Objectives

Module 1: Starting Smart

This module covers types of information sources you can use for your topic. When you have completed this section of Searchpath you should be able to:

• identify a variety of information sources
• identify characteristics of information on the Web
• identify characteristics of library resources
• distinguish between primary and secondary sources
• Learn how to search for primary sources in the Moorpark College Library Catalog, in periodical databases and on the Web

Module 2: Choosing a Topic

This module covers topic selection and how to identify keywords to search your topic. When you have completed this module you should be able to:

• broaden or narrow a topic
• identify keywords for a topic
• use phrase searching, connectors (boolean operators), wildcards and truncation in constructing a search
• understand the difference between keyword and subject searching
• understand the difference between library catalogs and online databases

Module 3: Using the Library Catalog

This module covers how to search Moorpark College Library Catalog. When you have completed this module you should be able to:

• recognize that the Library Catalog contains more than books
• find books and audiovisual materials on a topic using a Keyword search
• find books and audiovisual materials by title, author, or subject heading
• find periodicals (magazines, newspapers and journals) by using a title search
• identify the location of books, periodicals and audiovisual materials
• read a library catalog call number and use it to find where books and other materials are shelved in the Library
• find an item placed on reserve by your instructor using a course reserve search
• access your personal library account to see items you checked out from the Library

Module 4: Finding Articles

This module covers how to use periodical databases to identify articles on a subject. After completing this module you should be able to:

• distinguish between popular and scholarly periodicals
• choose a periodical database appropriate to your information need
• use a periodical database to identify articles on a topic
• use the database's email, print or save function to keep a record to yourself
• search the Library Catalog to locate the periodical that contains your article
• limit your search to full text and peer-reviewed journals
• distinguish between general and subject databases
• search the journal locator, Serials Solutions to locate the full text of an article

Module 5: Using the Web

When you have completed this section of Searchpath, you should be able to

• understand the organization of the Internet
• identify the major types of Web sites
• use search engines and metasearch engines to search the Web
• learn how to use Google Advanced Search
• interpret and evaluate Web search engine results
• learn about Google Scholar
• learn how to evaluate materials on the Web

Module 6: Citing Sources

This module covers citing sources, plagiarism, copyright, and fair use. When you have completed this module of Searchpath, you should be able to

• recognize and identify the different parts of a citation
• describe when to cite sources used in your work and how to cite them
• understand what constitutes plagiarism and identify ways to avoid it
• understand the reasons for copyright
• understand copyright, public domain, and fair use