Application Materials
The Library Research Award for Undergraduates requires you to submit a reflective essay, a research project, and a bibliography. You must also ask an instructor to submit a recommendation for you. The following information is intended to help you develop your application and improve your chances for success.
Research Strategies Reflective Essay (30 points)
Your application must include a 500-1,000 word reflective essay describing your research strategies, and use of library tools and resources. This essay should provide the reviewers with information about your research process and the way you approached your research, responded to challenges, redirected inquiry, and demonstrate your growth in using disciplinary information tools and resources.
Essay Components
Your essay must address 3 broad themes: process, search strategy, and use of resources, each offering a lens through which to narrate your research experience. Consider the following questions and suggestions as you draft your essay.
Theme 1 ProcessOutline the strategies employed in your information search
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Theme 2 Search StrategyDescribe your overarching methodology in information sourcing
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Theme 3 Resource UseElaborate on your discoveries regarding research tools and techniques
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Research Project (20 points)
We accept a variety of research projects for consideration for the Library Research Award. Projects can be in any language. Accepted project formats include but are not limited to:
- Written research essays or papers
- Senior thesis or capstone projects
- Multimodal projects
- Infographics
- Podcasts
- Websites
- Documentaries
- Digital Stories
- Digital scholarship projects
- Literature Reviews, especially those from the Sciences/STEM
- Artwork
- Music composition
- Performances (video submission)
- A speech
- Research posters
Bibliography (10 points)
When preparing your bibliography keep in mind these points:
- Format your bibliography using a style guide appropriate to your project’s discipline. See our Citations and Writing Guide for help using APA, CBE, Chicago and MLA style guides.
- Cite all sources you used, even if you did not directly quote from them.
- Review your project and make sure each in-text citation has a corresponding reference in your bibliography.
- For long bibliographies, subdividing your sources into categories may be helpful, although an alphabetical list is also acceptable.
Instructor Support Form
Send the Instructor Support Form to your course instructor. They will provide an assessment of your use of research strategies and tools in your project, and how it fits in your discipline. The form can be filled out by faculty, TAs, and instructors.
Population Health Essay (Optional)
Describe how your research aligns with the theme of population health. Population Health Initiative will select standout applications. This is a separate award you can apply for in addition to your main award application, and does not affect your chances of winning either award.