PRTH 60011 THEOLOGICAL RESOURCES SEMINAR

PRTH 60011 THEOLOGICAL RESOURCES SEMINAR
Spring 2010; 1 semester hour; Brite Divinity School

This course is restricted to Spring 2010 incoming students and is required for Spring 2010 incoming students in the M.A.C.S., M.T.S., M.Div., and C.T.S. programs.

Monday, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 15, 22, Mar. 1, 8; 5:00-6:30 pm, Room 213
Thursday, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 18, 25, Mar. 4, 11; 2:30-4:00 pm, Room 213

Instructor: Charles Bellinger c.bellinger@tcu.edu 817-257-7668

Description of Content:
This series of workshops will introduce students to the information resources available to Brite students in the Mary Couts Burnett Library and online.

Course Objectives:
1. To give students knowledge of print and electronic scholarly resources that are relevant to graduate study in theology.
2. To equip students with the skills needed to effectively locate book, periodical, and electronic resources in theology.

Class Procedure:
This class will combine instruction with hands-on activities. Students will be expected to practice techniques learned in class outside of the class, so that they will develop essential information literacy skills that will benefit them throughout their seminary studies and beyond.

Requirements:
Attendance and class participation.
Homework assignments that will reinforce the instructor's demonstrations.

Text:
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 7th ed. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 2007. ISBN-10: 0-226-82337-7

Grading Procedures:
This class is graded pass/fail. Attendance at all sessions is required. Completed homework assignments are required to receive a pass. Homework assignments comprise writing a one page description of your efforts to put into practice what you learned during a class session. What difficulties or successes did you have? What questions do you have? Do you have suggestions regarding how the instruction you received could be improved? Address questions such as those. There will also be a bibliographic component of the assignment. Submitting the assignments via email is preferred, though turning in a hard copy at the beginning of the next class is also acceptable. Assignments are due no more than one week after the class meeting they are associated with.

Bringing a wireless capable laptop computer to class so that you can practice during the class session is encouraged, but not required.

Week One: Introduction to Chicago/Turabian bibliographic style, TCU catalog, and tour of Library

A. Introduction to Course

Handouts: syllabus, glossary http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/glossary.htm
Call numbers http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/lc_classb.htm
Bibliographic formatting: http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/turabian.htm
Reserves: http://lib.tcu.edu/www/ereserve/reserves.asp
Graduate Student Fact Sheet: http://lib.tcu.edu/www/eref/handbooks/graduate_handbook.asp

B. TCU Catalog

TCU Catalog http://lib.tcu.edu/
Brief tutorial: http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/OPAC_guide.htm

C. Overview of Reference Resources and Tour of Library

Circulation/ reserves; Information Commons; bound periodicals; "B" section of stacks; Brite Reading Room
In the Brite Reading Room, you will find: Encyclopedias/ Subject Dictionaries, Bible translations, Commentaries, Concordances, Hebrew/ Greek study tools, Bibliographies, print indexes, etc.

Week Two: WorldCat, book reviews

A. WorldCat

WorldCat http://lib.tcu.edu/ > Journal Articles & Databases > W-Z
Brief tutorial: http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/WC_tutorial.htm
Wilson Select Plus

B. How to Search for Book Reviews

http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/reviews.htm

C. How to Purchase Books

Wabash Center (Booksellers page) http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/resources/result_browse.aspx?topic=860
AddAll http://www.addall.com/ ; http://used.addall.com

Week Three: ATLA and other EBSCO databases in religion

Religion-Related Database Descriptions http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/databases.htm
To access the following, go here: http://lib.tcu.edu/ > Journal Articles & Databases
ATLA Religion database ; tutorial http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/atlas_tips.htm ;
List of fulltext journals in ATLA: http://www.atla.com/products/titles/titles_atlas.html
Academic Search Complete
Catholic Periodical and Literature Index
Christian Periodicals Index
Index to Jewish Periodicals
New Testament Abstracts
Old Testament Abstracts
Philosopher's Index

Week Four: RefWorks (bibliographic management system)

Introduction to RefWorks http://lib.tcu.edu/staff/bellinger/60011/intro_to_refworks.htm

Week Five: Other databases in religion and the humanities

Religious and Theological Abstracts ; tutorial link on RTA first page
Iter (Medieval bibliography) http://www.itergateway.org/iBistro_helps/English/ibistro_overview.html
JSTOR http://www.jstor.org/help/search.html
Project Muse
Wabash Center Internet Guide
Journals: http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/resources/result_browse.aspx?topic=3926
Magazines: http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/resources/result_browse.aspx?topic=3925

Week Six: Internet resources in religion

A. The Wabash Center Guide http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/resources/guide_headings.aspx

B. Tour of key web sites

TCU Library home page: http://lib.tcu.edu/

Brite Divinity School home page: http://www.brite.tcu.edu/

Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall, 11. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations. Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-7486.