It is often helpful to specify how many and which types of sources students should find in completing their assignment. When testing an assignment, try to put yourself in the student's shoes with their experience and perspective. A librarian would be happy to consult with you on the design and workability of library assignments. The best library assignments are a collaboration between librarian and professor. Students prepare an annotated bibliography on information sources on their topics.
Students write an abstract of a journal article .
Students locate a popular magazine article through a general online index, then find a scholarly journal article on the same topic through a specialized online index, and compare the two articles. Students, working in groups, prepare a guide that introduces new majors to information sources in the subject field. Students read and evaluate a case study of an information search and suggest alternatives to faulty procedures portrayed in the study. A librarian will be glad to work with you in developing the assignment, look at a draft, and provide comments. Many times the assignment is incorporated into the hands-on component of a library instructional session, allowing for immediate help to the students.