Day Two: Search Engines

Online Databases

Web Evaluation

Welcome Back to the Library!

Search Engines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQCBT0lfH-o

Exact Phrase SearchingYou want to search King’s I Have A Dream speech. How would you search for the exact title of his speech?

Web Search Exercise #1

Exclude Words or PhrasesYou are interested in researching Chinese Dynasties, but you don’t want to include the Ming and Qing Dynasties. How would you do this?

Web Search Exercise #2

Domain Search:Web Search Exercise #3

You have a scholarly interest in Hot Wheels. (Yes, Hot Wheels.)

Do a Google search on this topic. What types of sites do you find?

Now you want to limit your search to academic institutions, such as colleges and universities.

You do this by adding site:edu to your search.

Beyond Google:Web Search Exercise #4

Bing? Sweet Search? How do they Compare to Google?

Do a Google search on Buddhism. What types of sites do you find?

Now try the search on Bing, then on Sweet Search.

What do you notice? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each search engine.

“Deep Web” vs. “Surface Web”

What is the “Deep Web”?

Search Exercise #5

Using Library Databases:

On the BHS Library web page, click on the Online Databases link.

Scroll down to Social Studies and click on the World Religions database link.

Enter Buddhism in the search box and click search.

Look over the results. What do you notice? How does the database compare to the search engines?

Website Evaluationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFBDn5PiL00

How do you choose which sources to use in your research?

Currency • How recent is the information?• How recently has the website been updated?• Is it current enough for your topic?

Reliability • What kind of information is included in the resource?• Is content of the resource primarily opinion? • Is it balanced?• Does the creator provide references or sources for

data or quotations?   

Authority • Who is the creator or author?• What are the credentials?• Who is the published or sponsor?• Are they reputable?• What is the publisher's interest (if any) in this information?• Are there advertisements on the website?

Purpose/Point of View• Is this fact or opinion?• Is it biased?• Is the creator/author trying to sell you something?

http://guides.library.pdx.edu/content.php?pid=371603&sid=3044247

CRAP Test in Action!

Now You Evaluate A Websitehttp://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/welcome.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/china.html