Are you looking for specific information on the Internet?  In order to find information you need to conduct a search using a directory or a search engine.  A directory has a list of Web sites that have been chosen by people.  A search engine uses a software program to go out on the WWW or Internet to look for information.

To search for information you may begin by typing in a specific question, typing keywords called a simple search, or using Boolean operators to conduct an advanced search.  Boolean operators are words such as AND, OR and NOT used in combination with keywords.

• To conduct a search, you must type in an address (URL) of a directory or search engine.

• www.askjeeves.com allows you to type in a simple question such as “How do plants reproduce?”

• www.yahoo.com is a directory.

• www.altavista.com, www.metacrawler.com, www.northernlight.com, www.lycos.com, are just a few of the many search engines available for your use.

• After accessing the Webster, locate an empty box followed by a word such as ask, search, find, etc.

• Type the keywords or a question in the empty box.

• Narrow your search by typing quotation marks around a phrase, placing a plus mark in front of words that must be included in the search, placing a minus sign in front of words the must be excluded from the search, or using Boolean operators.

• Click on the word to the right of the search box to begin the search.

• Websites containing the keywords or relating to the question you asked will be listed.

• Click on the address or heading of a site to look at the information.