Spring1999

INFS 470 Special Topics: Scientific Literature and Communication in the Sciences
Project 2. Informal Communication
Part 1. Learn About and Select Discussion Lists

Objectives of Project 2:

• Learn about professional discussion lists*
• Select discussion lists
• Subscribe to and lurk on discussion lists (Do not send messages to the lists!)
• Write a 3-5 page paper that describes, compares, and contrasts two (2) lists
• Present a 5-minute oral report on the project

*discussion lists, electronic mailing lists, Internet mailing lists, e-mail discussion groups, mailing lists, and lists are terms used interchangeably.

Part 1. Learn about and select discussion lists [Due March 23]

Part 1 prepares you to do Project 2 by providing information about discussion lists and tools for finding them. In Section A you will learn about discussion lists. In Section B, you will explore discussion lists, select some, and defend your selections.

Section A

1. Learn some basics about lists and how to subscribe (but DO NOT SUBSCRIBE yet!).

Read:

• INTERNET & NETWORKING: Internet Mailing Lists Guides and Resources http://www.ifla.org/I/training/listserv/lists.htm

• Inter-Links "What is a Mailing List?"

http://alabanza.com/kabacoff/Inter-Links/listserv/listhlp.html

and "Subscribing, Unsubscribing, and Posting"

http://alabanza.com/kabacoff/Inter-Links/listserv/subscribe.html

• "Generic Subscription Instructions" http://www.n2h2.com/KOVACS/whatis.html#name6

• "Liszt: Intro to Mailing Lists" http://www.liszt.com/intro.html

2. Identify 3 lists that would seem appropriate for a scientist in your field to join.

To find lists of lists:

• Go to: Inter-Links E-Mail Discussion Groups, by Rob Kabacoff, http://alabanza.com/kabacoff/Inter-Links/listserv.html and use the links in the Finding a List section

• Go to: INTERNET & NETWORKING: Internet Mailing Lists Guides and Resources http://www.ifla.org/I/training/listserv/lists.htm and use the links in the section called "Finding Other Mailing Lists."

3. For each of the 3 lists you identified above, provide

• a description of the list, including its purpose and intended audience

List 1:

List 2:

List 3:

• complete instructions for subscribing and unsubscribing

List 1:

List 2:

List 3:

03/23/99 RLS