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Library Instruction and IL in the Writing Program

WR 090 Fundamentals of Writing

WR 090 Fundamentals of Writing builds on development of skills presented in WR080, and requires more complex writing and critical thinking skills.

WR 090 Information Literacy and Research Focus

Librarians work closely with WR 080 and WR 090 faculty and participated in revising WR 080 and WR 090 course outcomes and contextualizing the library component. A dedicated liaison librarian attends and participates in WR 080 / 090 program meetings. Close communication between the departments helps reinforce a shared understanding that any research should fall within the scope of practice with robust supports so as not to overwhelm the composition process. When Oregon's Higher Education Coordinating Commission's Community College Workforce Development undertook statewide developmental education redesign, a Chemeketa faculty librarian participated in the statewide group as a internal representative of Chemeketa and as a representative of the Information Literacy Advisory Group of Oregon.  

WR 090 Outcome and Notes from Course Outline Information Literacy Contextualizing Note

Recognize and use resources available to assist with the writing process

  • Gain familiarity with tools and resources available to assist in writing improvement and development

WR 080 and WR 090 do not have formal research requirements. We approach integration of information literacy as a low risk introduction to library services, resources, working with online tools, and building an academic support network. 

Using the library is encouraged as a resource to assist with the writing process. WR 080 and WR 090 classes visit the library as an introduction to campus support services, such as the Writing Center.

Librarians and other faculty are explicit about how students may integrate the library and librarians into process oriented writing and development. 

Research sessions scheduled with an instruction librarian focus on introducing and using library synchronous chat, articulating a research interest verbally and as a keyword search, practice identifying types of information, and experimenting with finding sources using library databases.

Understand the research and documentation process including a clear understanding of plagiarism and strategies to avoid it

  • With specific outcome targets
    • Plagiarism
    • MLA Works Cited page
    • Develop active reading skills, including annotation, vocabulary development, and identification of the thesis and main idea of a source material
    • Demonstrate a clear understanding of plagiarism and of strategies to avoid it; use of MLA Works Cited page, recognition of in-text quotes, and framing direct quotations.
    • Critically read college-level texts, begin to summarize and evaluate these texts, and use a Works Cited page.

WR 090 is a prerequisite for most classes at Chemeketa. There is greater emphasis on integrating ideas from multiple sources. Although students do not necessarily have to find sources outside of class, there may be an assignment designed to provide research practice.

As in WR 080, library instruction focuses on supporting students as they learn to work with and evaluate outside sources. Library instruction sessions incorporate conversations about the role of citations as a custom belonging to a community of practice and as an ethical act of giving credit for other's ideas when working with sources. 

Librarians will show tips for finding citation information in databases and emphasize the importance of having conversations about citation conventions in any given context, rather than delving into the nuts and bolts of constructing citations. 

Practice using online search tools such as databases focuses on how to "read" or navigate an information interface and how to parse out pieces of a text in reading for comprehension.