UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2018/2019
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY AND DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
DCU200 INFORMATION LITERACY
DATE: NOVEMBER, 2018 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer QUESTION ONE and ANY OTHER TWO.
QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)
a) Define the following terms (10 Marks)
i. References
ii. In-text citation
iii. Block quotation
iv. Regular quotation
v. Information literacy
b) Plagiarism is using the work of others without acknowledging your sources of
information. Explain FIVE ways of avoiding the act. (10 Marks)
c) State the three Boolean operators. (3 Marks)
d) Explain using illustrations the use of Boolean operators in online database searching.
(7 Marks)
QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)
a) When you write an assignment or research paper at the university, you are required to refer
to or cite the work of other authors. Identify and briefly explain five reasons as to why it is
important to acknowledge sources. (10 Marks)
b) As an information seeker in the library, it is important to learn how to use the library
catalogue. Explain any FIVE functions of a library catalogue. (10 Marks)
QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)
a) Giving examples, describe what constitutes primary, secondary and tertiary sources of
information (6 Marks)
b) Outline five benefits for learning information literacy at the university. (10 Marks)
c) What is a periodical? Give two examples. (4 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)
a) The internet is one of the sources of information for your information task. Explain any five
pre-cautionary measures you need to make while using sources available free from the
internet. (10 Marks)
b) Explain any FIVE characteristics of an information literate person. (10 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE (20 MARKS)
In doing an information task, one moves progressively through three main stages namely
planning, retrieving and organizing.
a) What is an information task from an information literacy perspective? (2 Marks)
b) Explain what is involved at the organizing stage while doing an information task.
(8 Marks)
c) You have been asked to evaluate a book to determine whether it is scholarly or academic,
explain the five criteria you will apply. (10 Marks)
