Information Outcomes for Undergraduate Russian Majors
(Currently under discussion; created by Michael Brewer, UA Library)
 

Understand the structure of information within the field of literary research:

bullet Differentiate between primary, secondary & tertiary sources and use each appropriately
bullet Understand the concept of peer-reviewed sources of information
bullet Understand that literary texts exist in a variety of editions, some of which are more authoritative or useful than others

Identify and use key literary research tools to locate relevant information:

bullet Effectively use library catalogs and union lists (Worldcat/RLIN) to identify relevant holdings at local institutions and at other libraries
bullet Understand the range of physical locations in one's local library system
bullet Identify, locate, evaluate, and use reference information about authors, critics, and theorists
bullet Use reference resources to provide background information and contextual information about social, intellectual, and literary culture

Plan effective search strategies and modify search strategies as needed:

bullet Use appropriate commands (such as Boolean operators) for database searches
bullet Identify broader, narrower, and related terms or concepts when initial searches retrieve few or no results
bullet Identify and use subject terms/descriptors (from the MLA International Bibliography and other specialized indexes and bibliographies)
bullet Understand the elements of a bibliographic record
bullet Identify and use the Library of Congress subject headings in the library catalog

Recognize and make appropriate use of library services in the research process

bullet Identify and utilize librarians in the research process
bullet Use interlibrary loan to acquire materials not available at one's own library

Understand that some information sources are more authoritative than others and demonstrate critical thinking in the research process:

bullet Know the different types of Internet resources (e.g., electronic discussion lists, websites) and how to evaluate them for relevancy and credibility
bullet Differentiate between resources provided free on the Internet and other electronic resources
bullet Understand the research uses and limitations of Internet search engines

Understand the mechanical and ethical issues involved in writing research essays:

bullet Employ MLA documentation style properly and document sources ethically
bullet Understand the different transliteration and transcription systems used in scholarly and popular sources and be able to transliterate Russian using the simplified LC transliteration system (or other relevant system)

Locate information about the literary profession itself:

bullet Access information about graduate programs, specialized programs, workshops and summer study or internship opportunities
bullet Access information about financial assistance, grants and scholarships