Internet Research

Internet research reports facilitate and enhance the learning of the class material. In general, you will be asked to find one or two topics from the historical periods in question and to research the World Wide Web for educational information about these topics. Sources for these topics could include your textbook, class discussion, instructor's lectures, films viewed in class, or outside readings. You may choose terms that refer to history, politics, social justice, diversity, globalization, philosophy, religion, spirituality, art movement, art organizations, art schools, or architecture. Unless otherwise advised, you are not allowed to choose individual artists; they are discussed in presentations by you, your classmates, and the instructor.

You are encouraged to employ a variety of search engines to find your sources, such as Google or Yahoo. You need to make sure that your search results in enough hits to make an educated judgment about the usefulness of Internet research for your chosen topic. If your search results in an unmanageable amount of hits, you need to use more specific search terms to reduce the number to a manageable size. You want to focus on two reliable Web sites for you actual presentation, but you are expected to be able to report on the search as a whole.

This assignment requires an in-class presentation that will include the explanation of your topic as informed by the Web sites you selected as well as an evaluation of the Web sites on the topic. You are also required to hand in a typewritten evaluation of your Internet research. The written evaluation needs to list the following:

• All search terms used
• All search engines employed
• Number of hits for the best and for the worst terms as well as number of hours spent on the Internet research
• Name(s) of the author(s) and/or of the organization(s) sponsoring the Web site
• Author(s) opinion on your research issue
• Evaluation of your chosen Web sites (i.e. are they commercial sites mainly interested in selling something [.com], or are they educational sites that are truly interested in disseminating information [ .edu or .org]. In case of university Web sites, make sure that you understand whether the information has been posted by faculty and staff or by students.
• Identify the most valuable source for ongoing research on your topic. Which one of your sources would be most useful if you were to write a paper on the topic and why?
• Identify the gains or losses that your research provides for the course you are taking, and venture to explain what the number of hits on the internet could reflect. In case you can identify issues of social injustice, suggest steps for change or healing.

The purpose of this assignment is to help you sharpen your research skills, especially your Internet research skills, as well as to help you strengthen your oral presentation skills.

Classes that might require Internet research:
300-level art history courses