Assignment objectives:

The purpose of this assignment is to help you find credible, high-quality sources using the Meriam Library resources and to prepare a three-source annotated bibliography. A link to the actual assignment is at the bottom of this page following these instructions.

By completing this assignment you will be able to:

• Identify keyword(s) or main concept(s) in your Problem Solving Presentation topic
• Construct and implement effective search strategies for information on your topic
• Search websites and article databases to find relevant information while avoiding irrelevant or less useful information
• Use library call numbers to find books in the Meriam Library
• Find resources on using the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style. The APA citation style is used by many academic fields, not just psychology.

Over the course of the assignment you will generate three documents that you will turn in:

• The completed assignment worksheet
• The title page of the book you will find as part of section five
• The page of references you will generate in section six

This assignment is divided into six sections:

• Section one: Developing your search using Boolean operators -- the words AND and OR. This section will allow you to identify one or more keywords or main concepts in your Problem Solving Presentation topic and use these operators to arrange these keywords in search strings.


• Section two: Finding Sources on Current Topics at CSU, Chico and at Other Universities. This section will allow you to find current and past information about Chico State, as well as comparable information at other universities.


• Section three: Finding Local and National News Sources on Current Topics. This section will allow you to find information about the city of Chico and to research one or more issues that have affected the city. You will also be able to see how these issues have affected other cities around the country.

Please note: for the purposes of this assignment, you need to complete section two OR section three, but not both. Choose one section or the other based upon your Problem Solving Presentation topic -- whether your topic is more closely correlated to a university-specific issue or an issue affecting the city of Chico or the surrounding area.

• Section four: Searching Databases for Articles. This section will allow you to find scholarly articles about your Problem Solving Presentation topic.


• Section five: Using the Library Catalog. This section will allow you to find books (and potentially other kinds of resources) about your Problem Solving Presentation topic.


• Section six: Preparing an Annotated Bibliography. This section will allow you to properly cite the sources you find and organize them in an annotated bibliography.

Each section is a webpage, and at the bottom of each page you will find a link to take you to the next section of the assignment as well as the following chart showing you where in the assignment you are. The page you are on will be highlighted in red.

To complete the assignment you will need:

• A CMST 132 research topic: You must complete this assignment using the instructor-approved topic you will be using for your Problem-Solving Presentation.


• Access to the Meriam Library ReSEARCH Station: You can find the ReSEARCH Station at the following URL:
  
  http://www.csuchico.edu/library
  
  You can get to the ReSEARCH Station from any computer in the Meriam Library, in the Student Computing lab, or from home.


• The ability to come to the library: While much of this assignment can be done remotely outside of the library, portions must be completed in the library.

Remember, you must print out the assignment worksheet (linked below) and fill it out as you proceed through the assignment. Attach the photocopied title page and annotated bibliography, and then turn everything in to your instructor.

Click here to get the assignment worksheet.

If you already have your assignment worksheet printed out, click here to go to section one of the assignment.