Chapter Ten
Using the
Internet to
Support Your
Speech
Chapter Ten
Table of Contents
What Is the Internet?
Understanding Internet Search Tools
Using Search Engines
Using Subject Directories
Critically Evaluating Internet Search Tools
Creating an Online Search Strategy
Critically Evaluating Internet Sources
Citing and Recording Internet Sources*
What Is the Internet?
The Internet is a
vast, worldwide
system of computer
networks that allows
you to share and
retrieve information
with any other
computer on the
network.*
What is the Internet?
World Wide Web
A graphics-rich environment of Internet pages
that contain text, graphics, sound, and video
Hyperlinks
Connect pieces of information or entire Web
sites to other pieces of information or site*
Understanding Internet Search
Tools
To locate information on the Internet
efficiently, you must be familiar with
search engines, subject directories,
library gateways, and specialized
databases.*
Using Search Engines
Search engines index
the contents of the
Web by scanning
millions of documents
that contains the
keywords and phrases
you command it to
search.*
Using Search Engines
Meta-search engines scan a variety of
individual search engines simultaneously.
Subject-specific search engines are
devoted entirely to your topic.*
Using Search Engines
Hits are the results of a search.
While meta-search engines display hits
from the top of search engine lists, most
search engines rank hits by relevance.*
Using Subject Directories
A subject directory is a searchable
database of Web sites that have been
submitted to that directory and
organized by a human editor into
appropriate categories.
Instead of storing pages, subject
directories offer links to them.*
Using Subject Directories
Dual-Function (“Hybrid”) Search Engines
and Subject Directories
Search Engines Versus Subject
Directories: Which Should I Use?
Using Library Gateways*
Using Subject Directories:
Dual-Function (“Hybrid”) Search
Engines and Subject Directories
Increasingly, the creators of search
engines are joining their services with
those of subject directories, and vice
versa.*
Using Subject Directories:
Search Engines Versus Subject
Directories: Which Should I Use?
Search engines often
find information not
listed in subject
directories.
Subject directories are
useful for finding and
narrowing a topic, and
are less timeconsuming than search
engines.*
Using Subject Directories:
Using Library Gateways
A gateway is a subject
directory with at least
100 sites reviewed by an
expert.
A library gateway is
the entrance into a
collection of research
and reference material
reviewed by librarians.*
Using Subject Directories:
Using Library Gateways
The invisible web is the portion of the
Web that includes pass-protected sites,
documents behind firewalls, and the
contents of proprietary databases.
The invisible web includes databases
compiled by professors, researchers,
experts, governmental agencies, business
interests, and other specialists.*
Critically Evaluating
Internet Search Tools
Search engines actually search only a small
percentage of the total information on the Web.
Be aware that search engines are more likely to
index sites that have many links to them.
Many search tools are more likely to search
U.S.-based sites than foreign sites.
Search engines and general subject directories
are more likely to index commercial sites than
educational sites.*
Creating an Online Search
Strategy
Determining your
search strategy
before logging on
will help you
maximize the
effectiveness of the
time you spend
researching.*
Creating an Online Search
Strategy
Start with the Basics
Use Search Commands to Enhance
Results*
Creating an Online Search Strategy:
Start with the Basics
If you’re brainstorming, use a subject
directory.
If you’re looking for a specific piece of
information, use a major search engine or
meta-search engine.
If you’re doing an exhaustive search, use
a library gateway or meta-search tool.
Assess the relevance of the site to your
topic to avoid wasting time.*
Creating an Online Search Strategy:
Use Search Commands to Enhance
Results
Familiarize yourself with search
commands that will allow you to search
more efficiently:
Quotation marks
Boolean operators (AND, NOT, OR)
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs*
Critically Evaluating Internet
Sources
It will be up to you to determine whether
the information you find on the Internet is
reputable and credible.
Look for the identity of the author or the
organization that sponsors the author.
Does the document cite its sources?
Examine the domain of the Web address
(the suffix that tells you the nature of the
site, for example: .edu, .com, .org).
Is the document out of date?
Does the site have a mission statement?*
Citing and Recording Internet
Sources
In documenting Internet sources, you should
provide:
Name of author, editor, or site manager
Publication information of a print version
Date of electronic publication or last revision
Title and description of document
Title of complete work of which it is a part, if
applicable
Other relevant information
Retrieval date
URL*
Citing and Recording Internet
Sources
Maintaining a working bibliography is
crucial because:
You can return to the source.
You can prove the credibility of your source.
Your references may be published.
You may be required to submit a bibliography
along with your speech outline.*