homeHow to find information on the Internet

  1. WHAT do I need to find out?
  2. WHERE is that information likely to be?

Searching for ... Try starting at ...
Fact
Factmonster, Vivisimo, Google (Google is not always best)
Definition
Dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.
General information about a topic
Encyclopedia Brittanica, LII, Wikipedia (can be difficult to read, biased)
Image
Google - Images
Something in the news
Google - News
  1. HOW do I ask the question? A question asked of a search engine is called a query. Queries are different from questions because computers need very specific information.
Tips Examples
avoid... instead..
Use keywords - specific words, numbers, and/or dates bird
car
president 		parakeet
lamborghini
president carter
Use the singular, to include answers that are singular and plural parakeets parakeet
Use several keywords (usually putting the most specific ones first) carter
bush 		carter sadat 1978
bush war economy 2003
Don't capitalize Carter
Ferrari 		carter
ferrari
Use synonyms (other words that mean the same thing as the keywords) car
program
world war I 		automobile
software
Great War, “war to end all wars”
Don’t use short words such as the, of, as, and in.
Instead, use keywords (nouns, mostly) 		the wizard of oz
the league of nations 		wizard oz
league nations
 
  1. WHAT does the information mean? This is the hardest part for students because it involves reading, comprehension, and an understanding of the question being asked. A guide to making sense of Web sites (for students): Kathy Schrock's E-valuating the Web. (Ms. Schrock is compiler of the Guide for Educators, a directory of useful school resources.)

    2. Notes: