Internet search engines provide access to huge amounts of information. So much information that, in order to find what you are looking for, you need to know how to use some searching techniques.
You will be reading about a few searching tips that will help you maximize the Internet as a resource tool. You will learn how to locate relevant information and how to evaluate the sources you find.
More Helpful tips:
Parenthesis
Parenthesis force a search engine to do a search in a certain order.
(conscription OR draft) NOT football
results of "conscription OR
draft" first, then delete
Proximity Operators
Proximity operators such as NEAR or ADJ are used to control how closely the terms occur in the web document that is retrieved. For example, NEAR means the terms must occur within a specified number of words of each other. Proximity operators ensure that the terms are more closely related to another
demonstrations NEAR/2 draft demonstration
draft ADJ dodger draft is next to the
to the term dodger. This is similar to phrase
Field Searching
Field searching can specify where to look in the web document; for example, in the title only, or the url fields. Field searching allows you to be very specific about where you want your terms to appear and is a good way to narrow your results.
intiltle: "anti-draft demonstrations" will result in
site:edu "anti-draft demonstrations" will result in hits
BUT not all search engines allow you to use all of these features. "Best Search Tools Chart" is a good source to check what search options each search engine can provide.
Another helpful searching tip!!!
Use the advanced screen of Google. It will do the boolean and field searching for you. You can access the advanced screen by clicking on the Advanced Search link from the opening screen of Google. For example, if you only want to search educational sites, in the domain box, type .edu. Your results will only come from academic institutions.
Now show what you have learned!
On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions.
1. What are the three logical operators in
Boolean searching?
2. Which term do you use with synonyms?
3. Which term will give you the fewest results?
4. What does a parenthesis do in a search?
5. List the two Proximity Operators and explain
what they do.
6. What does field searching allow you to do?
7. What would I type to get information on
the military draft from only college &
university sites.
8. Using boolean operators, how would you
search for information on punishment for avoiding
the draft.
9. Using the booean operators, how would you
search for information on the impact of anti-draft
demonstrations on the Vietnam War.
Use both the OR (to link synonyms, other words that
express the same meaning)
and the AND.to combine terms in constructing
your search. Be sure to include both boolean
operators in your search statement.
10. Using the "Best Search Tools Chart," list one
Internet Keyword Search Engine; list one Meta Search Engine; list one Subject Directory..
Evaluating sources
As well as knowing the mechanics of searching, you also need to know how to evaluate sources. Anyone can publish documents on the Internet. You need to research with a discriminating eye so you can quickly discard the junk, and focus on quality material. There are five main criteria to look for:
Content
Authority/Credibility
Accuracy
Objectivity
Currency
Content
- Does it cover the topic comprehensively?
- Is the information easy to read and to understand?
- Is the information useful?
- Does the site provide links to other useful sources?
Authority/Credibility
- Who is responsible for the content?
- What are the credentials or background of the author?
- Has the author cited his/her sources?
- What is the domain code? The domain .edu indicates it is from a college or university and therefore is more likely to be contain quality information
- Has the author written other articles on the subject? (You need to search the name in other search engines to locate additional articles.)
Accuracy
- There is no easy way...you need to compare with other sources, both print and electronic.
- If a bibliography is listed, check the other sources listed.
Objectivity
- Why was this site created? (to persuade, inform, explain, sell, promote)
- Is only one side of the argument presented?
- Are there words in the text that are emotional or inflamatory?
- Does the article appeal to emotion rather than logic?
- What other sites are linked to this page? To find out, do a link check in Google or AltaVista by typing the word link: and the url of the site you are checking.
e.g. to see what sites are linked to the
district page, you would type in
link:www.manhattan.k12.ca.us
Currency
- When was the site last updated?
- Does the information you need require you to be looking at a current site?
As you read through your search results, your brain should automatically run through these criteria to determine if this is a quality site.
Now show what you have learned!
Assignment #1
Find one Internet article on your topic and evaluate the quality of the article based on the following criteria:
Write the URLof the site you selected. Write a short paragraph evaluating the quality of your site based on the above criteria. Was it a good site for you? Be sure to give examples to support your evaluation.
Assignment #2
On a separate piece of paper, evaluate the three sites listed below. Be sure to include at least one comments on all five of the evaluation criteria. Be specific and use examples to support your comments.
