1. Visit a News Magazine

Select the current issue of a news magazine. Go to the web page associated with the magazine. Compare the content of the magazine with the online material. Could the online magazine replace the paper version for you?

2. Search a Magazine Database

Online services can be used for more than searching the World Wide Web. Traditional print publications can also be searched through an online system. PowerWeb (included with your text) includes $25 worth of free searches from Northern Light. Simply connect to PowerWeb and select "Northern Light Search" from the left-hand menu. In addition, many colleges have online search services available through the library. Choose a topic from the text and search a magazine database for relevant information. How many articles can you find on your issue? How many different publications do they come from?

3. Adobe PDF Files

The Adobe Corporation has created a standard format for sharing files online. Nearly any file that can be produced by a computer can be exported in Adobe Acrobat format. As a result, many web pages offer Adobe PDF format (referring to the PC file extension). Most computers come with the reader software installed, but you may download it easily. Nearly every site that distributes PDF files will also offer the reader software, which is free of charge and easy to install in most computers. Select a PDF file and view it. Notice how much it looks like a finished publication. Print out a single page and compare with other documents. If you have problems finding PDF files, look at the Freedom of Information Act page of the FBI site (http://foia.fbi.gov).