Overview:

• Strictly Web searching
• Distinction between Databases and Web Pages
• Search Engines/Directories/Gateways
• How to Search
• Evaluating Sources

Search Engines and Directories

• Search Engine History
• Directories vs. Search Engines
• Search Engine/Directory Comparison
• MetaSearch Engines

What's NOT Found Using Search Engines:

• Adobe PDF and formatted files
• Password protected sites
• Data from forms
• Intranets
• Non-web resources
• Sites that prohibit searching by search engines
• Frames, image maps, etc.

Our Starting Point:

• Internet Search Tools

Search Engine Selection

• This section will outline some of the criteria for selecting a particular search engine.

How To Search - Using Search Engines

• Boolean Logic
• Advanced Features of Search Engines
• Terminology for Searching
• The CTRL-F trick

Academically Oriented Indexes

• How to Find Sites Specific to Your Specialty

Source Evaluation

• Who Controls the Site?
  1. Domain Names
  2. The Whois Gateway
• How to Evaluate a Site

Great Sites for more information

• Sites Devoted to Search Engine Evaluation