Writing & Speaking Instruction
The NC State University Libraries’ provides instruction and curricular support to instructors and faculty in the First Year Writing & Speaking program including ENG 101, ENG 110, WRT 111, FLE 101, and COM 110.
In addition to the lessons listed below, we offer asynchronous Moodle modules to complement the skills offered in each session.
Frequently asked questions about our instruction offerings for Writing and Speaking classes
Introduction to the Libraries
The Writing & Speaking Instruction Team has two ways to introduce your students to the library’s spaces, collections, and services: An asynchronous, virtual Introduction to the Libraries Moodle Module and an in-person, interactive Library Scavenger Hunt.
Instructors and students can request and complete both if desired.
- NC State Libraries Online Orientation
Many students may have used their public, community, or school libraries before arriving at NC State, but what they have access to in terms of services, spaces, and especially collections are quite different and can be overwhelming. This online orientation will introduce students to the libraries at NC State University, provide an overview of the available collections and services, and explain how students can access them.
We recommend this module for every student, regardless of whether they will attend an in-person library instruction session. The material covered in this module is no longer covered in our in-person instruction sessions. The orientation is done through Moodle and should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.
- Scavenger Hunt
The Library Scavenger Hunt is an in-person library orientation that allows students to explore D.H. Hill Jr. Library’s spaces and services. Students will navigate throughout the building and explore our online resources in a timed challenge that encourages teamwork and creative thinking.
This session is only available to ENG 101, WRT 111, and FLE 101.
Introduction to Library Research
The Writing and Speaking instruction curriculum has been designed to help instructors and students with common research assignments and library research skills. Some lessons have recommended or optional asynchronous Moodle modules to complement the skills offered in the session. Paired lessons and modules are listed together below. View all Moodle Modules.
- Creating an Annotated Bibliography
Annotated Bibliographies are often assigned to help students evaluate sources before they start writing their research papers, but they serve other purposes in the academic world as well. This session will contextualize annotated bibliographies as part of the research process and review the qualities of an effective annotation.
In this session, our instructors will:
- Explain the purpose and structure of an annotated bibliography in the context of the research process
- Engage students in analyzing and evaluating sample annotations
- Demonstrate breaking down a topic to begin research
This session is adaptable to any topic or discipline for which an annotated bibliography is assigned. This session will be most effective if students complete the 30-minute pre-work module in Moodle.
Materials
- Creating Literature Reviews
Students often need assistance understanding how literature reviews fit into the larger cycle of the research process and how they are different from other types of research articles they might read or write. This session will contextualize the process of creating literature reviews.
In this session, our instructors will:
- Discuss the purpose of a literature review in the research process
- Define literature reviews as a genre of scholarly writing
- Review examples of literature reviews
- Begin breaking down topics to search for sources
This session will be most effective if students have already been introduced to their assignment and have topic ideas in mind. We recommend the “Recognizing Scholarly Sources” Moodle module to supplement this session.
Materials
- Evaluating and Using Sources in Assignments
Research assignments tend to have a minimum requirement for using peer-reviewed sources, but students will need to find and use a variety of source types to fully address their research topic. This session will introduce the BEAM framework for analyzing sources to determine utility and relevance in relation to their assignment.
In this lesson, our instructors will:
- Help students distinguish the purpose and formats of popular, informational, and scholarly sources
- Discuss how each source type provides a particular perspective or advantage to address a research question and communicate to a specific audience
- Lead an activity for students to practice determining the quality and relevance of sources
This session will be most effective if students have already been introduced to their assignment and have topic ideas in mind. We recommend the “Recognizing Scholarly Sources” Moodle module to supplement this session.
Materials
- Finding Scholarly Sources for Your Assignment
Students may know they have to reference peer-reviewed sources for their assignments but struggle with identifying scholarly sources or even knowing what kind of information scholarly sources provide. This session will review academic source types and provide students the opportunity to search for sources for their assignment.
In this session, our instructors will:
- Define peer reviewed scholarly articles
- Review common characteristics of scholarly articles
- Demonstrate searching in Summon
- Preserve class time for independent and guided article searching
Materials
- Finding Scholarly Articles for Your Citizen Science Assignment
This session is specific to the Citizen Science natural sciences article “translation” assignment.
In this session, our instructors will:
- Discuss 3 research strategies to overcome common challenges for finding articles on your citizen science project
- Share tips for developing keywords and your research strategy
- Distinguish between research articles and other scholarly publishings
- Search for research articles
This session will be most effective if students have already decided which Citizen Science project they will be researching. We recommend the “Recognizing Scholarly Sources” Moodle module to supplement this session.
Materials
- Finding the Right Sources for Your Speech
Speech topics are often opportunities for students to incorporate their passions and interests into academic courses, but this same opportunity may present challenges when it comes to finding sources that meet assignment requirements. Whether they’re writing informational or persuasive speeches, students will need a variety of sources that may or may not be found in library databases.
In this session, our instructors will:
- Distinguish various kinds of authority and credibility
- Identify challenges or opportunities in finding sources related to their topics
- Introduce a framework to determine information needs
- Preserve class time for independent and guided article searching
This session will be most effective if students have already been introduced to their assignment and have topic ideas in mind. This session is only available to COM 110.
Materials
- Selecting a Topic for Your Autoethnography
Choosing an in-group that is both personal and researchable is a challenge for many students working on an autoethnography project. This session will help students in selecting a research topic and guide them through the process of making connections to relevant academic literature for their research assignment.
In this session, our instructors will:
- Provide resources to help students select a topic that is both personal and researchable
- Demonstrate how to find appropriate scholarly sources in library databases
- Preserve class time for independent and guided article searching
This session will be most effective if students have already been introduced to their assignment and have a few ideas for in-groups in mind. Instructors are welcome to use the Identity Matrix worksheet to help students generate ideas. We also recommend the “Recognizing Scholarly Sources” supplemental module.
Materials
- Translating a Scholarly Article
Whether or not we realize it, we frequently encounter the findings of scholarly research in our daily lives. While social media posts, podcasts, news stories, and long-form articles may be grounded in academic research, when presented to a general audience, the layout, the language, and even the key takeaways may be quite different. This session will help students trace the lineage of popular representations of scholarly writing and analyze the differences between the two genres in preparation for their assignment to “translate” a scholarly article.
In this session, our instructors will:
- Review examples of scholarly article translations in news, magazines, and social media
- Discuss differences in academic and non-academic writing about research
- Share tips for choosing a topic and searching for articles
- Preserve time to search in library databases
This session will be most effective if students have already been introduced to their assignment and have topic ideas in mind.
Materials
- Slides (Coming Soon!)
Advanced Topics
This session will help students explore disciplinary research sources and develop subject-specific research strategies. A subject specialist librarian will contact you to schedule and plan your session.
Makerspace and VR/AR Instruction:
Engage your students with the tools and technologies of the maker movement and virtual reality to spur creativity, problem solving skills, and critical thinking. Learn more about makerspace and VR hands-on learning and instruction.
Digital Media Instruction
Get support for multimedia assignments that require the use of the Libraries' digital media spaces or technologies. Learn more about digital media instruction.