|
The Internet has opened new avenues for students conducting
research. But like the library, the Internet must be used
with caution. When you approach the college library, it is
important to remember that all the books were written by fallible
human beings. It is even more important to realize that almost
anyone with a computer can post a web site. As with any search,
it is essential to consider the source, quality, and value
of material you retrieve from the Internet.
SEARCHING THE INTERNET
Many students are frustrated when they use the Internet to
obtain information. Seeking information about Alice Walker's
The Color Purple for an upcoming discussion, they enter
ALICE WALKER and are dismayed by a list of 23,769 responses,
including ones for Walker Engineering, Walker College, Alice
in Wonderland, and dozens of syllabi by English instructors
scattered across the country. If you follow on-line directions
or ask a reference librarian for assistance, you can quickly
master skills to navigate the web.
GENERAL SEARCH ENGINES
General search engines like Netscape, Alta Vista, Yahoo!,
Lycos, and Infoseek allow you to search a part or the total
web. But even the best engine will probably only locate about
20% of the available web sites. You may wish to use more than
one engine to conduct a search.
Search engines usually provide tools to refine your search.
* Check the spelling of your search terms, especially
names.
* Make the search words as specific as possible.
* Follow the directions to narrow your search:
Orwell AND nature or Orwell + nature
will list sites that include one or both words.
Orwell NOT Animal Farm or Orwell - Animal Farm
will list sites about Orwell that do not mention Animal
Farm.
"Leopold and Loeb"
will list sites that only include both names, eliminating
of documents about King Leopold or Loeb Realty.
DATABASES ON THE WEB
General search engines provide access to the entire spectrum
of information on the worldwide web. Databases provide access
to selected materials. InfoTrac, for example, includes newspaper
and magazine articles from thousands of publications. It does
not list professor's syllabi, corporate web sites, or personal
web pages. Its directions are simple, and you can easily locate
scores of articles on your subject. In most cases you can
print hard copies of the articles.
USEFUL SITES
The Internet changes daily. Like the Yellow Pages, any
list of sites will be incomplete and subject to change. The
following are sites in specific disciplines:
ACCOUNTING
AuditNet
An extensive list of Internet sources for accountants
and auditors
ANTHROPOLOGY
Voice
of the Shuttle: Anthropology Page
A list of anthropological research sites
ARCHAEOLOGY
ArchNet
A list of links to academic departments and museum sites.
Voice
of the Shuttle: Archaeology Page
Lists research sites
ART
The Art History Research Center
International index to art web sites, including universities,
libraries, and other sources.
National Gallery
of Art, Washington, D.C.
This site provides information about the gallery, exhibitions,
and artists featured in the collection.
National
Museum of American Art
This site offers a virtual tour of the collection.
WWW Virtual
Library: Museums
An extensive list of Internet sites to galleries, museums,
and collections.
ASTRONOMY
The
Astronomy Cafe
A good site for undergraduates, offering background information
and an introduction to astronomy.
The
WWW Virtual Library: Astronomy and Astrophysics & AstroWeb
Provides links to major sites in astronomy.
BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
Biology
on the WWW
List of links to major sites in the biological sciences.
Chemistry
Information on the Internet
Collection of numerous links in chemistry and chemistry education.
COMMUNICATIONS AND JOURNALISM
Media-Link
List of links to newspapers, magazines, and broadcasting
sites.
The
WWW Virtual Library: Journalism
Extensive list of links for broadcasting, communications,
media organizations, and news outlets.
COMPOSITION AND WRITING
The
Everyday Writer: Writing Sites
Useful sites for writers and composition teachers.
Online
Resources for Writers
Links to online sites in writing, grammar, and reference
sources.
EDUCATION
The
WWW Virtual Library: Education
A list of educational sources.
ENGLISH AND LINGUISTICS
The
English Server at Carnegie-Mellon University
Links to thousands of texts in various fields.
Linguistics
Resources on the Internet
Extensive list of links to resources on grammar, linguistics,
and syntax.
THE ENVIRONMENT
EnviroLink
A comprehensive list of sources on the Internet.
The
WWW Virtual Library: Environment
Extensive list of sources in environmental studies.
HISTORY
Gateway
to World History
List of historical sources and documents.
THE HUMANITIES
Electronic
Text Center, University of Virginia
A collection of electronic texts in English and some foreign
languages.
Voice
of the Shuttle
An index to sites in art, literature, religion, culture,
and theology.
LAW
ABA
Administrative Procedures Database
A site supported by the American Bar Association<./p>
Internet Legal
Resource Guide
An extensive list of internet sources on law and the legal
profession.
Legal
Information Institute at Cornell Law School
Offers sources on legal decisions and court rulings.
LITERATURE AND DRAMA
A
Literary Index: Internet Resources in Literature
Comprehensive list of sites about literature and literary
studies.
Voice
of the Shuttle: English Literature Main Page
Extensive list of links to sites in literature and the
humanities.
Playbill
Online Presents Theatre Central
Extensive list of drama links.
NURSING
Nursing Internet Sources
List of nursing resources.
PHILOSOPHY
The
WWW Virtual Library: Philosophy
Links to internet resources in philosophy and related
fields.
PSYCHOLOGY AND MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH NET
List of resources on mental disorders, psychology, and
psychiatry.
The
WWW Virtual Library: Psychology
List of links to sources in psychology.
SOCIOLOGY
The
SocioWeb
Links to resources in social sciences.
The
WWW Virtual Library: Sociology
Lists of sources in the social sciences.
|
