ELI 72 (2) Search the Net September 13, 2007

1. Define your research topic Make sure your research topic is specific enough to reduce the number of ‘ hits ’ selected by the search engine. Make sure your research topic is specific enough to reduce the number of ‘ hits ’ selected by the search engine.

2. Identify relevant keywords If you conduct a search on computer crimes, examples of keywords you may want to use include computer hackers, Internet security, and computer scams. Entering several keywords may sometimes bring too many ‘ hits ’. If you conduct a search on computer crimes, examples of keywords you may want to use include computer hackers, Internet security, and computer scams. Entering several keywords may sometimes bring too many ‘ hits ’. Use quotation marks ( “” ), AND, +, OR, or NOT in your phrase to narrow down your search. For example, enter “ computer crimes ”, computer AND crimes, or computer + crimes so that the websites found by the search engine include both terms rather than not one or the other. Use quotation marks ( “” ), AND, +, OR, or NOT in your phrase to narrow down your search. For example, enter “ computer crimes ”, computer AND crimes, or computer + crimes so that the websites found by the search engine include both terms rather than not one or the other.

3. Use more than one search engine Popular research engines include and Popular research engines include and I recommend you to use google as your primary search engine, as it is actually one of the best search engine on the net. I recommend you to use google as your primary search engine, as it is actually one of the best search engine on the net.

4. Use various databases to find articles Popular college databases include Galileo, Periodical Abstracts, Newspaper Abstracts, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, MLA Bibliography, ABI Inform, Popular college databases include Galileo, Periodical Abstracts, Newspaper Abstracts, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, MLA Bibliography, ABI Inform, Psyc FIRST, Social Science Abstracts, ERIC, and Medline, among others. First, go to UH Manoa Library Website at First, go to UH Manoa Library Website at

5. Preview and read selectively Do not entirely read the articles you find!! Do not entirely read the articles you find!! Following what you learned in class about previewing, preview the text and see if it contains the information you are looking for. Following what you learned in class about previewing, preview the text and see if it contains the information you are looking for.

6. Consider the source Only use sites that are credible and trustworthy. When consulting a website, ask yourself who has published the information on the website and whether this person is credible. Do not use personal home pages. Only use sites that are credible and trustworthy. When consulting a website, ask yourself who has published the information on the website and whether this person is credible. Do not use personal home pages.

How can we trust? One way to examine the reliability of your website is to look at the three last letter of the URL address. For example,.gov designates a site published by the government,.org stands for organization,.com for commercial, and.edu for education. You know that if a website ends with one of these abbreviations and is not a personal home page, it is most probably trustworthy. One way to examine the reliability of your website is to look at the three last letter of the URL address. For example,.gov designates a site published by the government,.org stands for organization,.com for commercial, and.edu for education. You know that if a website ends with one of these abbreviations and is not a personal home page, it is most probably trustworthy.

sponsored domain types.aero--2001Airtransport.aero--2001Airtransport industry.coop-2001-Cooperatives industry.coop-2001-Cooperatives.gov-1995-United States government.gov-1995-United States government.mil-1995-United States military.mil-1995-United States military.edu-1995-United States educational institutions.edu-1995-United States educational institutions

unsponsored domain types.biz-2001-Businesses.biz-2001-Businesses.name2001For registration by individuals.net1995Unrestricted (but intended for network providers, etc.).name2001For registration by individuals.net1995Unrestricted (but intended for network providers, etc.).org1995Unrestricted (but intended for organizations that do not fit elsewhere).org1995Unrestricted (but intended for organizations that do not fit elsewhere).pro2002Accountants, lawyers, physicians, and other professionals.pro2002Accountants, lawyers, physicians, and other professionals.com1995Unrestricted (but intended for commercial registrants).info2001Unrestricted use.com1995Unrestricted (but intended for commercial registrants).info2001Unrestricted use.int1998Organizations established by international treaties between governments.int1998Organizations established by international treaties between governments

7. Record your information about the website Do not forget to note the websites you have decided to use. You can write down the URL, include the website in your links, or print out the document. Remember to cite your source when you bring your reading to class. Do not forget to note the websites you have decided to use. You can write down the URL, include the website in your links, or print out the document. Remember to cite your source when you bring your reading to class.

Exercise (handout) A. You want to perform a search on computer crimes, more specifically on viruses that are spread by s. Use as a search engine and find three websites that will provide you with the appropriate information on the nature of three of these viruses, how they are spread, and the damage they cause. B. From the information specified on one of the websites you found, explain the nature of one of these viruses, how it is spread, and the damage it causes.

Search the net! You can spend the rest of the class hour to search for your RC articles. You can spend the rest of the class hour to search for your RC articles. Don ’ t forget to keep records! Don ’ t forget to keep records!

Example: to be or not to be vs. “ to be or not to be ” earch?hl=en earch?hl=en