ENG 106: Composition 2

ENG 106: Composition 2 Lesson 11: Internet Research Week: March 31-April 6, 2003 Place: Sampson-Livermore Library Objectives By the end of this lesson, you should be able to do each of the following: Use a URL to find material on the Internet. Locate material on the Internet through a subject directory. Use an Internet search engine. Define relevant terms. Assignments Read two articles on the Internet before you come to class on Thursday. Write a revised outline of your proposal and bring it to class on Thursday. Activities Think Fast: Use what you have learned about search engines to find an Internet site related to the topic of your proposal. Evaluate this site’s relevance, tone, agenda, and credibility. Presentation: Internet Research (Librarian) Cooperative Learning: Collaborate with a partner to locate material on the Internet. Use at least one subject directory, such as the ones located at www.lii.org, www.looksmart.com, and www.yahoo.com. Discussion: During this time, we will discuss the insights and questions that have emerged during our “Think Fast” exercise, my presentation, and cooperative learning. Workshop: Trade outlines with a partner. Evaluate your partner’s evidence and organization. Think Again: Revise your outline. Conferences: During these one-on-one conferences, I will review some of your writing, orally quiz you on lesson objectives, and field your questions. Announcements: We will wrap up this lesson with announcements regarding upcoming lessons, as well as other relevant subjects. Terms Make sure you know the meaning and significance of each of the following terms: Internet search engine subject directory URL Web site Resources Be Your Best: Internet provides an introduction to the Internet. Updated March 3, 2003 © Mark Canada, 2003 mark.canada@uncp.edu

Introduction In our last two lessons, we explored two kinds of print sources: monographs and periodicals. In this lesson, we turn to electronic sources, specifically those found on the Internet. Please come to Sampson-Livermore Library for both of our class meetings this week. Discussion Internet The Internet is an international network of computers connected by wires such as telephone lines. Because many people post information on the Internet in the form of World Wide Web sites, it can be a useful research tool.  Nevertheless, because the information on the Internet tends to be less credible, less thorough, and somewhat harder to find, you generally should use the Internet only to complement your library research.  You can find information on the Internet in four basic ways.  First, if possible, try typing in a site's URL, or Web address, directly.  If you don't know the address, try guessing.  For example, you might guess that the URL for the University of North Carolina is www.unc.edu, and you would be right.  Second, try visiting a subject directory, such as www.looksmart.com, where you can look for subject headings and narrow them down until you find links to Web sites on your subject.  A third approach is to use a search engine, a computer program that looks through information on the Web and gives you a list of sites relevant to your interests.  When you use the Excite search engine, for example, you type one or more key words into a white box and click on "Search."  The next screen to appear will feature links to Web pages related to these words. To visit one, click on one of the links and write down the URL for future reference.  Finally, once you reach a Web site on your subject, click on its links, which probably will lead you to other Web sites related to your subject. Conclusion In this lesson, we have examined the process of conducting research on the Internet. In our next lesson, we will work on revising your proposal.