required qualifications such as what education, experience and licenses (if any) are needed. They should also research salary expectations, possibly places of employment and employment forecasts for their career. This assignment is intended to help students begin to examine their interests, abilities and experience and also learn how to research a real life information need.
Additional Materials
Additional handouts, assignment ideas and tips can be found at the following links:
Jacobson & Gatti: Teaching Information Literacy Concepts: Activities and Frameworks from the Field
Pace University: Assignment Ideas that Develop Information Literacy Skills
SJLibrary.org: Commonly Used Assignments
Dartmouth College: Research Assignment Ideas
University of Wisconsin: Five Highly Effective First Year Library Assignments