Using Web Resources for Reading

 Introduction

            The World Wide Web has become an important source of information for students, teachers, researchers, and professionals. A large amount of information is available online through websites, articles, online books, journals, reports, and other digital resources. However, simply finding information on the Internet is not enough. A reader needs to know how to search, select, evaluate, and use web resources effectively.

1. Meaning of Web Resources

        Web resources are sources of information available on the Internet. They can provide information about almost any subject. When students use web resources for study, they should read the information carefully and understand its relevance to their topic.

Web resources can help students to:

• find information quickly;
• collect information about a topic;
• explore different viewpoints;
• supplement information from textbooks; and
• conduct academic study and research.

        The important point is that information found on the Web should be read, understood, and used carefully.

2. Searching for Information

        The first step in using web resources is to identify what information is required. A reader should use suitable keywords related to the topic while searching.

        For example, if a student wants information about climate change and its effects, useful search terms could include:

“climate change effects”

“causes of climate change”

        Using clear and specific search terms makes it easier to find relevant information.

3. Selecting Relevant Information

        The Internet provides a very large amount of information. Therefore, students should not use every piece of information they find. They should select information that is directly related to the topic and useful for their purpose.

While selecting information, the reader should consider:

• Is the information relevant to my topic?
• Does it answer my question?
• Is the information clearly presented?
• Does it provide sufficient supporting information?

        Reading the title, headings, opening sections, and important parts of a webpage can help the reader quickly understand its content.

4. Evaluating Web Resources

Information available on the Internet may differ in quality. Therefore, a student should evaluate a web resource before accepting or using its information.

The reader should consider:

• Who has provided the information?
• What is the purpose of the website?
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Is the information relevant to the topic?
• Can the information be compared with other reliable sources?

This is especially important for academic work because not every piece of information available online is equally useful or reliable.

5. Reading and Understanding Online Information

        Using web resources also requires good reading-comprehension skills. Students should identify the main idea, supporting details, purpose, and organization of the online text.

        Skimming can be useful for getting the gist of a webpage quickly. The reader can look at the title, headings, important words, and other prominent information before deciding which sections need detailed reading. The reading-comprehension material explains that understanding the gist means grasping the core meaning or main theme of a text.

        After getting the general idea, students can read important sections carefully and make notes.

6. Using and Organizing Information

        After finding and understanding information, students should organize it according to their purpose. They can:

• make short notes;
• identify important points;
• compare information from different resources;
• summarize the information in their own words; and
• arrange the information logically.

        The reading material emphasizes that note-making can help readers understand and interpret texts, while recalling and writing information in one's own words helps retain it.

Conclusion

            Web resources provide  a large and easily accessible source of information. Effective use of these resources requires more than simply searching the Internet. A reader should search carefully, select relevant information, evaluate its usefulness, read it with understanding, make notes, and use the information appropriately. Thus, proper use of web resources can make reading and learning more effective, purposeful, and efficient.

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Reference:
Raman, Meenakshi, and Sangeeta Sharma. Technical Communication: Principles and Practice. 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 2015.