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Communication
108
Using the Internet Effectively
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For Help
Contact liaison librarian Erika Behling
Go to AskUs! for a live chat with a librarian, to send us your question via email, or to call us at the Reference Desk. |
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| Learning Outcomes |
By the end of this session you will be able to:
- Discern differences between search engines and subject directories
- Use the advanced search option when using search engines
- Evalute web pages
- Locate resources helpful for completing your assignment on jobs in the media
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| Search Engines |
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A
search engine is an Internet tool that locates web pages
and sorts them according to specified keywords.
For
a comparison of some of the web's most popular search engines,
take a look at Search Engine Showdown's Search
Engine Features chart.
It's
important not to lock yourself into using just one search
engine. Different engines produce different results. Try
a few of the engines listed below:
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| Subject
Directories |
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A subject
directory is an Internet tool that allows users to browse
through a hierarchical listing of web pages already sorted
into categories.
For
information on popular subject directories, take a look
at Search Engine Showdown's Internet
Subject Directories chart.
The
SUNY-Albany libraries have a nice listing of useful subject
directories here.
Sometimes
authors/publishers of directories call their directories
"databases." You can often find specialized databases/directories
on the web by adding the word "database" to the
search terms you're using in a search engine like Google
or Yahoo!. For example, try entering the terms Women's Rights
Database or Water Database or Amphibians Database in Google
to see what you get.
A few subject directories you might find useful in your research for this class include:
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| A Few Search Tips |
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- Put
all phrases in quotes
- Use
the Advanced Search feature
- Limit
to specific domains
- Limit
to a specific filetype (in some engines)
- Browse
directories when necessary
- Use
more than one search engine (not all engines index the
same things!)
- Look
for subject databases by adding the word "database"
to your search
- Consult
the help pages!
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| Evaluating Resources |
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Virtually
any person can publish almost anything on the web. And,
unlike most print resources, web sources don't have to be
professionally accepted and edited to get published. It's
for this reason that it's important to evaluate ALL information
you find on the web. The easiest way to evaluate web resources
it to ask yourself questions based on these evaluation criteria:
- Authorship:
Is there an author? Are links provided with more information
about him/her? (profession/education/title) Who sponsors
the pages? Is there a link with more information about
the sponsor? Is the author or sponsoring organization
an expert? How reputable? If there isn't an author or
sponsor, can you find other information to determine who
is responsible for the page? If you can't, it's best not
to use the material.
- Audience:
What audience is the author writing for? Is it written
for teenagers, college students, young mothers, etc.?
Does the webpage contain jargon meant for a particular
group of people such as librarians, doctors, or computer
programmers?
- Scholarship:
Is the document supported with cited references?
Does the page give any evidence that the author is an
expert on the subject?
Does the author display knowledge of the field the article
is addressing?
Are there spelling or grammatical errors?
- Bias/Objectivity:
Is the page sponsored by a corporation that wants to sell
you something? Who is the author and is he/she trying
to sway your opinion?
Is the page owner an organization that is presenting its
point of view on an issue?
- Currency:
Is the site dated? When was the page last updated?
Is the content of the work current? Are there links to
older or newer information? Do the links work or are they
broken?
- Overall
Quality: Can you quickly find the author and the date
of the last update? How long has the site existed and
who is responsible for its maintenance? Is the website
convenient to use? Is it clearly organized? Does it download
quickly or is it bogged down by large graphics? Are there
spelling or grammatical errors? Are photographs clear?
Are links to outside pages broken?
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| Helpful Resources for Completing Your Assignment |
Print Resources: Both of the items listed below contain information on a number of jobs relating to the media industry. Entries will usually include details on working conditions, employment outlook, training and other certifications needed, earnings, and sources of additional information.
- Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance (REF HF5381 E52 2003)
- America's Top Jobs for College Graduates: Detailed Information on 112 Major Jobs Requiring 4-Year and Higher Degrees (REF HD6278 U5 F37 1999)
Electronic Resources: The resources list provided below does not include any links to specific job listings. Instead, look for job listings by using search methods employed in class, by heading to nationally known job search engines like Monster or HotJobs, or by looking at trade association websites listed at the end of chapters in your class text.
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| Citing Sources |
The Communication Department at UW-Parkside recommends that students use the format developed by the American Psychological Association (APA) to format papers and references.These publications and Web sites can be used to determine the proper format: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.) (Reference Desk BF76.7 .P83 2001) presents the APA style. Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by the American Psychological Association This APA Web page updates the Publication Manual above. It includes information only about electronic formats, such as full-text articles retrieved from a periodical database. APA Documentation This online quick guide to the 5th edition of the Publication Manual was prepared by UW-Madison's Writing Center. UWP Quick APA Reference Guide This guide from our Library provides a quick overview on APA reference lists and in-text parenthetical citations. Back to Top
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UW-Parkside
Library • P.O. Box 2000 • Kenosha, WI 53141 • (262)595-2360
Created 10/2004 by Erika Behling, liaison to
the Communication Department
Last Update:02/28/07
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