Internet Research
Contents:
Searching the Web
TUGWEB is an organized starting point for searching the Internet and accessing web-based library services.
A Tutorial on Searching the Web (developed by UC-Berkeley) may be useful.
- What will I find on the Web?
It's hard to say since anyone can publish a web-page of information!
- Which search engine should I use?
We recommend you try more than one search engine since each one creates its database of webpages in different ways and, therefore, each search engine searches some unique websites as well as many in common. AltaVista and HotBot are generally comprehensive. Their interfaces differ so you'll need to try them out along with the online Help and decide which one you like the most. Alternatively, try a meta search engine - one which searches more than one search engine at a time.
- Can I trust the information on a Webpage?
It is always wise to evaluate anything you use regardless of the source. Books and scholarly journals found in university libraries have had a great deal of scrutiny before being published and another evaluation by the Librarian who decided to add them to the Library's collection. Not always true on the Internet!
Library resources for specific courses
How to cite the books and other resources you used
Your professor may have given you specific instructions on how to write up the bibliography of your paper or footnotes, etc. If not, there are some standard guides to consult. Some may be available at your public library or can be bought from a bookstore. Some websites that describe how to cite books, journal articles, parts of books, websites, etc., are listed below.
- Style Manuals (listing on the Electronic Reference Shelf, University of Waterloo Library)
- MLA style (document created by Purdue University)
Library Assistant, Information Services and Resources, Porter
Last Updated:February 8, 2007
