Summarzing different perspectives

Submitted by Gail Gradowski on June 14th, 2018
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

This is designed to introduce students to the wonderful world of periodicals, in their great variety, and to how they will appear in different databases. It also begins the work of building their skills at evaluating information sources, determining perspective.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
This is the worksheet, including the answers!displayed 981 times52 KB
This is the optional worksheet described in the lesson plan.displayed 721 times15.12 KB
This is, essentially, a lesson plan and script.displayed 828 times16.82 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

• Identify a periodical source;
• Describe different periodical information sources;
• Identify relevant author credentials;
• Describe relevant author credentials.

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

This activity is a great one to be done right before students are going to begin searching for articles for their own research projects. I have used it that way many times.

Additional Instructor Resources (e.g. in-class activities, worksheets, scaffolding applications, supplemental modules, further readings, etc.): 

This exercise works well as a prelude to another I've uploaded here, What Exactly IS the Source You are Quoting From?, which works on teaching students how to contextualize their evidence/sources in their writing.

Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

One pitfall is that students very often answer the questions with very obvious and superficial remarks, so it is important to really respond to their answers and make them "go back and try again!" It can be helpful to have "prizes" for coming up with insightful responses!

When selecting the articles to use in this exercise, I always try to make sure the links are to different databases so part of what they learn is that the article can appear very different in different databases. e.g. EBSCO, Gale, Nexis, Proquest!

Suggested Citation: 
Gradowski, Gail. "You Say Periodical. I Say Magazine. And then there are Journals! What Does It Matter as Long as I can Get the PDF?." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2018. https://projectcora.org/assignment/you-say-periodical-i-say-magazine-and-then-there-are-journals-what-does-it-matter-long-i.
Submitted by Steve Gerstle on July 12th, 2016
Share this on: 
Short Description: 

Using ProQuest SIRS Issues Researcher or similar database, groups of students work together to find and read four informative magazine articles representing a variety of opinions on a topic. For each magazine article they write an MLA citation. In an oral presentation of less than three minutes per group, they summarize the controversy without giving their own opinions and explain why they chose the four articles. Students are told to be prepared to answer questions about their topic and why they selected each of the four articles. Students are given basic instruction on writing an MLA citation and using a database.

Attachments: 
AttachmentSize
SIRSTopicsBlank.docxdisplayed 1353 times14.58 KB
ESL 52A SIRS Assignment.docxdisplayed 1576 times16.57 KB
Learning Outcomes: 

Develop successful search strategies appropriate for specific tools. Locate, evaluate, synthesize, organize and present credible information that fulfills the identified information need.

Individual or Group:

Course Context (e.g. how it was implemented or integrated): 

Can be adapted for higher level ESL classes.

Assessment or Criteria for Success
(e.g. rubric, guidelines, exemplary sample paper, etc.): 
AttachmentSize
ESL 52 Assessment.docxdisplayed 992 times14.22 KB
Potential Pitfalls and Teaching Tips: 

Students tend to summarize the articles rather than the controversy. Also, students tend to want to give their own opinions. It is important to stress that they are to summarize the controversy and different perspectives. I sometimes have them think of it as a work assignment. The boss is a very busy person and wants you to research the topic and provide an executive summary. It is a challenging assignment, but I have found that the students rise to the challenge.

Suggested Citation: 
Gerstle, Steve. "Summarizing different perspectives on a controversial topic." CORA (Community of Online Research Assignments), 2016. https://projectcora.org/assignment/summarizing-different-perspectives-controversial-topic.