Searching with a Web Directory
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There are two main types of directories: those that are hierarchical (i.e. that lead one from a general topic to a more specific one) and those that list sources in some sort of order (most commonly alphabetical). The first type of index often contains a broad range of topics while the second usually contains sources designed to address a particular topic or concern.
Most search engines have some sort of index attached to them. More prominent and well-developed ones include The Open Directory Project , Yahoo!, and Google . Indexes are valuable for Web researchers who have an area on which they want to focus, but do not yet have a specific topic. An index can help a writer get general information or a "feel" for the topic.
- Go to Yahoo! (contains a Web directory)
- Find a topic that interests you ("education")
- Follow it through specifics ("rural education", "Rural Education Institute")
- "Rural Education Institute" is a specific topic that can be feasibly researched, either by following the listed links or by using that phrase in a keyword search.