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Reading Electronic Sources
Benefits of Internet Research
5 A huge volume of information from thousands of sources worldwide
6 Up-to-the-minute information on news, weather, etc.
7 Information when you need it—no trips to the library, which is closed at midnight
Pitfalls of Internet Research
10 A huge volume of information from thousands of sources worldwide
11 Anyone can publish a web site
12 Sites need not be maintained or updated
13 Sites are not supervised or reviewed for accuracy
14 Sites such as AOL are peppered with sales pitches
15 Breaking news is unfiltered
How to Locate Sources
A browser program (Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator) helps you find the site you want.
Identify Keywords. Be as specific as possible.
Use Subject Directories (INFOMINE, Lycos, Yahoo)
Use a Search Engine (Alta Vista, WebCrawler, Infoseek, etc.)
Use a Meta-Search Engine (MetaFind, DogPile, PROFUsion)
Web Site Addresses
A Web site has its own address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator). It must be typed exactly.
The last part of the URL, called the domain, reveals the site’s type of sponsor
.com companies trying to sell something
.edu educational institutions
.gov state or federal agencies
Sometimes you need a name you use online, called a username, and a password to get started.
The Features of a Web Site
A Web site is a location on the World Wide Web where you can obtain information on a particular subject.
Each page is called a Web page.
The first page is called a home page.
Navigational buttons or icons allow you to move to different pages.
Links are highlighted words that take you to other pages in the Web site or other unrelated sites
How to Evaluate the Content of Internet Sources
Evaluate appropriateness
Evaluate the source
Evaluate the level of technical detail
Evaluate the presentation
Evaluate completeness
Check the links to see if they work and are reputable
Using the Internet for Academic Purposes
Two ways to search
48 Subject Directory--i.e.
49 Librarian recommends websites which have been reviewed
50 Better for academic purposes
51 Go to Library Homepage→
52 →Recommended Websites
53 →Subject Directories
54 The Best Information on the Net (BIOTN)
55 Internet Public Library
56 Librarians Index to the Internet ()
57 enter topic→search
58 result list—recommended websites, emphasis on quality, not quantity
59 list is annotated—address, when ref. was added
60 Search engine--i.e. Google
61 Computer recommends websites
62 Put quotation marks around term, i.e. “breast cancer”
63 Does some ranking
64 frequency
65 Proximity
66 Advanced search
67 Date—select more updated period of time
68 Domain
69 .edu (educational organization—often more reliable websites)
70 .org (nonprofit organization—may be biased)
71 .com (commercial entity)
72 .net (network of an institution)
73 .gov (government source—reliable)
74 .mil
Some Helpful Web Sites
Electronic Text Requires New Reading Strategies
Traditional text is linear; it progresses in a single direction.
Web sites are multidirectional and unique.
Text on Web sites may not follow the traditional main idea, supporting details organization of traditional paragraphs.
Web site text requires readers to make decisions.
Electronic Text Requires New Reading Strategies
Web sites allow readers the flexibility to choose the order in which to receive the information.
Web sites use icons and new symbol systems.
Web sites use shorter, less detailed sentences and paragraphs, but a great deal of graphics, links, etc.
Reading Web sites involves paying attention to (and being distracted by) sound, graphics, and movement, as well as words.
Text on Web sites comes in brief, independent screenfuls, sometimes called nodes.
Web sites include numerous links to other Web sites
It’s hard to highlight a computer screen
Develop New Ways of Thinking and Reading
Focus on your purpose—stay on task!
Get used to the site’s design and layout
Pay attention to how information is organized
Only use links to find the information you need
Explore links that are related to your topic
Use Bookmarks and Favorites or note the addresses of good sites
Print and read offline (finally, a way to highlight!)
Use the “Back” button to find your way “home.”
Take notes as you explore a complicated Web site
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