There are five components to this preparatory assessment:
1) Complete a Library 'Scavenger Hunt' - Students must go to high use area in the HaSS library, locate a pre-designated book, and evidence their successful search by taking a photo/photocopy of the book. This task is designed to familiarise students with the library and the process of locating sources.
2) Choose and summarise a research topic – Once students have chosen a research topic they must develop a search strategy (E.g. identify keywords, synonyms) and identify key discipline specific databases. This task provides students with and understanding of online library search functions and introduces them to pertinent journals and databases.
3&4) Locate 1st and 2nd quality sources – Students create a bibliography of 1st and 2nd quality sources and demonstrate their relevance using the 'C.R.A.A.P test', (Currency, Relevance, Accuracy, Authority, and Purpose).
5) Create an argument map - Using an argument mapping tool (E.g. CMap, Inspiration, MindMup), students construct an argument map of their developed argument in response to their topic question. Argument Maps must be uploaded as a pdf to the Blackboard learning module. This task allows students to understand the structure of an argument and develop the structure of their major assessment item.