Let's learn how to use Yahoo, the Internet's most popular Web directory. Although Yahoo has one of the most cluttered front-pages I've ever seen in my life, it is still a very useful tool. Once you find the relatively small portion of the page that Yahoo has devoted to the directory that made it famous, you'll have very little trouble locating the information you seek.
With the Yahoo directory, all you need to do is determine which of the listed categories is most applicable to your needs.
Exercise One: Suppose you will be attending the graduation celebration of a very good friend. You'd like to make a card to bring, but can't think of anything interesting to write. How about using Yahoo to find an encouraging quotation:
A. Start the Internet Explorer Web Browser.
B. Go to http://dir.yahoo.com
C. Don't panic! The first page you see will seem to offer an overwhelming array of choices. However, Yahoo gets a lot easier to use once you make it past this page.
D. We're looking for a list of quotations. That's a reference work, right? Look for a Reference link on the left menu bar. Click on the word Reference.
E. A new page will appear. This page will list several categories of reference works. We're looking for quotations, so it makes sense to scroll down this page and click on the link which reads Quotations.
F. Another page will appear. We're looking for a quote that would be appropriate for a graduation celebration. Find a graduation link and click.
You now see a list of several websites that have quotes and advice for recent graduates. Highlight one link, right-click and Copy the link plus the description attached to it, then PASTE it in your Microsoft Word Document.
Add a heading above the link and description that says: Exercise One:
Your Word document should look something like this:
Exercise One:
Quote Garden: Graduation Quotes
Quotations for graduations and advice for graduates. Includes inspirational ideas for invitations, speeches, announcements, cards, yearbooks, scrapbooks, crafts, parties - for parents, students, and teachers.
Ok, good, now let's move on to Exercise Two!
Exercise Two: Suppose you'd like to look at some fascinating pictures of our universe.
A. Go to the Yahoo Web Directory
B. Click on Science
C. Scroll down until you see Astronomy and click it.
D. Scroll down until you see Pictures and click it.
E. Scroll down to the Site Listings section in the middle of the page. You will be presented with plenty of opportunities to look at pictures of the universe.
You now see a list of several websites that have space-related pictures. Copy ONE link, plus the description, and PASTE it in your Microsoft Word Document under the heading Exercise Two.
Exercise Three: Suppose you'd like to find a guide to amusement
park roller coasters.
A. Go to the Yahoo Web Directory
B. Click on Entertainment
C. Click on Amusement and Theme Parks
!!!!Don't Forget to Save Your Word Document!!!!
OTHER WEB DIRECTORIES
Although Yahoo is considered the Internet's premier Web directory, there are many other Web directories scattered around the net. All have one thing in common: the sites they list are selected by people, not machines. Here are four directories that I consider notable:
| Name | URL |
|---|---|
| About | http://www.about.com |
| Google Directory | http://www.google.com/dirhp |
| Open Directory | http://dmoz.org |