Erskine Park High School

Searching the Internet

Decide which terms or ‘keywords’ are the most important in your topic. (Refer to 'Research Skills' page)

Select a search engine or directory either from library ‘bookmarks’, "net search" on Netscape browser, or one you have found useful in the past.

Examples:

Savvy Search www.savvysearch.com
Dogpile www.dogpile.com
GoEureka www.goeureka.com.au
AltaVista www.altavista.com
Excite www.excite.com
Anzwers www.anzwers.com.au

(Refer to 'Recommended Search Engines' page)

Enter keywords into the search box, individually or as a search string, or joined by Boolean terms such as AND, OR, NEAR, NOT. (N.B. not all search engines accept Boolean terms -- e.g. AltaVista’s simple search will not recognise them but the 'advanced search' will.)

Check the resulting list carefully for relevant data. (Be careful to examine the source for authority.)

Note down the source of successful hits for future reference. Selectively print off any useful information, again noting its source.

N.B. A similar approach can be taken when searching CD Rom encyclopedias or periodical databases (e.g World Magazine Bank) , though the method of use may vary slightly in format.