Type of Presentation
Panel (1 hour and 15 minutes presentation total for two or more presenters)
Target Audience
Higher Education
Location
Room 212
Abstract
The Library and English instructors have typically utilized traditional ‘one-shot’ sessions to introduce students in Composition classes to the library databases and other resources available to them. Typically, there is little discussion as to how to formulate research strategies other than using keywords and Boolean operators in the search boxes of the various databases. Librarians expect the English instructors to prepare their students ahead of time on how to formulate keywords that will be used during their research. While most writing instructors are familiar with how to conduct research, they may not spend much time on teaching how to conduct a library search other than going to the library for a one-shot session. But what if there was a better way to approach the one-shot that includes a rhetorical approach to research as well as how to effectively use the research materials found? We worked together to do just that. Our Umbrella Approach is used in conjunction with Bizup's acronym BEAM on the writing side. The Umbrella Approach asks students to think of their topic in terms of an umbrella--start broad with a main topic or theme as the fabric of the umbrella. Next, consider what makes up that topic—the framework, or supporting parts. Then, what the students want to grab out of their search—the handle, a thesis. This interactive panel presentation will blend case study along with audience participation to illustrate the nature of this cooperative rhetorical approach to research writing at the freshman composition level.
Presentation Description
This presentation will blend case study along with audience participation to illustrate the nature of our cooperative approach to research writing at the freshman composition level that includes a rhetorical approach to research as well as how to effectively use the research materials found.
Keywords
rhetoric, BEAM, research, English Composition, library instruction, rhetorical research
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
McNeilly, Samantha and Locklear, Amy, "We’ve got you covered! Using an Umbrella Approach for Research and BEAM to Build Student Research Papers: How Library Instruction and English Composition Classes Lay the Foundation for Information Literacy and Research Skills" (2016). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 38.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2016/2016/38
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Information Literacy Commons, Rhetoric and Composition Commons
We’ve got you covered! Using an Umbrella Approach for Research and BEAM to Build Student Research Papers: How Library Instruction and English Composition Classes Lay the Foundation for Information Literacy and Research Skills
Room 212
The Library and English instructors have typically utilized traditional ‘one-shot’ sessions to introduce students in Composition classes to the library databases and other resources available to them. Typically, there is little discussion as to how to formulate research strategies other than using keywords and Boolean operators in the search boxes of the various databases. Librarians expect the English instructors to prepare their students ahead of time on how to formulate keywords that will be used during their research. While most writing instructors are familiar with how to conduct research, they may not spend much time on teaching how to conduct a library search other than going to the library for a one-shot session. But what if there was a better way to approach the one-shot that includes a rhetorical approach to research as well as how to effectively use the research materials found? We worked together to do just that. Our Umbrella Approach is used in conjunction with Bizup's acronym BEAM on the writing side. The Umbrella Approach asks students to think of their topic in terms of an umbrella--start broad with a main topic or theme as the fabric of the umbrella. Next, consider what makes up that topic—the framework, or supporting parts. Then, what the students want to grab out of their search—the handle, a thesis. This interactive panel presentation will blend case study along with audience participation to illustrate the nature of this cooperative rhetorical approach to research writing at the freshman composition level.
