Internet Resourcing Project 3
Putting it all Together: A Blueprint for a Research Project

This is a technical assignment. Points will be taken off for grammatical errors, spelling errors, formatting errors. If the email message is sent after noon on the day the assignment is due, 50% of the grade will be deducted. This report should be typed, with the usual font (12 point Times New Roman), 1 inch margins, double-spaced and include other conventions of good writing style.

Divide your Project 3 paper into the Part numbers detailed here and provide the information requested.

Part 1 Topic Approval

Decide on and receive approval from your Instructor on a topic of your choice.  Email Instructor, in the body of the email, include what your subject will be, why you chose this subject. It is assumed that you will begin this process with a broad, general topic area. We will narrow this topic during the process. The instructor will respond letting you know if the topic is accepted or rejected. Check with your instructor for the deadline on this portion of the project.

This paper will NOT be about your topic. It will be about how you conducted the research for your topic. In writing your paper for this project, include the initial topic you selected and any other initial ideas or possibilities you considered. This part of your project just be from one to three paragraphs in length.

Part 2 Search Directories

Conduct a Search on your topic:
Use three different search directories to search for keywords related to your general topic area. A directory is used here because the topic is broad and we want to find a collection of URLs on the subject to help us focus on a particular aspect of the topic. The goal is to identify 20-30 web sites that contain substantive information you could use in writing a paper about this general topic area. Read this general information and reformulate your search topic to narrow it down.

In this section of your paper:

a. Restate your narrowed topic in one paragraph and explain why you narrowed and refined your research topic the way you did.

b. List the 20 - 30 web pages you believe most helpful in this stage of your research.

c. In subsequent paragraphs, describe each search you conducted with these details:

• Name of Search Engine/directory used
• Keywords used or Subject/directory path followed
• Approximate number of 'hits'
• How many pages you surfed in order to find your topic
• If this approach was effective or ineffective in finding the information you wanted (if not, why?)
• Include the links of the webpages that you finally surfed to with your intended topic results (be sure this URL is NOT a list of search engine results)
  
  

Part 3 Find and search a specialized database

Find a Specialized Database with information on your subject.
In this section of your paper describe each search you conducted with these details:

a. Write a paragraph detailing what Search Engine or web sites you used to find a Specialized Database related to your topic. Be sure to include:

• Keywords used or Subject/directory path followed
• Approximate number of ‘hits’

b. After you have found a specialized Specialized Database, in this paragraph list the main search page for the database (the URL) and describe the following:

• How would you search a two word subject in this database?
• Can Boolean logic be used in this database?
• Give the URL of the help page of this database
• What keywords or Subject/directory path did you use within this Specialized Database to find your information?
• Include the link of the page that you finally surfed to with your intended topic results. (be sure this URL is NOT a list of results)
  

Part 4 Query Search Engines

Formulate and submit a search query to search engines
Based on material you have read on your topic as a result of your search of Internet directories and specialized databases, formulate more narrow search queries consistent with your narrowed topic description. These search queries should use some of the more advanced forms of query, such as phrase searching, boolean logic, truncation, wildcards, and/or field searching. Conduct these keyword searches using two to three search engines. Your goal is to find 5 - 15 excellent web sites related to your topic.

In this part of your project, describe each search you conducted using a search engine with these details:

• Name of Search Engine used
• What search queries you formulated
• Approximate number of 'hits' on each
• How many pages you surfed in order to find material relevant to your topic
• List the 5 to 15 excellent web sites you would use

Part 5 Library Resources

Locate and search two to three library catalogs and at least one library database
Search library catalogs for "area" libraries (Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville) for materials relevant to your research topic. Also login and search at least one of the subscription databases maintained by the school's library. You should locate the BEST two books and the BEST five to ten magazine or journal articles.

a. Write a paragraph detailing what Search Engine or web sites you used to find library catalogs. Be sure to include:

• Keywords used or Subject/directory path followed
• Approximate number of ‘hits’

b. Write a paragraph detailing what public library catalogs you searched. Be sure to include:

• What keywords or phrases you used in searching the library catalogs?
• What library catalogs you used and their web address (URL).
• Approximate number of "hits"
• Were the online catalogs easy to use? difficult? Were there adequate directions?

b. Write a paragraph detailing what library database(s) you searched

• Keywords used
• Approximate number of "hits"
• How you perhaps refined or changed your search query
• List at least five of the BEST magazine or journal articles your found

Part 6 Usenet Archives

Locate and search the usenet archives
Search the usenet archives for posts related to your topic. Identify at least two usenet groups that had relevant information on your topic.

Write a paragraph detailing what archive resources your used. Be sure to include:

• Keywords used
• What groups you found
• What types of posts are typical of the material posted in each particular usenet group

Part 7 Evaluate the Resources

Briefly evaluate the quality and credibility of material you found
Write a paragraph detailing your evaluation of the quality and credibility of the materials you uncovered in every phase of your search. Using the criteria set forth in your textbook, what led you to beleive that the materials you selected were more or less credible than others.

Part 8 The Bibliography