The Matrix: Home

Dana Reference Desk

973-353-5901

Open 7 days per week in spring and fall semesters, 6 days during the summer; hours at

http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/desk_hours

Rutgers University Libraries Ask a Librarian Service (email)

http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/help

Available 24/7; answers usually within 24-48 hours.

Rutgers University Libraries Ask a Librarian Live! (MEEBO IM reference)

http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu 

Available when staffed; runs afternoons and evenings Monday through Thursday and Sunday evenings during the spring and fall semesters.  Hours at  http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/desk_hours

Welcome to this library guide for The Matrix and its sequels, films about a techno-future of illusion and deception. 

This guide will help you with researching the historical, social, scientific, and literary background for the films.  Information about evaluating credible sources and using MLA style for your papers is also included.

Best regards,

Roberta Tipton

Course Mission Statement

In the transition from high school/general reading and writing to scholarly/academic reading and writing, undergraduate students require a basic knowledge of scholarly sources for secondary research.  The library sessions in English 102 provide you with an introduction to the resources of the Rutgers University Libraries as well as to methods of searching, evaluation of information sources, and MLA citation style.  For many undergraduates this is the only formal introduction to scholarly research you will receive at Rutgers-Newark, and you can use what you learn here in many of your other classes as well.

Outcome Goals

After this class, you will be able to:

1. Locate resources in the Rutgers University Libraries system.

2. Evaluate information resources.

3. Obtain books in the Rutgers system.

4. Obtain scholarly articles and other credible sources

5. Prepare a quick bibliography in MLA style.

Applicable Standards

1. Association of College and Research Libraries.  Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education  http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm#stan
   
   • Standard Two:  The information literate student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently.
     • Performance indicators 2.1-2.5
2. Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education: Requirements of Affiliation and Standards for Accreditation, [Online Version updated March 2009 at http://www.msche.org/publications/CHX06_Aug08REVMarch09.pdf ](p. 42).  The document states that "information literacy is an essential component of any educational program at the graduate or undergraduate levels."  Applicable skills on the Middle States list include the ability to:
   • access information effectively and efficiently;
   • evaluate critically the sources and content of information.
3. Support of University mission:
   
   • providing for the instructional needs of New Jersey’s citizens through its undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs