Wading Through the Web
Conducting Research on the
Internet
Wading Through the Web
This presentation will teach you about:
1. Different Types of Search Engines
2. How to Search on the Internet
3. How to cite your sources
Wading Through the Web
Internet
Books/Text
•Anyone can publish a Web page
•No one checks to see if the
information is true or false
•Both provide sources
of information
•There are millions of places to look
for information
•Both are viewed by
•Using the Internet is much quicker millions of people each
day
•You can narrow down what you’re
looking for more easily
•The Internet uses search engines
•A book has to be published by a
publishing company
•Editors check and verify the
information
•Looking for a book can be more
time consuming
•You have to visit a library
•The library uses the Dewey
Decimal System
Wading Through the Web
When might using the Internet be
better than using a traditional text?
•Topics that are contemporary (modern topics) – The
Internet has more up-to-date information on current events.
•Topics that are controversial – The Internet can give you a
lot of different opinions on one topic. It can help you
research a topic from different perspectives.
Session 1: Different Types
of Search Engines
Wading Through the Web
Different Types of Search Engines

A Search Engine is a program that allows you to search the Internet for
information. There are many search engines on the World Wide Web.
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You might have heard of search engines like Google, Yahoo!, or MSN. These
are the most popular search engines.
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There are lots of other excellent search engines on the Internet that you may
never have heard of!

Let’s look at the different types of search engines available on the Internet.
Wading Through the Web
Different Types of Search Engines
 Regular Search Engines vs. Metasearch Engines
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A regular search engine, like Google or Yahoo!,
searches the Internet based on a given search term.
 For example, typing “Vasco da Gama” into Google will
give you 2,490,000 “hits” or sites to visit for
information.
 Type the same term into Yahoo!, and you come up with
949,000 hits.
2. TRY IT: Go to Google (www.google.com) and type in
“Vasco da Gama” Look at the sites that come up. Click on
the first two or three sites. Do they look like they have good
information? Now do the same in Yahoo! (www.yahoo.com).
What differences do you notice?
Wading Through the Web
Different Types of Search Engines
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Why do Google and Yahoo! display different sites for
the same word?
 This is because of the way the engine searches!
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Google and Yahoo! use different search methods. While many
of the sites they show you are the same, some are different.
A Metasearch can streamline your search.
 A Metasearch has the ability to search several search engines.
Wading Through the Web
Different Types of Search Engines
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Let’s try using a metasearch engine to search
information on “Vasco da Gama”
CactiSearch (www.cactisearch.com) is a metasearch
engine that will search Google, Yahoo!, MSN, and
Ask.com all at once!
3. TRY IT: Go to www.cactisearch.com and type in “Vasco da
Gama”
The results are sorted by search engine. You can look at all
four search engines combined, or narrow your search to
Google, Yahoo!, etc.
How might a metasearch engine like CactiSearch be more
helpful than a regular search engine?
Wading Through the Web
Different Types of Search Engines
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Brainboost (www.brainboost.com) is a search engine
that allows you to type in a question rather than a
search term. For example, if you wanted to know when
Vasco da Gama reached India, you could ask a specific
question and get more detailed information.
5. TRY IT: Go to www.brainboost.com and type in “When did
Vasco da Gama reach India?”
How does the information you get differ from the
information you got on other search engines? What else do
you notice on the left hand side? How might this help you as
well?
Wading Through the Web
Different Types of Search Engines
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KartOO (www.kartoo.com) is a search engine that
shows your information in a map format. This helps you
find multiple sites related to a specific topic. For
example, it will show you several sites that give
information on Vasco de Gama’s voyages and Portugal.
 This search engine is especially helpful for people who would
prefer to see their results in a graphic organizer instead of a
list.
6. TRY IT: Go to www.kartoo.com and type in “Vasco de
Gama”
How might this site be more helpful than other sites? What
makes it unique?
Wading Through the Web
Different Types of Search Engines
Other Helpful Resources
•Online encyclopedias are a great resource for research. Try the
encyclopedias listed below and see what you think.
•Ebsco http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=uid
Username: olstigers
password: tigers
•Encyclopedia Britannica – www.britannica.com login with
library card http://library.eb.com/storelibrarycard?id=calcasieu
•930108599001
•http://lalibcon.state.lib.la.us/ Louisiana Library
•Louisiana Library Includes test prep
•Encarta – www.encarta.msn.com
•Worldbook-www.worldbookonline.com
•username: tiger01 password: tigers
•In world book use Advanced Search and create a folder,
pathfinders are folders others have created and are sharing.
Wading Through the Web
Other Helpful Resources
•Libraries are another place to find lots of useful
information. Take a look at these sites!
•Calcasieu Parish Public Library’s database –
http://calcasieulibrary.org/
•You will need a library card to use some of
the linked websites, so also check the
webpage of your local library.
Session 2: How to Search
on the Internet
Wading Through the Web
2. How to Search on the Internet
 Now that we have looked at different types of
search engines, we need to learn how to
make the most of your search!
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Most search engines have something called an
Advanced Search. An advanced search allows you
to be more specific about what type of information
you are looking for.
When you visit a search engine, the Advanced
Search page is a great place to start!
Wading Through the Web
2. How to Search on the Internet
 Let’s see how the Advanced Search option
works!
7. TRY IT: Go to www.google.com and click on Advanced
Search to the right of the search box.
-Let’s say you discover that some of your results are about
the Vasco da Gama hotel and vacations. You want to find
out about the life of Vasco da Gama, but not about the hotel.
In the Advanced Search menu, put Vasco da Gama in the box
that says “all of these words” and hotel and vacation in the
box that says “without the words.”
This will filter out the information you don’t want!
Wading Through the Web
2. How to Search on the Internet
“Smarter” searching on the Internet
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Most Internet search engines also allow you to use a set
of words or symbols to narrow your search.
 AND – use this word when you want to find two words
together. For example “Vasco da Gama AND voyage”
 OR – use this when you can accept a couple of words. For
example, “Vasco da Gama OR European explorers”
 - (minus sign) – use this symbol when you want to exclude
a word. For example, “Vasco da Gama -hotel”
 “quotations” – use quotation marks when you are searching
for an exact phrase. For example, if you were searching for
a book title, you could type “The Voyage of Vasco da
Gama” in quotations and the search engine will look for that
exact phrase.
Wading Through the Web
2. How to Search on the Internet
“Smarter” searching on the Internet
8. TRY IT: Go to www.cactisearch.com
What would I type into the search box if I wanted to find out
about the Vasco da Gama Church?
What would I type into the search box if I wanted to find out
about Vasco da Gama or any other Portuguese explorers?
What would I type into the search box if I wanted to find out
about Vasco da Gama’s voyages and also find a map of the
countries where he landed?
Wading Through the Web
2. How to Search on the Internet
How can you tell if an Internet site is
reliable?
•REMEMBER: Anyone can post information on the
Internet!
•Make sure the information you are using comes from a
person or organization that can be trusted.
•One simple way to tell if a site is reliable is to look at who
runs the site. Usually, looking at the first section of a web
address will tell you where it came from. If it came from a
museum, university, or some other place you’ve heard of,
chances are that it can be trusted.
•The following slide provides a checklist you can use to
decide whether a website is reliable. If the site contains
several characteristics in the “Questionable” column, you
probably shouldn’t use it!
Wading Through the Web
2. How to Search on the Internet
Dupe Detector:
A checklist to help surfers begin determining if information found on a website is true or not*
Website:
Trustworthy
Questionable
1.
Do large companies you know advertise on the site?
Yes □
No □
2.
Are there any ‘dead links’, or links to ‘moved pages’?
No □
Yes □
3.
Do the images support the stated facts?
Yes □
No □
4.
Is the site hosted by a credible provider and reside in a ‘trustworthy’ domain.
Yes □
No □
5.
Are there links and references to other websites, resources and experts that corroborate
this information?
Yes □
No □
6.
Is the resource available in another format?
Yes □
No □
7.
Do the site’s authors have other publications with credible sites and publishers?
Yes □
No □
8.
Are the site’s authors experts in the subject? (Do they have any credentials or experience
around the topic?)
Yes □
No □
9.
Is contact information provided and does the place/e-mail exist and work?
Yes □
No □
10.
Does the site present highly biased visuals (e.g. racist statements, derogatory remarks,
and emotional language)?
No □
Yes □
11.
Is the site professional (grammar and typing errors are not present or very minimal)?
Yes □
No □
Totals**:
Available at: http://www.lerc.educ.ubc.ca/LERC/outreach/lomcira2006/lomcirahandoutapril06.doc
Session 3: How to Cite
Internet Sources
Wading Through the Web
3. How to cite your sources
 Citing Your Sources

Citing your sources means telling people where you got your
information. Just as you list books and encyclopedias in your
bibliography, you must also include the sources of information you got
from the Internet.
 Citing your sources is important because it shows others how to find the
same information you found.
 To cite a source on the Internet, you need to have a written record
of the following information for each website that you actually use
in your report or essay:
 The name of the site and the author (Who made the website?
A company? An organization? An individual?)
 What day you found the information
 The web address or URL
 The copyright date for the website (usually found at the bottom
of the homepage)
Wading Through the Web
3. How to cite your sources
 Citing Your Sources
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Use the format below to add Internet resources to a
bibliography:
 Author. Title of Website. Web address or URL.
Copyright date. Date you found the information.
 For example, look at the following website on Vasco da
Gama and compare it to the information below.
(http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/dagama.html)
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Author: There is no specific author listed
Title: ThinkQuest: Explorers of the Millennium
Web address: http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/dagama.html
Copyright date: 1998 (this is found by clicking on “About this Site”
Date found: April 30, 2006
Wading Through the Web
3. How to cite your sources
 Citing Your Sources
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Using this information:
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Author: There is no specific author listed
Title: ThinkQuest: Explorers of the Millennium
Web address: http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/dagama.html
Copyright date: 1998 (this is found by clicking on “About this Site”
Date found: April 30, 2006
a bibliographical citation for this website would look like this:
ThinkQuest: Explorers of the Millennium.
http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/dagama.html. 1998. Found on April 30,
2006.
Wading Through the Web
3. How to cite your sources
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There are 6 parts to an Internet Citation. This is the correct format as shown:
Author. “Web Page Title”. Web Site. Copyright Date. Access Date. URL (complete web address).
Sample:
Larson, Joanne. “Sports Nutrition”. Ask the Dietitian.com. 2008. 20 November 2008. http://www.dietitian.com/sportnut.html
After each section place a period and then a blank space.
Always write the author’s name Last Name, First Name.
The Access Date is the date you got the information, so usually “today’s date”.
Only the web page title is placed in Quotation marks.
WHAT IS MISSING? Write the missing part (see top for the 6 parts) of each citation in the space provided.
1. Hellman, Nathan. “Jed Rembold Finally Finds His Way to the Moon”. Baker City Herald. July 10, 2009. http://www.bakercityherald.com/LocalNews/Jed-Rembold-finally-finds-his-way-to-the-moon_Missing part:
2. Smith, Jeff. The Oregonian. August 23, 2009. Today’s Date. http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_grant00.html
Missing Part:
3. “Jordan’s Effort a Marvel 15 Years Later”. 2/23/09. Today’s Date.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090223&content_id=3869616&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Missing Part #1:
2nd Missing Part:
4. Mayo Clinic staff. “Achilles Tendon Rupture”. MayoClinic.com. September 26, 2009. Current date.
Missing Part:
Go to the following web site: www.aerospaceguide.net. Be sure to accurately type in the web address. At the left side under Solar System, click on
Mercury. Find the following information. You might have to scroll clear to the bottom to find some of it. Please put your answer in RED font. This
is NOT the format you use, just a place to record your findings!
Author:
Web Page Title:
Web Site:
Copyright Date:
Date you got the information:
URL:
Now, take this information and fill out the citation for it. Some of the information is illed in for you.
Stathopoulus,
. The Planet
net.
http://www.aerospaceguide.net/
Review
Search Engines
•Regular search
engines vs.
Metasearch
engines
•Search engines
that will
categorize the
information
Internet Searching
•Using
Advanced
Search
•Using words
and symbols to
narrow your
search
Citing Sources
•Recording
important
information
•Putting your
information into
correct format
for a
bibliography
•Search engines
that will allow
you to ask a
question
Now you’re ready to start your own research project. Happy
Internet searching!
WORDS YOU WILL ENCOUNTER
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Accuracy – One of 4 methods of judging the quality of a website. Accuracy implies that
the information found on the site is correct and true!
Bootlean – A word used in internet search. Bootlean means using the words, And, Or, Not,
etc. in your searches.
Browser – A program that allows you to look at web sites on the Internet.
Citation – A method for giving credit to sources of information. Also called Bibliography or
Resources Used.
Copyright – A legal term protecting the creative works of writers, artists, composers, and
others.
Credibility – Method of judging the quality of a website. Credibility implies the site is
believable.
Currency – Method of evaluating a website for how up to date the information is.
Fair use – Situations in which copywritten material can be used without permission. Be
sure to read all this or the Dark Side will be upon you!
Meta Search Engine – A search engine that searches multiple search engines at once.
Paraphrase – To put written text into your own words.
Plagiarism – Using the creative works of another person and claiming it as your own.
Public Domain - Works that are not copywritten or the copyright has expired.
Search Engine – Web sites that goes on the Internet and searches for information.
Truncation – Putting an * after a word in a search. This allows the search engine to find
other forms of the word.
URL – “Universal Resource Locator” – another term for the web address.
Usability – Method for evaluating how easy a web site is to navigate, load, and use.
ADVANCED SEARCH TECHNIQUES
–
 There are several types of advanced search techniques:
Truncation, Boolean operators, and Phrase Searching.
We will look at each one separately.
 TRUNCATION is used to expand results by instructing the
computer to look for the root of the word and all alternate
word endings. When you truncate a search you will get
more hits usually.
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Star*
Searches for stars, starring, starred, etc.
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Life*
Searches for Life, lives, lived, living, etc.
 Truncation symbols may differ depending on the database or
search engine you are using. Common truncation symbols
are * (an asterisk), ? (question mark), or # (the pound sign).
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Use BOOLEAN OPERATORS to produce more relevant search results by
combining search terms. The principal Boolean operators are: AND – OR –
NOT. Bootlean words must be capitalized to work.
Use AND to combine different concepts together. This will reduce search results.
Star magnitude AND star life span
You can use the + symbol …..star magnitude + life span
Some databases use AND automatically. For example, if you enter star
magnitude it will search for the words star and magnitude, but not necessarily for
the words to be next to each other.
Use OR to gather references that contain similar terms or synonyms. This will
increase search results.
Star magnitude OR star life span
Use NOT to exclude terms. Use this sparingly as it may remove useful search
results.
Star magnitude NOT Sun
You can use the – symbol……star magnitude - sun
 PHRASE SEARCHING – some databases or
search engines will allow you to search for an
exact phrase or words in the same sentence
or paragraph. You must surround the phrase
with quotation marks.
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“star magnitude” will only produce hits
that have the words star and magnitude right
next to each other.
Answer/ No. of Hits
Question
1A: type the word star
1B: type star* (truncate it!)
1C: Do you want to check this many pages?
1D: type star magnitude
Answer/ No. of Hits
Question
2A: type star + magnitude
2A: Does the computer put the + in automatically?
2B: type star OR magnitude
2C: type star magnitude - sun
Answer/ No. of hits
Question
4A: type “star magnitude” + “star life span”
4B: type “star* magnitude” + “star* life span”.
4C: Can you limit the search too much?
4D: What technique works best for this search?
INTERNET CITATIONS
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There are 6 parts to an Internet Citation. This is the correct format as shown:
Author. “Web Page Title”. Web Site. Copyright Date. Access Date. URL (complete web address).
Sample:
Larson, Joanne. “Sports Nutrition”. Ask the Dietitian.com. 2008. 20 November 2008. http://www.dietitian.com/sportnut.html
After each section place a period and then a blank space.
Always write the author’s name Last Name, First Name.
The Access Date is the date you got the information, so usually “today’s date”.
Only the web page title is placed in Quotation marks.
WHAT IS MISSING? Write the missing part (see top for the 6 parts) of each citation in the space provided.
1. Hellman, Nathan. “Jed Rembold Finally Finds His Way to the Moon”. Baker City Herald. July 10, 2009. http://www.bakercityherald.com/LocalNews/Jed-Rembold-finally-finds-his-way-to-the-moon_Missing part:
2. Smith, Jeff. The Oregonian. August 23, 2009. Today’s Date. http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_grant00.html
Missing Part:
3. “Jordan’s Effort a Marvel 15 Years Later”. 2/23/09. Today’s Date.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090223&content_id=3869616&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Missing Part #1:
2nd Missing Part:
4. Mayo Clinic staff. “Achilles Tendon Rupture”. MayoClinic.com. September 26, 2009. Current date.
Missing Part:
Go to the following web site: www.aerospaceguide.net. Be sure to accurately type in the web address. At the left side under Solar System, click on
Mercury. Find the following information. You might have to scroll clear to the bottom to find some of it. Please put your answer in RED font. This
is NOT the format you use, just a place to record your findings!
Author:
Web Page Title:
Web Site:
Copyright Date:
Date you got the information:
URL:
Now, take this information and fill out the citation for it. Some of the information is illed in for you.
Stathopoulus,
. The Planet
net.
http://www.aerospaceguide.net/
planet/ The book says I need a citation!
I didn’t know you could get a ticket for illegal internet use!
Did you include all six parts? Did you place quotation marks in the right spot? Are there periods after each section?