Internet Search Tips for Writing and Researching

The 2004 edition of The Associated Press Style Book description of the internet, comparing it to a library with billions of books, not organized in any way, shape or fashion, and without a card catalog to help the patrons locate the material they're looking for. There's plenty of great information out there and plenty of iffy or downright bat information as well. The problem occurs, first, in locating the information, and second, in carefully and critically discerning which information is good and which is iffy or awful. This particular type of "library search" can be both rewarding and exasperating for writers, researchers and students alike.

Using the Internet for Research

There are several methods for locating information on the internet. Some of these methods include:

· making use of search engines

· searching internet directories

· making a beeline for recognized sites

· searching sites of local organizations, educational institutions and companies

· locating internet bibliographies, and using their listed resources to find materials

· posting queries to online groups and social media, requesting recommendations for resources

After tracking down the information or the websites, the writers/researchers needs to scan through the material and evaluate its accuracy and relevance to their project. If the writer or researcher determines that the information provided on the site is valuable, then he or she needs to include it in the bibliography and any citations used throughout the paper.

Search Engines

Search engines are like a disorganized card catalog in which users must type in the information they're looking for and let the machine shuffle through the pile of "cards" to unearth the information from the stacks and piles of "books" strewn across the internet. Each search engine has access to its own databases of websites, which they search using titles, text, keywords and phrases.

When deciding on a search engine, the writer or researcher should begin with the one he or she is most familiar with. Each search engine offers different ways of locating the information. So, if the information on one search engine is insufficient, then one or two of the others can be searched for additional information. By figuring out how the search engines retrieve the information, they can be utilized to their greatest potential. Check out these search engines when running a search.

· yahoo.com

· altavista.com

· hotbot.com

· google.com

· askjeeves.com

· dogpile.com

Internet Directories

Internet directories help writers/ researchers find major resources related to a specific topic as well as for general research. Internet directories consist of hierarchical topic menus which can be navigated easily to locate the most suitable resources. The sites on the directories are chosen and organized by humans rather than by computers. Once the internet directories have been indexed, the search engines can make use of them. Some of the more frequently searched internet directories are listed below.

· INFOMINE

http://infomine.ucr.edu

· Internet Scout Project

http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/archives/

· Librarians' Index to the Internet

http://lii.org/

· looksmart

http://www.looksmart.com/

· Open Project Directory

http://dmaz.org/

· WWW.Virtual­_Library

http://vlib.org/

· Yahoo

http://yahoo.com/

Devising or Planning Your Search

So, now that the search tools (search engines, internet directories) have been chosen, it's time to put together a plan of attack by composing the search queries. The writer or research needs to put together a list of keywords, phrases and questions to plug into the search line. A little brainstorming of the paper's topic ahead of time as well as completely and concisely defining the paper's topic may help with the following.

· select specific keywords (nouns are best)

· opt for unusual words associated with the topic (i.e. technical names, names of experts - especially if uncommon)

· plug in more than one keyword

· plug in a phrase

· ask a question

· spell the keywords incorrectly (misspellings are frequent, especially with hard to spell terms, expressions and names)

· type in synonyms for the keywords (e.g. crimson for red, meteorology for weather, health care worker for nurse)

· make use of the operators and, or and not; putting "and" between two related keywords locates sites containing both keywords or either one individually; placing "or" between the related keywords uncovers sites with either one of the individual keywords; and inserting "not" between two related keywords will hunt down sites that include the first keyword but not the second.

Refining a Search

Usually, the first search won't provide all the necessary information on the writer or researcher's topic. At this point, it's time to refine the search terms and give it another shot. First try narrowing the search to specific aspects of the topic. Next try zooming out and searching for more general terms about the paper's topic. Also try wildcards, which are something along the lines of the word's root. For instance using the root-word "heli" produces a list with that root which includes: helio, helicopter, helix, helium. "Electro" brings up electronics, Electrolux, electromagnetic, electrolytes, and electrons.

Look up the name of the key players related to the topic; the more unusual the player's name is, the more likely that sites will pop up once the enter key is punched. search for organizations related to the topic (e.g. NASA for any related to space, rocket science, the solar system, astrophysics, astronomy, and even weather; the Weather Channel or NOAA for anything related to weather and climate; or the US Geological Survey for anything related to geology, minerals, mining, earthquakes, etc.). If the web address is unknown, make an educated guess by entering something like: www.companyname.com, www.organizationname.org, or www.governmentagency.gov, or www.educationalinstitution.edu.

Beware of Questionable Resources

Look at the World Wide Web as this huge databank of information where only about 25% of the information can generally be considered reliable for writing and researching most papers, articles and books. Consider the other 75% as questionable at best or complete inaccurate, erroneous, and untrue at worst. One caveat needs to be addressed here, the 75% of sites and information considered iffy to awful may be used IF the writer or researcher has a specific reason for doing so and IF it is disclosed that this information may not be considered unreliable. Often this is done as part of an argumentation paper or article or an op/ed piece discussing both sides of an issue or topic.

Determining the reliability of information on a website is much the same as determining the reliability, viability and timeliness of the information found in books, magazines and other resources found at the library. Whenever a writer or researcher is unsure whether a website or the information it carries should be considered is reliable, he or she must should evaluate the site and its information with the following criteria. The answers obtained from such an evaluation will generally give a good indication as to the reliability of the site and / or its information.

· Try to find the page's sponsor and/or author. If no sponsor are author is discernible, don't use the resource. Instead, find the information elsewhere.

· Look for contact information in order to follow up on the information presented. If contact information is not provided, check out the web site on Whois at www.networgsolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois

· Web addresses ending in .edu or .gov are generally considered to more authoritative on certain topics. If the information on a website with a url ending in .edu or .gov does not seem fitting or like it doesn't belong on a site for an educational institution or a government agency, then pass it up and look elsewhere.

· If a webpage doesn't clearly indicate where the information came from - if it's original to the author, organization, or company or borrowed - then consider looking elsewhere for the information.

· Examine the information and compare it to what is already known about the topic. If even one statement or piece of information seems inaccurate, then the rest of the information presented on the site must be questioned as to its reliability. Leave the site alone and look elsewhere.

· If the author of the information displays obvious bias or if the site has links to other sites that show clear bias, leave it be. The caveat here is if the writer or researcher wishes to use the site and its information in an argumentation or editorial type piece where both sides of an issue are discussed.

· Look for data indicating when the page was last updated. If a page hasn't been updated in at least 5 years, consider it questionable in its timeliness. If the page hasn't been updated in 10 or more years, consider the information outdated. The caveat to this is that, if the writer or researcher finds updated information elsewhere, the older website and its information might be used to show how things have changed in the last decade(s).

· Determine the website's audience. Writers and researchers should determine if the information provided is adequate to the task, whether it is at or near the level that they will be writing for. If the site is aimed at children, the information may too basic and not provide enough facts or backup information. If the site is aimed at academia or a technical or professional audience in a specific field, the information may be too technical for the writer or researcher to understand. Keep it in mind when deciding whether to use the website or not.

Best Advice for Writers and Researchers

When considering resources for term papers, articles or essays of any kind consider the internet resources carefully. Never use only one internet resources. Back it up with two or more internet resources as well as with non-internet resources, such as up-to-date books and periodicals as well as interviews (i.e. subject matter experts, multiple reliable witnesses).

Keep comprehensive documentation of the sites chosen for essay, term paper or article's research. Every time a website is chosen, type it up in correct bibliography format - including the date that the information was downloaded - and add it to the bibliography. The correct format for citations and bibliographies depends on teachers (for academic writers and researchers) or upon personal preference for most published articles. (If uncertain, always ask the teacher or publisher.) Then use the right style guide (MLA, APA, or Chicago Manual of Style) when creating the citation and bibliography entries. Don't forget to add the correct URL to the bibliography entry. To ensure accuracy of the URL, simply right-click on the URL at the top of the page, at which point a drop down menu will appear. Left-click on copy, then paste it in to the bibliography entry.

Taking the time to know the parameters of the topic search, the best places to search, and weeding out the inappropriate sites and information, will ensure a good set of internet sources for any essay, term paper, or article. In other words, do the homework before the writing.

Bibliography

Goldstein, Norm, Editor. The Associated Press Stylebook. New York: Basic Books, 2004.

Illinois State University, Milner Library. Using the Internet for Research. Downloaded 2/23/2012.

http://www.mlb.ilstu.edu/ressubj/subject/intrnt/research.htm

Media Awareness Network. How to Search the Internet Effectively. Downloaded 1/23/2012.

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resources/wa_teachers/tipsheets/search_internet_effectively.cfm

University of Toronto. Research Using the Internet. Downloaded 1/23/2012.

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/reading-and-researching/research-using-internet