How to Study

An Approach to Online Research
I am indebted to Robin Rowland, author of The Creative Guide to
Research (Career Press, 2001) for the following suggestions on how
to maximize your time online:
■
Long before a paper is due, choose four search engines—one 
a metasearch engine (which searches other search engines),
the other three regular. Robin’s recommendations: Copernic
(meta), Google, Hotbot, AltaVista, Northern Light, Dogpile
(meta).
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When beginning your research, use the meta engine first.
■
Learn each engine’s advanced features—you’ll find things
faster and easier. 
■
Print out the FAQ pages for each search engine and create
your own manual. 
■
Choose three search engines with different strengths to 
maximize your search abilities. 
■
Consider using a specialized search engine, such as Beaucoup,
if you are unable to find what you want or have found too
much information. 
■
Learn Boolean searches. 
There’s no room in this book to list even a smattering of pertinent
Internet sites. Wherever you go online, just remember:
■
Some of the sites are informative and well-organized; some
are quirky and skimpy. 
■
Some are well-researched and trustworthy; some are the
rantings of a mad person. Just because something is on your
computer screen doesn’t mean it’s true. 
■
Some provide unbiased information with no ulterior motive;
some slant their information to sell you on their cause. 
Some are offering information just to entice you to buy 
something. 
■
Some are easy to use; some require you to search through 
listings to find what you need. 
■
Some supply information; some link you to other sites; some
are simply listings of sites. 
■
Some may be gone when you look for them again. 
■
Some are free; some cost a bit…some cost a lot. Be sure to
check out the cost before using a site where you have to pay. 
Chapter 6 
■
How to Conduct Your Research
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Despite the immensity and importance of the Internet’s resources,
brick-and-mortar libraries are certainly not dinosaurs. Just because
you can visit nearly any library in the world without leaving your 
computer screen is no reason to avoid becoming intimately familiar
with your local or school library. You will find that doing some things
online is not always as interesting, efficient, or fun as doing them 
“in person.”
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R
eading this chapter will not make you such a good writer that
you can quit school and start visiting bookstores to preen in
front of the window displays featuring your latest bestseller.
But there is absolutely no reason to fear a written paper or oral 
report, once you know the simple steps to take and rules to follow 
to complete it satisfactorily. Once you realize that 90 percent of
preparing a paper has nothing to do with writing…or even being
able to write. And once you’re confident that preparing papers by 
following my suggestions will probably get you a grade or two higher
than you’ve gotten before…even if you think you are the world’s
poorest excuse for a writer.
Doing a research paper requires a lot of work. But the payoff is great,
too. You will learn, for example:
■
How to track down information about any subject. 
■
How to sort through that information and come to a 
conclusion about your subject. 
■
How to prepare an organized, indepth report. 
■
How to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. 
Chapter 7
How to Write 
Terrific Papers
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Your teacher really didn’t ask you to write a research paper just to
make your life miserable. Of all the things you’ll learn in school, the
skills you acquire as you produce your research paper will be among
the most valuable.