This assignment sequence includes two major components:
We want to think about research in a different way. This isn’t going to be like your typical research paper, but it will relate to the 4th learning outcome of the course: “Demonstrate their ability to locate, read, evaluate, select and use (integrate) effectively information from appropriate sources with their own ideas.”
This will make more sense as we work through the course, but basically the main goal of this course is to expand the ways you think of "research." Instead of becoming a better "researcher," you will become more "information literate." Through this assignment you will begin to recognize that "research" is a way to learn, to become well-informed--about a topic, an issue, a concern, or a problem that may be of interest to you.
Individuals who are more "information literate" and who know how to continue to develop their information literacy will have more opportunities (and chances) to be successful in life, to be valued and valuable members of the numerous communities in which they participate and to which the contribute--as citizens, family members, organization members, neighbors, professionals, etc.
This assignment thread will develop into your midterm project proposal and eventually into your Semester Project: Intersections: Situation and Genres.