The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Library hosts topical help sessions for students

Deirdre McDonald, education and kinesiology librarian, teaches a research skills workshop during the Science Methods EC-Elementary class Aug. 29 in Room 236 of Main Campus Building. Marianne Phillips, who teaches the class, said “€œIt seems students come in without knowing how to research for classes. Deirdre and I felt we needed to make a change to that. She now hosts workshops for each of my classes.” Photo by Ashleigh Gow

By Rossi Ramirez

The university library will host a series of workshops and online tutorials to help students with different aspects of research, writing and presentation skills.

Sessions will be presented by University Librarian Stefanie Wittenbach, Education Librarian Deirdre McDonald and Jacob Sherman, arts and sciences librarian.

Presenters will focus on five target areas: introduction to the research process, the basics of APA style and MLA style, avoiding plagiarism and power to the presentation.

McDonald said workshops are based on student and faculty interest and will offer two kinds of sessions.

The first session is requested by professors for in-class help that “target a certain topic directly related to the research done in that particular class,” McDonald said.

The second offers an in-person workshop and online tutorials to help students across the different disciplines and targeted areas in upper division courses.

As part of the Jaguar Academic Guide for Success program, students can take advantage of the first workshop, introduction to research process, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. and 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 16 in Room 238 at Main Campus Building.

Two other sessions will be held 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 18 and 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 19 in Room 163 at Brooks City-Base Campus.

Introduction to research process focuses on beginning research, finding and evaluating materials and preparing to write a term paper.

Other sessions are available throughout the semester Sundays in Rooms 204 and 207 at Main Campus.

Basics of APA covers basic formatting and citations 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Sept. 22 and Oct. 13 and 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m Oct. 27.

Avoiding plagiarism helps students understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid it in writing. The workshop will take place 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 22, Oct.13 and Nov. 10.

The last workshop, power to the presentation, will provide students with presentation techniques 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 10

MLA style sessions are only available online.

Students must register to attend the workshops by visiting the hours and events tab on the university library website.

Students unable to attend in-person workshops can visit online resources at http://libguides.tamusa.tamus.edu/getsmart.

Students can receive extra credit for attending the workshops, depending on the professor, McDonald said. “Many professors at TAMUSA either require that you take some of these courses or will award extra credit for your participation,” she said.

For more information, visit the library in Room 111 at Main Campus, call 210-784-1500, email library@tamusa.tamus.edu or access the online chat link, Ask Us Now.

About the Author

Rossi Ramirez
Rossi Ramirez is the Online Editor for The Mesquite. Rossi is a communications major with a minor in business. She attended Palo Alto College where she received her A.A. in Advertising/Public Relations and served as a staff reporter for The Pulse newspaper. She is a 2013 participant of the Emmy-award winning Proyecto U broadcast collaborative advised by Communications faculty and KWEX 41/Univision San Antonio, and a previous intern with KABB Fox 29 Daytime at Nine lifestyle show. She is also a contributing writer for the pop culture and fashion website, Glamreports.com

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