Transcript chapter10sg
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.*