Unit I: Introd. to Federal Information: Current Issues, Trends and Sources
        Unit I Powerpoint slides

          1. Course introduction and requirements
         
          2. Government information: great stuff--but who cares?

3. The US federal government: introduction

4. The US Government Printing Office (GPO)

5. The Superintendent of Documents (Sudocs)

6. Monthly Catalog

7. Current status of federal government information systems

8. Government information: problems and issues

8. Information policy and government: problems and issues

9. Information policy and government: problems and issues

          1. Brief review of early government publishing

2. Bibliographies and indexes

            Unit III (Part B) Powerpoint slides

          1. Office of the President

2. Miscellaneous Executive Departments

3. Census Bureau publications and data files

4. Technical reports information systems
          Unit 3(b) Powerpoint slides

2. The legislative process and information sources

3. Guides to legislative information

Unit 5 Powerpoint slides

1. Judicial branch information systems

2. Legal materials

          1. From laws to regulations: the process

2. The Federal Register

3. Code of Federal Regulations

4. Purpose of independent and regulatory agencies

5. Review of information sources of selected agencies

1. Federal maps

2. State maps

3. Other government maps and geographical information

1. Introduction to patents and trademarks

2. Patent literature and distribution systems

3. Searching for patents and trademarks

1. Introduction to state government information systems

2. Specific government information sources
          ( Chart comparing US Federal to SC State Government Information Sources )

1. County governments information systems

2. Municipal governments information systems

3. Other local government information systems

1. Selection of government information sources

2. Acquisition of government information

3. Organization of government information

4. Reference work in government information sources

(1.) To become familiar with the nature, functions, and current status of U.S. federal government information systems and sources;

(2.) To become familiar with the nature and sources of government information produced in the past, with emphasis on US federal information;

(3.) To be able to search effectively, in manual and online sources, for information produced by any U.S. government agency, US state governments agencies, local US government agencies, and international government agencies;

(4.) To understand the processes by which federal government information is created, distributed, and used;

(5.) To be able to make informed decisions about the selection, acquisition, description, arrangement and use of government information sources;

The following graded assignments are required:

 No. 1:   current information sources                                              5%
 No. 2:   retrospective congressional information                           5% 
 No. 3:   retrospective Executive sources                                        10%
 No. 4:   current census and statistical information                     10%
 No. 5:   technical reports                                                             10%
 No. 6:   legislative information                                                   10%
 No. 7:   regulatory and independent agecies                                 5%
 No. 8:   maps                                                                                  5%
 No. 9:   state information                                                               5%
No. 10:  UN information sources                                                 10%
No. 11: UN affiliated organizations sources                                  5%
No. 12:  European Union sources                                                  5%
No. 13:  Other IGO sources                                                            5%

    1 Web-ready guide to government information                       10%

General instructions on how to prepare and submit assignments

All assignments turned in late, without consent of the instructor, will be penalized one letter grade for each week they are late.
 

For general information on submitting assignments for Distance Education courses on TV (J courses) link to this site for more information .
 
 

The following textbook is required.  Assignments for specific chapters in it appear on the Unit outlines in the Study Guide.

• Judith S. Robinson, Tapping the Government Grapevine: The User Friendly Guide to U.S. Government Information Sources .  Oryx Press, 1998.  (Available from DEIS Bookstore)

In addition, required and suggested readings will be made on various units. You should also attempt to review the last few years issues of: Government Publications Review, Documents to the People (Dttp) and Government Information Quarterly.
 
 

University and College policy require that you attend at least 75% of all classes. Anyone missing more than 25% of classes will be given a grade of F for the course.

The instructor uses the following letter grades for all assignments: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, and F.  These letter grades are converted to appropriate numbers, weighted according to the percentage for each assignment, and then averaged and converted to the letter grades allowed by the University, which are: A, B+, B, C+, C, D, and F.  

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT - Accommodations will be made for students with disabilities defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act. During the first week of class, contact the Office of Disability Services (803-777-6142) if you will require assistance.

COMPUTER, INTERNET/WEB AND E-MAIL - Students must have daily access to a computer with graphical Web access and e-mail. To make certain that you meet the recommended requirements, check CLIS Computer and Internet Requirements.  Course information will routinely be made available through the Web and the class listserv.  All students are required to subscribe to the course listserv, where most announcements regarding assignments, class business, etc. will be posted.

Return to CLIS 734 Page.

Updated 7/22/03.