Smart Keyword Searching

Just think! Every major search engine has information about millions and millions of World Wide Web sites. At the click of a button, a search engine sorts through what it "knows" and lists the sites it "thinks" you want. In some ways, a search engine is like a well-trained dog. It will fetch what you tell it to and only that.

HOW MANY WORDS?While single words are better commands for dogs, a balance between too few and too many words is better for searching. Think of Goldilocks tasting the porridge!

* A search for a single word may “fetch” a million sites. Obviously, it’s tough

and frustrating to check a million sites to find the best one for your needs. * Adding more words “fetches” fewer sites that are closer to what you need.* Adding too many words, such as an entire sentence or question, causes the search engine to “fetch” sites with any or all of those words.

Choose a search engine: Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, Dogpile, etc.

THE QUESTION: Is the element mercury toxic? Let’s say your teacher tells you to find the

answer. In your search engine, start by typing in mercury and hitting the enter key.

Look over the description of the first ten sites in the list.

SEARCH ENGINE YOU’RE USING:Google

NUMBER OF WEB PAGES RETRIEVED:315,000,000

TELL WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT BY LOOKING AT THE SITE TITLES & MINI-DESCRIPTIONS:Planets, boats, cars, elements, marines.

By now you may realize that the word mercury has more than one meaning. Try addingan additional key word to tell what it is about mercury that really interests you. Type in mercury element.

Look over the description of the first few sites in the list.

Although these sites might have the answer to your question, they might not. Now try adding athird word. Type in mercury element toxic.

Look over the description of the first few sites.

Now you are getting somewhere! By now all the sites retrieved should help answerthe question.

How many results do you get using each of these search termsSearch terms Resultsants 57,800,000ants eggs 10,300,000worker ants eggs 974,000“worker ants” eggs 51,000

NUMBER OF WEB PAGES RETRIEVED:47,000,000

TELL WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT BY LOOKING AT THE SITE TITLES & MINI-DESCRIPTIONS: Science and chemicals.

NUMBER OF WEB PAGES RETRIEVED:565,000

TELL WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT BY LOOKING AT THE SITE TITLES & MINI-DESCRIPTIONS: Environment and poisoning.

ANSWER IN A COMPLETE SENTENCE:Yes because it is poisonous.

“worker ants” eggs k3 925

Looking at the Numbers - CONCLUSIONCompare the number and types of web results for your searches as they relate to or connect with the search terms you used. In other words, write sentences describing what you learned from doing this assignment. What did you learn about choosing key words?

If you type lots of words then the web you’re using is going to give you different things you’re looking for. But when you use less words you can to your answers easier.

READ THE DIRECTIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN

1. Make a list of questions that form in your mind when you read the question: A. What is the vice presidents name?B. What’s his birth?C. Is the his birthday on 2016

2. Make a list of key words you will use for your search:A. vice presidentsB. birthdayC. day of the week

QUESTION:

Which day of the week will the vice president’s birthday fall on during the

next year?3. After you put your key words in the search box, keep track of every step you

take to get the answer – new key words, synonym changes, etc.

4. The answer is: ________Wednesday_______________________________

Buffalo Keyword Challenge: Read the directions!

1. 1 st Attempt : Record the Key Words you dragged into the box.

North America Buffalo

2. 2 nd Attempt : Record the Key Words you dragged into the box.

Buffalo

3. 3 rd Attempt : Record the Key Words you dragged into the box.

North America

4. Score: 81%

5. What synonym could you use for “how many”? What amount