The use of the Internet can be a valuable research tool for writers and there are many different ways to use it.
Surfing the Web is just one and is often a random, time consuming job. Surfing the Web is simply browsing without direction, like looking through stacks of books at a library without any specific one in mind to check out. Now, searching randomly, you might stumble upon an interesting book that can help you, eventually, on the other hand, why not simplify and use your energy in the right place with some direction.
If you want to narrow down your search, you might consider using one of these search tools to help you.
Directories: What is it and how do you use it? A Directory on the Internet is best used for searching through subjects and finding quality Web sites that might help you in your search.
Directories list categories for Web sites, using your research time more effectively. The people who create Directories are the ones who decide in which category a Web site should be listed. Directories include fewer Web sites than basic Search Engines because they have sorted out the sites that, in their minds, don’t apply to your KEYWORD search.
On your computer, under SEARCH, simply KEY in Open Directory to get started with your introduction to Directories.
Another tool, Search Engines, are large sites such as Yahoo, Google, AltaVista, HotBot, and AllTheWorld. that have massive listings of Web sites and each Search Engine lists sights in different ways. If you do a Yahoo search and get 1,000 Web site listings on a search word, you might want to try Google or AltaVista and put in the same search and you will most likely get 3 or 4 thousand more sites that go with your search word. Don’t just use one Search Engine to do your KEYWORD search, use them all and view a larger selection of information that might help you discover what you need for your writing.
Metasearch Engines, these are best used for comparing search results from common Search Engines. Metasearch Engines will take your KEYWORD and broadcast it to a selection of Search engines and give you a mixed search result from all the Search Engines they have available. When working with a Metasearch, make sure you keep your KEYWORDS simple and record them, also make note of the Search Engines that are being used by the different Metasearch Engines. Some of the better Metasearch Engines include: DogPile, Ixquick, Metacrawler, ProFusion, and Savvy Search. Any of these engines will be of help to you in your research.
Portals are another way to do research on the Web. Portals give you access to more contemporary information. They are doorways that lead you into a maze of facts and archival groupings. Most include a basic, on-site, search engine as well as a search directory. Recommended Portals include: Excite, Go.com, Lycos, NBCi.
When you are searching from site-to-site, keep with you a check list that will help you verify a legitimate site that you can use for your research.
Your check list should include these questions. If you can’t find answers to all these questions at the site you are searching, you probably shouldn’t use that site for your research.
Look for and record:
- Author’s name or Institution (from the site)
- Author’s title or position
- Author’s contact information
- What is the URL address? Record it!
- Date of Web page creation
- Title of Article/Document you want to use/Where did the information come from?
- Date you visited the site
- What is the bibliographic citation for the site?
- List specific facts you are planning on using
- What other sources are you using to confirm the accuracy of facts listed? (should have 3 sources)
- What bibliography sources are listed on site for you to draw from for more information or checking information?
All of the above information is very important to your note taking if you are using the Internet for your research. Make sure you record all of the above for citing your sources.
I know what you might be thinking, “I’m not doing a research paper, I am writing a novel or a short story.” But let me remind you, nearly everything you write MUST have a "ring of truth" if you want your audience to trust and enjoy your work. If you have questions, believe me, so will your readers.
I will continue on with research and citations in my next blog postings.
Digging for research is half the fun of writing!
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