Web Searching
Web Searching
When you are researching, the Web can be helpful, but only if you are a careful and thoughtful reader. These guidelines will help you to find good sites. Remember, use other sources too, like books, newspapers, magazines, interviews, pamphlets, & CD ROMs.
Guidelines to searching the web:
You need to think critically about information you find on the web. Just because information is posted on the web, it is not guaranteed to be up to date or accurate. Think about these questions as you find information:
Why was this information posted on this site? (to inform vs. to persuade)
Could the information be biased?
Can this information be matched with the same information in another source?
When was the information posted? (Especially important with fast-changing science, computer, health topics, etc)
Who posted this information? (An expert doctor/teacher, or an elementary student?)
Some good websites to help you learn to search the Web more effectively:
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/searching/stepzero.html Where do I start when searching?
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/searching/fournets.htm How to become a more efficient websearcher
http://searchenginewatch.com/facts/index.php Explains how to search properly; many other sites linked to this one.
http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/les4/pg1.html OSU's tutorial on how to search the web with good results- Sra. Thompson learned a lot through this one!
Some good search engines:
http://www.britannica.com/ Britannica's online student reference encyclopedia
http://www.ipl.org/ The Internet Public Library offers interesting teen sites & search options
http://www.columbuslibrary.org/ Use the Columbus Metropolitan Library website to search all library materials (& have your library card ready to reserve any materials that may help). Remember, this will include books, magazines, etc.
Remember, when you cite a source (as you do any time you report, to avoid plagiarism!), include the actual website. If you searched for "NBA all stars" using Google, DO NOT cite "www.google.com" as your resource. Instead, include the actual web address where you found information, like
http://www.nba.com/allstar2003/ or http://probasketball.about.com/library/weekly/bl_nbaallstargameguide.htm