Introduction

The World Wide Web comprises over 800 million web pages. With such a large amount of material available, it is important to develop strategies that will enable you to quickly retrieve the exact information that you need. Search engines enable you to locate the information that you seek.

This chapter will teach you some of the techniques of using search engines and will acquaint you with several of the most widely used search engines. Not all search engines are equal – you need different search engines to locate different kinds of information.

The Role of a Search Engine (.pdf version)

How to Search the World Wide Web (.pdf version)

Tips for Finding Information Using Search Engines (.pdf version)

Recommended Search Engines and Internet Search Tips (Library Web page)

Evaluating Websites (.pdf version)

Evaluating Resources: Which Sources Are Right for Your Research? (Library Web page)
A quick guide that describes the differences between information on the Web and in books and periodicals.

Summary

•Search engines can help you find information on subjects that interest you.

•Each search engine accesses a different set of websites and has its own method of locating and ranking the websites that are found as a result of your search.

•Each search engine provides a tutorial telling you how to get the best results with that search engine.

•In addition, there are other websites that offer general tutorials on how to construct the most productive searches for information on the WWW.

•Hyperlinks can help you to get to additional information on the topics that you have searched.

•The domain name, the point of view, the author and the last date updated can help you judge the reliability of information found on the World Wide Web.

Additional Resources

Search Engines and Internet Search Tips (Library web page)

Websites:
Please note that website addresses often change. If you are unable to reach the addresses below, use a search engine and search the source of the site or the title of the Web document to find the new site.

Evaluating Websites

"Evaluating Web Pages" (Widener University, Wolfgram Memorial Library)

Elizabeth E. Kirk, "Evaluating Information Found on the Internet" (Johns Hopkins University, The Sheridan Libraries)

Website Information Chart (to help you evaluate websites)


Search Engines

Google
All the Web (Search with more than one search engine all at the same time.)
Alta Vista
Ask.com
Dogpile
Excite
Kartoo

Tutorials

•"Finding Information on the Internet"

•"Bare Bones 101: A Basic Tutorial on Searching the Web"

On-Campus Resources:

Library, Corner of Post Road and Baywood Street, (401) 739-5000, Ext. 3409.

 

Academic Skills Center, Center for the Technologies, Third Floor, (401) 739-5000, Ext. 3416.

•Activities

• Use search engines to find information that may answer some of your career exploration questions.

• Access a website from the Subject Resource Series web pages appropriate to your technology. Examine the website and look for the elements such as domain name, author, point of view and last date updated. This Website Information Chart may help.

•Work through the following websites which are recommended to help you learn to evaluate websites.
1. "Evaluating Web Pages," Widener University, Wolfgram Memorial Library

2. Elizabeth E. Kirk, "Evaluating Information Found on the Internet" (Johns Hopkins University, The Sheridan Libraries)

•Evaluate two of the websites that you visited in the previous module (when you conducted a search of websites relevant to your career exploration). This Website Information Chart may help.

Go Supplemental Materials for EN101Home Page.

Key to Symbols
	Introduction			Readings			Go To ...
	PowerPoint			Form			Chart
	Additional Resources			Summary			Activities