1. Go to www.lib.usf.edu and connect to the Lexis Nexis Academic Database. Using that database, try to locate a significant local, national or international news story that was written on your most recent birthday. Explain in your blog how you accomplished this task and briefly (3 or 4 sentences) summarize the story.
2. Go to Blackboard (my.usf.edu). Click on the USF Libraries tab. There, select Tampa Library. Then select databases. Type in “Jstor”. Search through the database and become acquainted with it. Write a short summary of how to use the database and give examples from searches you performed. Point out any interesting features. You may find the “About J-Stor” section of the database helpful. Look up articles that have to do with Kurt Vonnegut. Find 2 and give MLA citations for each. Also, annotate the articles (about 80 words to each annotation to hit the word count).
3. Explore the Humanities Full Text database. First, change the search parameters to include all Wilson Web databases. Write a short summary of how to use the database and give examples from searches you performed. Point out any interesting features. Look up articles that have to do with Adrienne Rich. Find 2 and give MLA citations for each. Also, annotate the articles (about 80 words to each annotation to hit the word count).
4. Explore the Project Muse database. Write a short summary of how to use the database and give examples from searches you performed. Point out any interesting features. Look up articles that have to do with Charles Bukowski. Find 2 and give MLA citations for each. Also, annotate the articles (about 80 words to each annotation to hit the word count).
5. Experiment with the OCLC/WorldCat database. How does this database differ from others you have used? What makes it unique? Look up articles that have to do with Paolo Freire. Find 2 and give MLA citations for each. Also annotate the articles (about 50 words each to hit the word count).
6. Explore the Literature Resource Center. Point out some of its unique charcteristics and explain how to use them. Then look up 2 aticles on Sylvia Plath. Make an MLA citation for each. Also annotate the articles (about 80 words each to hit the word count).
7. A Different Country -- Look up a country that you don’t know much about on Lexis Nexis. Look at the recent headlines pertaining to that country. Then skim an article you think sounds interesting. Write a brief description (one sentence) that states your country’s geographical location. Then discuss trends you saw in the article titles. Finally, give a brief overview of the info you gleaned from the article you skimmed.
8. Another Different Country -- Follow the instructions from the above topic but choose a different country at least 2000 miles from your first.
