Welcome to the Library's guide to teaching the research process to first-year students! For most incoming students, the Gustavus library is the largest library they've ever used. They often have little idea how to find, choose, and use academic sources in academic forms of discourse. Finally, accustomed to finding information on Google and YouTube, students need help developing the skills and perseverance necessary to use the tools and resources central to academic scholarship.
While this guide was designed with FTS and other first-year course instructors in mind, it will be useful for anyone who wants to address student research needs. You'll find a number of assignments that will orient your students to the library and conducting academic research.
This guide will put practical resources into your hands. If you have approaches or assignments you'd be willing to share, please let us know, either through your library liaison or contacting Julie Gilbert directly. Our Teaching Research to Upper-Level Students and our Teaching WRITL Courses guide have more assignment ideas that can be adapted. Our general Faculty Resources guide will also be useful for other questions you may have about the library.
