Goals
- To gain skills in accessing information and problem-solving that can be applied to course work at the UW as well as in personal and professional applications.
- To be able to conduct research using both traditional and electronic information tools and resources.
- To become familiar with the scholarly and professional resources of historical research.
- To be able to use technology effectively to retrieve, manage and present information.
Course Outcomes
- Understand how information is produced for different audiences and uses.
- Locate and access materials, both print and electronic, successfully and efficiently in the UW systems, in other libraries or on the Internet.
- Identify and make effective use of appropriate sources (print and/or electronic) to solve an information need.
- Evaluate the quality and usefulness of information for various projects and purposes.
- Understand the context of information in the field of history.
Expectations
- Prerequisite Checklist
- UW Net ID established
- Library Barcode activated
- Library PIN created
- UW Internet Connectivity Kit (UWICK) or Proxy Server installed if using an off campus computer
- Familiarity with MS Word
- Familiarity with the UWired Commons
- Readings
In order to be ready for class discussions, students are expected to read all assignments prior to class. Reading assignments will serve as introductions to the materials presented in class and will be discussed in class. Additional discussion questions may be posted on the listserv. In addition to the required readings, other materials may be put on course reserve in the Libraries or given out in class.
- Class Listserv
The instructors will establish a class listserv. Students are responsible for checking their e-mail regularly for updates to readings, assignments, etc., which will be announced via the class listserv and to participate in listserv discussions.
- Attendance
Because of the hands-on and cumulative nature of instruction, it will be difficult to make up for missed classes. Consequently, students are expected to attend all sessions and participate in class and listserv discussions and class activities. Class participation counts for 10 points. Notify one of your instructors, in advance or in a timely manner, if you are unable to attend a class or submit a scheduled assignment. If you must miss a class, you are responsible for learning the material covered.
- Behavior
As in all their conduct at the University of Washington, students are expected to be courteous, respectful, and civil to the entire class. Reading unrelated materials, writing personal letters, reading e-mail, or doing work for other classes, for example, are distracting both to the instructors and to other students and are, therefore, unacceptable behavior. Please turn off all phones during the class time.
- Academic Honesty
Students are expected to do their own work for all class assignments and to fully participate in group work.Grading Policy
This is a 3 credit, graded course. Grades will be calculated on a 100 point scale and assigned upon completion and evaluation of the following:The distribution below draws on the UW grading system.
- Mini-Exercises - 20 points
- Class participation - 10 points
- Transcription and Annotation - 10 points
- Review of Reviews - 30 points
- Final Project - 30 points
4.0 = 98-100 A 2.8 = 83 B- 1.6 = 71 C 3.9 = 95-97 A 2.7 = 82 B- 1.5 = 70 C- 3.8 = 93-94 A- 2.6 = 81 B- 1.4 = 69 D+ 3.7 = 92 A- 2.5 = 80 B- 1.3 = 68 D+ 3.6 = 91 A- 2.4 = 79 C+ 1.2 = 67 D+ 3.5 = 90 A- 2.3 = 78 C+ 1.1 = 66 D 3.4 = 89 B+ 2.2 = 77 C+ 1.0 = 65 D 3.3 = 88 B+ 2.1 = 76 C 0.9 = 64 D 3.2 = 87 B+ 2.0 = 75 C 0.8 = 63 D- 3.1 = 86 B 1.9 = 74 C 0.7 = 62 D- 3.0 = 85 B 1.8 = 73 C- lowest passing grade 2.9 = 84 B 1.7 = 72 C-
Illustration: "The Last Stand Made by the Federals at Manassas." Illustrated London News, 15 Nov. 1862. Courtesy of Civil War Images of Northern Virginia, George Mason University.