Information Literacy The Key to Cutting Edge Research and Writing

What is Information Literacy? “Information Literacy is the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information.” – Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL).

Information Literacy is: Knowing how to decide what information you are looking for. Knowing how to locate information sources. Knowing how to retrieve information. Knowing how to think critically about information. Knowing how to use information. Knowing how to decide what information you are looking for. Knowing how to locate information sources. Knowing how to retrieve information. Knowing how to think critically about information. Knowing how to use information.

What is Research? “The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions” – Oxford Dictionaries Online.

Do you have a Research System? One popular system for research is to enter the library with the intended purpose of spending as little time there as possible, grabbing enough citations to throw a paper together shortly before it is due.

Research is not a frantic search for Citations to use in a Bibliography! Research is a systematic search for information in order to grow in knowledge.

Theological Information Literacy At BMATs we want to help you become information literate, but we especially want you to have a high level of theological information literacy so that you can enjoy a lifetime of theological learning and discovery.

The Practical Benefits Papers that Write themselves Higher grades Confidence Critical thinking skills Knowledge that lasts Excellence in ministry Papers that Write themselves Higher grades Confidence Critical thinking skills Knowledge that lasts Excellence in ministry

Three Lessons Identifying Your Information Need Finding Information Retrieving Information Identifying Your Information Need Finding Information Retrieving Information

Identifying your Information Need Skills: Selecting a topic for research Defining an assigned topic Investigating a topic Narrowing/Broadening a topic Developing a Research Question Skills: Selecting a topic for research Defining an assigned topic Investigating a topic Narrowing/Broadening a topic Developing a Research Question

What do you need to know? An expository sermon series on 1 Peter How to counsel people in the midst of a crisis A topic for a Research Paper Up-to-the minute weather information The meaning of the root “MSH” in Old South Arabic An expository sermon series on 1 Peter How to counsel people in the midst of a crisis A topic for a Research Paper Up-to-the minute weather information The meaning of the root “MSH” in Old South Arabic

What is your Information Need? Your information need is what you need to know in order to accomplish what you intend to do. You can discover your information need for a research paper by analyzing your assignment, conferring with your professor, or by asking your colleagues. Your information need is what you need to know in order to accomplish what you intend to do. You can discover your information need for a research paper by analyzing your assignment, conferring with your professor, or by asking your colleagues.

Selecting a Topic Analyze your assignment – Limits: Time period? Books of the Bible? Subject area? – Product: What kind of paper? Presentation? How many pages? What elements are specified? Consider your experience – Personal Interest: Pick a topic that interests you, not the one that appears to be easy. – Academic history: It is unwise to submit papers for topics you have already researched. Analyze your assignment – Limits: Time period? Books of the Bible? Subject area? – Product: What kind of paper? Presentation? How many pages? What elements are specified? Consider your experience – Personal Interest: Pick a topic that interests you, not the one that appears to be easy. – Academic history: It is unwise to submit papers for topics you have already researched.

Defining an Assigned Topic If your Professor gives you a topic, you still need to define it. Analyze the assignment as before. Talk to your professor about the extent of the topic. Consider the goals and learning outcomes of your class. Investigate the topic If your Professor gives you a topic, you still need to define it. Analyze the assignment as before. Talk to your professor about the extent of the topic. Consider the goals and learning outcomes of your class. Investigate the topic

Investigating your Topic Preliminary searches for information about your topic – Text book – General Reference Resources –Dictionaries, encyclopedias. – Brief Online Search: A search for words and general information about your topic. The best use for Wikipedia Gaining a clearer understanding of what your Topic entails Narrowing/Broadening a Topic Building a Vocabulary of Search terms Preliminary searches for information about your topic – Text book – General Reference Resources –Dictionaries, encyclopedias. – Brief Online Search: A search for words and general information about your topic. The best use for Wikipedia Gaining a clearer understanding of what your Topic entails Narrowing/Broadening a Topic Building a Vocabulary of Search terms

Evaluate these topics Assignment: “The student is required to write a page research paper on a topic of his or her choice. The student’s choice is limited to the intertestamental period, background information on Jewish society in the first century, the four Gospels, and Acts….” Assignment: “The student is required to write a page research paper on a topic of his or her choice. The student’s choice is limited to the intertestamental period, background information on Jewish society in the first century, the four Gospels, and Acts….” The Messiah – Too Broad! You could study this topic in Old Testament too! – “Jesus’ fulfillment of Messianic Prophecies according to the Gospel of Matthew.” Syrophoenecian women of the Gospels – Too Narrow! I only know of one. – “Jesus’ treatment of Gentiles in the Gospels.” The Messiah – Too Broad! You could study this topic in Old Testament too! – “Jesus’ fulfillment of Messianic Prophecies according to the Gospel of Matthew.” Syrophoenecian women of the Gospels – Too Narrow! I only know of one. – “Jesus’ treatment of Gentiles in the Gospels.”

How to: Narrow your topic Ask questions regarding what you would like to know about a topic. Specify the context: – In a specific book. – During a specific time period. – To/for/by a specific person or group. – Specify an event. Ask questions regarding what you would like to know about a topic. Specify the context: – In a specific book. – During a specific time period. – To/for/by a specific person or group. – Specify an event. Broaden your topic Replace specifics with more general words. – SyroPhoenician  Gentiles – Haggai  Minor Prophets Trade specific issues for their larger context. – Decisional regeneration  Revivalism Avoid unnecessary jargon – “Once-saved-always-saved” Replace specifics with more general words. – SyroPhoenician  Gentiles – Haggai  Minor Prophets Trade specific issues for their larger context. – Decisional regeneration  Revivalism Avoid unnecessary jargon – “Once-saved-always-saved”

Develop a Research Question Topic The Divinity of Christ in the Gospel of John Jesus’ treatment of Gentiles in the Gospels Topic The Divinity of Christ in the Gospel of John Jesus’ treatment of Gentiles in the Gospels How does the Gospel of John present Jesus Christ as Divine? How does Jesus relate to Gentiles throughout the Gospels? How does the Gospel of John present Jesus Christ as Divine? How does Jesus relate to Gentiles throughout the Gospels? The Short answer to your Research Question will serve as your Thesis statement!

Finding Information Skills: Understanding the difference between popular and scholarly information. Understanding the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources Understanding where to find scholarly theological information Building a Searchable Vocabulary Skills: Understanding the difference between popular and scholarly information. Understanding the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources Understanding where to find scholarly theological information Building a Searchable Vocabulary

Popular Vs. Scholarly Most Magazines Most Internet Sites Newspapers Christian Living Books – Max Lucado Most Magazines Most Internet Sites Newspapers Christian Living Books – Max Lucado Books with a credentialed Author – Look for References Reference Works Websites from reputable colleges and Universities Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Journals (Print and Electronic) Books with a credentialed Author – Look for References Reference Works Websites from reputable colleges and Universities Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Journals (Print and Electronic)

Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Primary Sources are original sources of information, or information sources that one is studying directly. – Letters, Speeches, memoirs, ancient writings, manuscripts, raw film footage, interviews, The Bible, etc. Secondary Sources are sources which interpret and cite primary sources. – A commentary on the book of Judges, a Systematic Theology text, A history of the Middle Ages. Tertiary Sources are sources that gather and annotate secondary sources. – John Glyn’s Commentary and Reference Survey, Periodical Index, Electronic Database. Primary Sources are original sources of information, or information sources that one is studying directly. – Letters, Speeches, memoirs, ancient writings, manuscripts, raw film footage, interviews, The Bible, etc. Secondary Sources are sources which interpret and cite primary sources. – A commentary on the book of Judges, a Systematic Theology text, A history of the Middle Ages. Tertiary Sources are sources that gather and annotate secondary sources. – John Glyn’s Commentary and Reference Survey, Periodical Index, Electronic Database.

Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Sources Continued A source can be primary or secondary, depending on the topic one is researching. – Charles Spurgeon’s Commentary on Matthew could be a secondary source to the Gospel of Matthew, but a primary source in a study of Charles Spurgeon. – Benny Hinn’s books are primary sources if one is studying his theology. A secondary source might serve as a tertiary source if it includes a substantial bibliography for further study of a subject. A source can be primary or secondary, depending on the topic one is researching. – Charles Spurgeon’s Commentary on Matthew could be a secondary source to the Gospel of Matthew, but a primary source in a study of Charles Spurgeon. – Benny Hinn’s books are primary sources if one is studying his theology. A secondary source might serve as a tertiary source if it includes a substantial bibliography for further study of a subject.

Why is this Important? Bibliography or Database Commentary or Journal Article RESEARCH SYSTEM Primary Source: The Focus of your Research

Where can you Find Scholarly Theological Information? Your Seminary Library Other Seminary Libraries via Inter-library Loan Online Databases – ATLA Religion Database via EBSCO – RIM: Research in Ministry Theological information tends to favor monographs over periodical literature, meaning that you will use more books, but don’t neglect journal articles! Your Seminary Library Other Seminary Libraries via Inter-library Loan Online Databases – ATLA Religion Database via EBSCO – RIM: Research in Ministry Theological information tends to favor monographs over periodical literature, meaning that you will use more books, but don’t neglect journal articles!

Retrieving Information Skills: Understanding Information Retrieval Building a Searchable Vocabulary Using a Controlled Vocabulary Skills: Understanding Information Retrieval Building a Searchable Vocabulary Using a Controlled Vocabulary

Information Retrieval Systems Index Google Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) – The Library Catalogue. Online Database such as EBSCO Index Google Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) – The Library Catalogue. Online Database such as EBSCO

Build a Searchable Vocabulary! Topic The Divinity of Christ in the Gospel of John Use what you have learned from your investigation of the topic to build your searchable vocabulary. Topic The Divinity of Christ in the Gospel of John Use what you have learned from your investigation of the topic to build your searchable vocabulary. Break your topic into facets. – Divinity – Christ – Gospel of John Break your topic into facets. – Divinity – Christ – Gospel of John

Build a Searchable Vocabulary! FACET 1: Jesus Christ FACET 2: Divinity FACET 3: Gospel of John Keywords Related terms

Build a Searchable Vocabulary! FACET 1: Jesus Christ FACET 2: Divinity FACET 3: Gospel of John Keywords Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ Divinity, divine, God, Father, Heavenly Father, deity John, Gospel of John, Johannine Gospel, Fourth Gospel, John 1:1, John Chapter 1, John 8:58 Related terms Incarnation, Son of God, Lord Hypostatic Union, homoiousios, homoousios, Kenosis “I AM,” Egoo eimi, The Word

What is a Controlled Vocabulary? Your vocabulary is a list of words that you selected to stand for ideas that you are searching for. Example: “Christian History” or “Church History” Your vocabulary is a list of words that you selected to stand for ideas that you are searching for. Example: “Christian History” or “Church History” A controlled vocabulary is a list of words chosen for a database. Example: “Church History” is the only term that will work. A controlled vocabulary is a list of words chosen for a database. Example: “Church History” is the only term that will work.

Subject Terms

Three Lessons Identifying Your Information Need Finding Information Retrieving Information Identifying Your Information Need Finding Information Retrieving Information