Earning Research and Information Literacy with Honors Thesis or Directed Study

Need RIL?

Are you taking an honors thesis or other directed-study project with a faculty mentor?

Do you still need to fulfill a requirement in in the BU Hub area Research and Information Literacy (RIL)?

If you answered yes to both questions, sign up for HUB RL 401!

HUB RL 401: Research and Information Literacy (RIL) in Honors Thesis/Directed Study

What is it?

• 0-credit course
• Co-requisite with an Honors Thesis or a Directed Study course you are taking
• Requires a 2-page written reflection due at the end of the semester
• Fulfills 1 Hub requirement in RIL

Deadlines:

Submit the completed forms and final reflection paper to thehub@bu.edu by the deadlines below during the same semester you are enrolled in an Honor’s Thesis or Directed Study course.

* NOTE: HUB RL 401 can also be taken during Summer Term. Email thehub@bu.edu for more details.

Requirements:

• CONSULT with your faculty mentor early in the semester about how you will meet the RIL learning outcomes through the process of completing your thesis or project. (See the 2 learning outcomes at the bottom of this page.)
• Submit Form #1, “Intent to Complete” to thehub@bu.edu by the mid-semester deadline. You will then be enrolled in the course by Hub Office staff.

* NOTE: if you miss the Intent to Complete Deadline but still wish to enroll in this course and submit a final reflection in order to earn a Hub requirement of RIL, please contact the Hub Office at thehub@bu.edu for an exception to the deadline.

• WRITE a 2-page reflection that discusses how you accomplished the RIL learning outcomes through your research and vetting of information sources. This paper must be reviewed by your faculty mentor.
• COMPLETE Form #2, “Final Reflection”. Both you and your faculty mentor must sign the second, final form affirming the content of the statement.
• SEND your written reflection and the signed “FINAL REFLECTION” form to thehub@bu.edu by the end of semester deadline.

More about the Written Reflection Paper and Grading

Below are the two learning outcomes for RIL, which you will engage with as you work on your honors thesis or directed-study project. To fulfill your RIL Hub requirement, you must reflect on how you have met both of the learning outcomes. Activities that you might engage in and then reflect on in your final 2-page written reflection could include, but are not restricted to:

• Meetings with research mentors
• Any training with pertinent research librarians
• Consideration of the quality and ethical use of sources
• Refinement of research questions and/or methodologies
• Scaffolded components of writing a paper (e.g., literature review, annotated bibliography, research question, hypothesis, methodology, progressive drafts)
• Summative reports
• Surveys

You will be awarded a Hub requirement in RIL after submission of both the second form and your written reflection paper. This will appear on your transcript as a 0-credit course with a P (passing) grade: “HUB RL 401: Research and Information Literacy in Honors Thesis/Directed Study.”

Learning Outcomes for BU Hub Area Research and Information Literacy (RIL)

1. Students will be able to search for, select, and use a range of publicly available and discipline-specific information sources ethically and strategically to address research questions.
2. Students will demonstrate understanding of the overall research process and its component parts, and be able to formulate good research questions or hypotheses, gather and analyze information, and critique, interpret, and communicate findings.

Questions: Please email thehub@bu.edu or call the Hub Office at 617-358-6535.