INS1502/101/3/2012

Tutorial letter 101/3/2012

for module, Developing Information Skills, INS1502

Department of Information Science

This tutorial letter contains important information about your module for Semester I and Semester II.

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CONTENTS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Introduction and welcome .................................................................................................................. 3 Purpose and outcomes of the module ............................................................................................... 3 Lecturer and contact detail................................................................................................................. 3 Module related resources .................................................................................................................. 3 Student support services for the module ............................................................................................ 4 Module specific study plan ................................................................................................................. 4 Module practical work and work integrated learning .......................................................................... 5 Assessments ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Frequently asked questions..................................................................................................................................7

APPENDIX A: FIRST SEMESTER COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS........................................................................................8 (a) Assignment 1...................................................................................................................................................8 (b) Assignment ......................................................................................................................................................12 APPENDIX B: SECOND SEMESTER COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS...................................................................................14 (a) Assignment 1....................................................................................................................................................14 (b) Assignment 2....................................................................................................................................................18

Please note / important note: Appendix A: Assignment topics for Semester I Appendix B: Assignment topics for Semester II 2

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1. Introduction and welcome

Welcome to module INS1502. This module covers information and skills that will help you to plan for various information tasks such as academic essays and assignments. After completing this module you should be able to find, evaluate and organise information successfully. The skills you learn in this module will stand you in good stead throughout your academic and working career.

2. Purpose and outcomes of the module

After completion of this module you should be able to: Competently plan information tasks (such as writing an essay) Find relevant information for an information task Apply thinking skills to organise retrieved information and write an information task Compile references or a list of sources cited

3. Lecturer and contact detail

Your lecturer for INS1502: Developing information skills for lifelong learning is Mrs N Wessels. I am here to help you. Please, do not hesitate to write to me or telephone if you have any issues that you will want to discuss. E-mails will be answered quickly and is my preferred way of keeping contact. Address your snail-mail letters to me personally. If you do not get a reply at my telephone number, leave a message with the secretary on telephone number (012) 429 6071. Contact details: Mrs N Wessels TvW Building 10-175 Telephone (012) 429 6416 email: wessen@unisa.ac.za Note: Early in the semester you will receive a tutorial letter (in the INFALLP series) which lists the various modules and lecturers. Please consult it to check that Mrs N Wessels is still responsible for the INS1502 module.

4. Module related resources

The INS1502 module is based on the prescribed book, one study guide, and several tutorial letters. Prescribed book You have to buy the following prescribed book:
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Machet, MP. 2012. Mastering information skills for the 21 century. Pretoria: Unisa Press.

Study guide University of South Africa. Department of Information Science. 2011. Developing information skills for lifelong learning: only study guide for INS1502. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Tutorial letters All tutorial letters for this particular module have the code INS1502 in the top right hand corner, and each tutorial letter has its own number, starting with number 101, then 102, and so on. You will also receive tutorial letters with the codes INKALLE and INFALLP which are relevant to all modules in our department. You will receive a follow-up tutorial letter with feedback on the assignments and information on the examination, which should be called Tutorial Letter INS1502/102/2012.

5. Student support services for the module

Discussion Classes Discussion classes will be arranged for INS1502 depending on attendance. Consult Tutorial Letter INFALLP/303/2012 for more information. You will also receive SMS or e-mail notification. Booklet: my Studies @ Unisa Work through the booklet my Studies @ Unisa. It will help you with general administrative as well as study procedures at Unisa.

6. Module specific study plan

You should spend at least 120 hours studying for this module. You will need to pace yourself throughout the semester if you are to keep up with the workload. This is definitely not a module that you can "cram" a few days before the examination. The module, INS1502, is not difficult, but there are a number of information skills which you have to master. Note that INS1502 is a semester module. You will register for either Semester I or Semester II. Make sure that you know for which semester you are registered and complete the appropriate assignments. Carefully, read through this tutorial letter, namely Tutorial Letter INS1502/101/3/2012.It introduces you to INS1502, discusses examination admission and contains the assignment topics. Turn to the study guide for INS1502, and read the Preface. This will give you an overview of the module. Draw up your own study programme, taking the assignment due dates and the examination date into consideration. Start working through the study guide as soon as you receive it together with all the other study material. Order your prescribed book immediately as you cannot study the module without it.

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7. Module practical work and work integrated learning

There are practical exercises in your prescribed book and your study guide. It will be to your advantage to work through these. The more you practise information skills at work and at home, the more you will benefit. The Department of Information Science has a small computer centre with 8 computers which can be used for practice as a way of improving your skills such as using the Internet and finding information. Short courses on, for example, the use of the Internet are also offered. For more information contact: Ms Patricia Mantsie mantsmp@unisa.ac.za (012) 429-6703

8. Assessments
a) Assignments Two compulsory assignments have been set per Semester. You must submit Assignment 01 AND Assignment 02 for the semester you are registered for. Refer to Appendix A or Appendix B for Assignment Topics.

Semester I Assignment 01: 29 February 2012 DUE DATES Assignment 02: 29 March 2012 Semester II Assignment 01: 31 July 2012 Assignment 02: 31 August 2012

Remember, the combined mark which you obtain for Assignment 01 and Assignment 02 will count 20% (10% per assignment) of your final mark and as such, you should ensure that you have written and submitted all the compulsory assignments. Your assignments must reach Unisa on or before the due dates for the semester you are registered. Please remember to give the assignment the same number as the one appearing in this tutorial letter. Enquiries about whether assignments were received by the University should be addressed to:

Email: assign@unisa.ac.za State the module code, semester and the assignment number when enquiring about an assignment as well as your student number. Plagiarism in assignments If you use the ideas and arguments of other authors or present facts that you have obtained from other published and non-published works, you must cite the sources where you have found them. You should be honest and not pass off another persons work as your own. If you fail to acknowledge the sources, you are committing plagiarism, a serious academic offence that can lead to the rejection of your assignment answer. UNISAs official plagiarism policy can be accessed at http://cm.unisa.ac.za/contents/departments/tuition_policies/docs/copyrightinfringement_and_plagiarism_policy_16nov 05.pdf Multiple choice questions (MCQs) You might not be familiar with multiple choice questions. This is an assessment option used to mark many assignments by computer and answers are objectively assessed. Carneson, Delpierre and Masters (1996) define a multiple choice question (MCQ) as a question in which students are asked to select one alternative from a given list of alternatives in response to a question stem. (See Carneson, J, Delpierre, G & Masters, K. 1996. Designing and Managing Multiple Choice Questions. http://www.uct.ac.za/projects/cbe/mcqman/mcqappb.html ) Read your Study Guide Preface for more information on MCQs.

For detailed informatin on assignments, please refer to the my Studies @ Unisa brochure, which you received with your study package.

Go to myUnisa. Log in with your student number and password. Select the module. Click on assignments in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen. Click on assignment number you wish to submit. Follow the instructions.

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b) Examinations

You will write examinations in May/June or October/November depending on whether you are registered for Semester I or Semester II. There is one examination paper for INS1502. It is two hours long. The examination will consist of two compulsory sections; one section will consist of multiple choice questions while the other will be made up of a number of short questions. Please remember that there are no options. It is not possible to pass the examination by studying only the study guide. To pass this module, you must obtain a minimum of 50% overall (examination plus assignment marks), subject to the examination sub-minimum of 40%. Your final mark is made up as follows: examination (80%) + two compulsory assignments (20%) = 100%. The Examination Paper There will be 30 multiple choice questions for 2 marks each (60%). Negative marking will not be used for the multiple choice questions. The other part of the paper, which counts 40% of the marks, consists of a number of short questions. The examination paper is based on the following: the INS1502 study guide (including the exercises in the study units) corresponding chapters of the prescribed book

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Frequently asked questions For frequently asked questions that many students raise, please consult the my Studies @ Unisa brochure which contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study information.

APPENDIX A: FIRST SEMESTER COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS

a) Assignment 1 SEMESTER I DUE DATE: 29 February 2012 This assignment consists of twenty (20) multiple choice questions that you must answer using a mark-reading sheet. You will find instructions on the use of a mark-reading sheet in the booklet my Studies @ Unisa. Please ensure that you read these instructions carefully before doing this assignment as mark-reading sheets that are completed incorrectly cannot be marked. The UNIQUE NUMBER for this assignment is 304029.

SOURCES TO CONSULT FOR ASSIGNMENT 01 Prescribed book Machet, MP. 2012. Mastering information skills for the 21st century. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Study guide University of South Africa. Department of Information Science. 2011. Developing information skills for lifelong learning: only study guide for INS1502. Pretoria: Unisa Press. SEMESTER I MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs) FOR ASSIGNMENT 01 QUESTION 1 Indicate the correct option. 1. 2. 3. 4. A work plan needs to list topics in a specific logical order A work plan should not be changed once it has been formulated. A work plan helps you to organise your information before you begin writing an essay. It is important that you keep to your work plan once you begin writing.

QUESTION 2 Which option identifies the main topic of the information task described below? The primary school that your child attends wants to start up a computer centre for the learners, but does not have the funds. You are one of a four-person parents committee which has been elected to investigate how this centre can become a reality. 1. 2. 3. 4. primary school; funds computer centre; funds learners; investigate elected; computer centre

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QUESTION 3 Which is the best example of an information task? 1. 2. 3. 4. Just tasks which require the use of a library to find information. All tasks which require information skills on the Internet. Only tasks which require the use of a computer to store information. Any task which requires the use of information.

QUESTION 4 Which of the following is a Boolean operator? 1. 2. 3. 4. MINUS PLUS AND COMMA

QUESTION 5 Which statement about the Internet is correct? 1. 2. 3. 4. Only peer-reviewed information can be retrieved from the Internet. Traffic on telecommunication lines influence the Internets speed. You are searching the Internet when you search bibliographic databases. No skills are required to retrieve information from the Internet.

QUESTION 6 Which one of the following steps is included in the organising stage of an information task? 1. 2. 3. 4. Writing an academic essay selecting information interpreting the information task finding information

QUESTION 7 A reference source that provides information on all branches of knowledge, is called a/an 1. 2. 3. 4. encyclopaedia bibliography almanac directory

QUESTION 8 Which words in the following topic gives you instructions as to what to do in the task? List and explain the implications poor primary education results has for a developing country such as South Africa. 1. 2. 3. 4. Implications; education list; explain South Africa; education developing country

QUESTION 9 Library skills in the information age are 1. 2. 3. 4. an outdated concept superseded by computer skills replaced by Internet skills essential information handling skills

QUESTION 10 Which step is in the planning stage of an information task? 1. 2. 3. 4. retrieve information for the task evaluate the information survey the information situation locate relevant sources

QUESTION 11 I can expect to find geographical information in a/an 1. 2. 3. 4. fulltext database world atlas library catalogue subject dictionary

QUESTION 12 Which statement is correct? 1. 2. 3. 4. Plagiarism means to copy verbatim. Plagiarism is acceptable if it comes from a prescribed book. Plagiarism and piracy are synonymous. Plagiarism is only important on post-graduate level.

QUESTION 13 Which is the best type of information source to consult if you need a definition of the term biography? 1. 2. 3. 4. Subject dictionary General encyclopaedia Subject encyclopaedia General language dictionary

QUESTION 14 Which option is an example of a direct reference source? 1. 2. 3. 4. Library catalogue Bibliography Journal Abstract journal

QUESTION 15 The is included in the citation of a book. 1. 2. 3. 4. author web address language of the book date of access 10

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QUESTION 16 392.84 JIY is an example of a 1. 2. 3. 4. car registration number standard book number accession number call number

QUESTION 17 Virtual libraries are 1. 2. 3. 4. libraries without walls not currently available in South Africa libraries without catalogues libraries with computers

QUESTION 18 A/an URL is 1. 2. 3. 4. an entry in a library catalogue a search term used to find information on the Internet an Internet resource guide a website address

QUESTION 19 Which citation for an Internet source is correct? 1. Why we still need libraries and librarians. From now on: the educational technology journal 19(4). http://fno.org/mar2010/still.html 2. McKenzie, J. 2010. Why we still need libraries and librarians. From now on: the educational technology journal 19(4). http://fno.org/mar2010/still.html Accessed 25 March 2010. 3. J McKenzie From now on: the educational technology journal 19(4). http://fno.org/mar2010/still.html 2010. 4. 2010. From now on: the educational technology journal 19(4). Why we still need libraries and librarians by J.McKenzie. http://fno.org/mar2010/still.html [Accessed 25 March 2010]. QUESTION 20 Essential components of a work plan are 1. 2. 3. 4. full definitions of keywords sheets of paper and index cards Internet sources headings and sub-headings

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b) Assignment 2

SEMESTER I ASSIGNMENT 02 DUE DATE: 29 March 2012 Compile a work plan for one of the following essay topics: Explain the difference between literacy and information literacy and discuss their importance within the context of academic writing. OR Social workers and social welfare can change lives. Do you agree or disagree? Discuss this statement with specific reference to the South African scenario. The UNIQUE NUMBER for this assignment is 385136.

HINTS FOR ASSIGNMENT 02 READ THE FOLLOWING TIPS CAREFULLY! Do not write an essay, only compile a work plan. NOTE: You will receive 0% for this assignment if you write an essay. The work plan should reflect your (1) knowledge of the subject matter and (2) your ability to draw up a work plan. Find relevant information sources using a library catalogue, online and/or CD-ROM based bibliographic databases and/or the Internet. Include definitions for two keywords. I want you to find acceptable definitions in the literature at this stage. Definitions can be found in a dictionary, an encyclopaedia or in research articles. Make sure that you include text references. Write any one definition relevant to the topic in your own words. This should be your own definition based on several sources. It should not be longer than a paragraph. Refer to the prescribed book Mastering information skills for the 21st century, for tips on how to write a definition.

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INS1502/101/3/2012

Read the following sources before you compile your work plan: Your Study Guide for INS1502 A work plan was developed in the study guide in section 2.5.4 for the topic Explain why buying a pirated DVD or music CD is stealing. Be guided by this example on how to compile a work plan. Remember, this is not the only way to plan an information task, and yours may look different. Read the corresponding chapters in your prescribed book. Your work plan should include: the assignment topic keyword(s) action words format audience your thoughts on the topic/strategy your search strategy headings and sub-headings notes on the information (i.e. evidence that you actually read and understood the sources) a list of references used to find information on the topic text references SOURCES TO CONSULT FOR ASSIGNMENT 02 Prescribed book Machet, MP. 2012. Mastering information skills for the 21 century. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Study guide University of South Africa. Department of Information Science. 2011. Developing information skills for lifelong learning: only study guide for INS1502. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Own Sources Part of the work plan is to find sources of your own. This must be evident in the plan.
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APPENDIX B: SECOND SEMESTER COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS

a. Assignment 1 SEMESTER II ASSIGNMENT 01 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs) FOR ASSIGNMENT 01 DUE DATE: 31 July 2012 This assignment consists of twenty (20) multiple choice questions that you must answer using a mark-reading sheet. You will find instructions on the use of a mark-reading sheet in the booklet my Studies @ Unisa. Please ensure that you read these instructions carefully before doing this assignment as mark-reading sheets that are filled in incorrectly cannot be marked. The UNIQUE NUMBER for this assignment is 304337.

SOURCES TO CONSULT FOR ASSIGNMENT 01 Prescribed book Machet, MP. 2012. Mastering information skills for the 21st century. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Study guide University of South Africa. Department of Information Science. 2011. Developing information skills for lifelong learning: only study guide for INS1502. Pretoria: Unisa Press. SEMESTER II MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs) FOR ASSIGNMENT 01 QUESTION 1 Learning about work plans is useful 1. 2. 3. 4. for first year students only as an optional skill in essay writing to plan any assignment when writing examinations

QUESTION 2 Information skills refer to the abilities to 1. 2. 3. 4. use computers to select information use information effectively categorise information write down information

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QUESTION 3 A reference source that provides useful facts and statistics is called a/an 1. 2. 3. 4. atlas yearbook directory almanac

QUESTION 4 Pages on the World Wide Web are written in... 1. 2. 3. 4. HTML PDF SANB WWW

QUESTION 5 To evaluate while doing an information task means to 1. 2. 3. 4. assess the value of specific information use a technique that simplifies an information task find a source of information look at various information sources

QUESTION 6 A /an is an example of an external information source which could be used to complete an academic information task. 1. 2. 3. 4. colleague computer tutorial letter abstract journal

QUESTION 7 I can expect to find biographical information in a/an 1. 2. 3. 4. bibliography encyclopaedia library catalogue directory

QUESTION 8 The three stages of completing an information task in the correct sequence are: 1. 2. 3. 4. synthesising; planning; selecting retrieving; planning; organising planning; retrieving; organising planning; selecting; synthesising

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QUESTION 9 The era in which knowledge is regarded as a commodity is the... 1. 2. 3. 4. computerised era Internet era Information era industrial era

QUESTION 10 Indicate the correct option with regard to academic essays. 1. 2. 3. 4. Study guides are not included in the list of sources. The heading body is used for the middle part of an essay. Subheadings are omitted from the table of contents. A list of sources cited should be in alphabetical order.

QUESTION 11 During the planning stage of an information task you will... 1. 2. 3. 4. interpret the topic cite your sources evaluate potential sources complete your work plan

QUESTION 12 Which word in the following topic gives you instructions as to what to do in the task? Compare the role a social worker in a rural area and a social worker in a city play in fighting against AIDS. 1. 2. 3. 4. play compare fighting social worker

QUESTION 13 Essential components of a work plan are 1. 2. 3. 4. headings and sub headings world wide web sources sheets of paper and index cards full definitions of keywords

QUESTION 14 Which of the following Boolean operators broaden a search? 1. 2. 3. 4. AND NOT OR STOP

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QUESTION 15 The library catalogue at UNISA is a/an.... 1. system to organise catalogue entries 2. system for classifying information sources according to subjects 3. system designed by Dewey to control Internet sources 4. online information retrieval system QUESTION 16 The back page of the title page of a book is called the... 1. 2. 3. 4. contents index bibliography verso

QUESTION 17 An information resource that is consulted to find specific information easily is called a... 1. 2. 3. 4. prescribed book web site reference work academic journal

QUESTION 18 The is included in the bibliographical reference of a journal article. 1. 2. 3. 4. date of access title of the journal URL place of publication

QUESTION 19 Which statement is correct for a work plan? 1. 2. 3. 4. A work plan plots a course through an information task. A work plan lists topics in a logical order. A work plan should not be changed once it has been formulated. You need to do more than one draft of a work plan.

QUESTION 20 Which reference source will you consult to answer the following question? What is an antonym for opposite? 1. 2. 3. 4. biography encyclopaedia bibliography thesaurus

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b. Assignment 2

SEMESTER II: ASSIGNMENT 02 DUE DATE: 31 August 2012 Compile a work plan for one of the following essay topics: Explain the difference between literacy and information literacy and discuss their importance within the context of academic writing. OR Social workers and social welfare can change lives. Do you agree or disagree? Discuss this statement with specific reference to the South African scenario. The UNIQUE NUMBER for this assignment is 207985.

HINTS FOR ASSIGNMENT 02 READ THE FOLLOWING TIPS CAREFULLY! Do not write an essay, only compile a work plan. NOTE: You will receive 0% for this assignment if you write an essay. The work plan should reflect your (1) knowledge of the subject matter and (2) your ability to draw up a work plan. Find relevant information sources using a library catalogue, online and/or CD-ROM based bibliographic databases and/or the Internet. Include definitions for two keywords. I want you to find acceptable definitions in the literature at this stage. Definitions can be found in a dictionary, an encyclopaedia or in research articles. Make sure that you include text references. Write any one definition relevant to the topic in your own words. This should be your own definition based on several sources. It should not be longer than a paragraph. Refer to the prescribed book Mastering information skills for the 21st century, for tips on how to write a definition. Read the following sources before you compile your work plan: Your Study Guide for INS1502 A work plan was developed in the study guide in section 2.5.4 for the topic Explain why buying a pirated DVD or music CD is stealing. Be guided by this example on how to compile a work plan. Remember, this is not the only way to plan an information task, and yours may look different. 18 Read the corresponding chapters in your prescribed book.

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Your work plan should include: the assignment topic keyword(s) action words format audience your thoughts on the topic/strategy your search strategy headings and sub-headings notes on the information (i.e. evidence that you actually read and understood the sources) a list of references used to find information on the topic text references SOURCES TO CONSULT FOR ASSIGNMENT 02 Prescribed book Machet, MP. 2012. Mastering information skills for the 21st century. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Study guide University of South Africa. Department of Information Science. 2011. Developing information skills for lifelong learning: only study guide for INS1502. Pretoria: Unisa Press. Own Sources Part of the work plan is to find sources of your own. This must be evident in the plan.

(Comment: Any FAQs?)

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