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Chana High School
3775 Richardson Dr.
Auburn, CA 95602
(530) 885-8401
Fax: (530) 885-1657

Placer Union High School District

1. How do I find things on the internet?

2. How do I know whether what I have found is useful?

3. How do I give credit to the author of a web page when I use his/her information?

 Before you begin to try to find something on the internet, you should probably have tried some of the more traditional sources of information, like a good encyclopedia if you have one.  Searching on the internet is like visiting a library that is as big as the whole world and can take a great deal of time, so reach for what might possibly be a lot quicker first.  Also, you are pretty much guaranteed that the information you find in your encyclopedia or almanac will be accurate.  Anyone can post a web page and say anything they wish.

How do I find things on the internet?
Now that you have decided to try to find something on the internet, you will need to use a search engine.  These are computers attached to the internet that list web pages.  Most search web pages for key words that you give them.  Each will differ in how they look for those words, so check for their "help", or "search tip" buttons.  Usually, if you enter "Three Dog Night", you will get a list of pages that have the word "three", the word "dog," or the word "night" anywhere on the page, unless you use that search engine's particular instructions on how to limit the search. There are many different search engines, so you will need some guides in deciding which one to use.

1. If you want to get a feel for all that might be available on the web, use a "meta" engine.  These search several different search engines for you.

2. If you have a topic that you want to narrow down use a web directory.  They categorize web pages by topic.

3. If you have a narrow subject with specific terms, or need scientific information try AltaVista.

4. If you need pictures or sound clips, then try Lycos, or HotBot which can be searched by file type.

5. If you need to know how current you web page is, try HotBot, which allows you to search by date.

6. There are also specific directories for finding personal information about people or to look things up on maps.

7. There is also a search engine that lets you use ordinary English to search, but may not give you everything you expect.

I have included a list of search engines below for your perusal.  This will not include all of the search engines available and you will have to decide for yourself, as you experiment with them, which you prefer.  You will soon find your favorites. 

How do I know whether what I have found is useful?
Once you have found the information you are looking for, you will have to evaluate for yourself whether the information is accurate.  Consider the source.  Do I know who wrote this?  Are there personal opinions posted here?  What agency is this web site posted by?  Does the person who posted this have something to gain from the use of this information?  Is the person or agency quoting from another source?  Do they tell me where I can check on this other source?  Remember, just because it is posted on the internet, does not make it true.  Don't let anyone fool you.  Be a discriminating internet searcher.

How do I give credit to the author of a web page when I use his/her information?
If you choose to use information you find, you must give credit to (or cite) your source.  When you find information in a book or a periodical, you tell the author, title, place of publication, name of the publisher, and page of the source.  You must give this information when you use the internet too. In the Poway Unified School District we use the format included on pages 36 and 37 of the district's "Writing with Style" publication.  You might check with your teacher about which style of citation s/he prefers.

This is just a quick summary of how to use the internet.  You might want to go further and check out the links listed below.