Week 4: Searching for Resources on the Internet

1 Search Tools

The following six search tools belong to three different categories. Can you group them?

• Google
• Librarians' Index to the Internet
• Dogpile
• AltaVista
• Yahoo Directory
• Ixquick

2 Study the URLs

• http://www.nytimes.com/pages/technology/index.html
• http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.htm
  

3 How much do you know about Google Search?

• Will Google return only pages that match all your search terms?
• Will Google return pages that match your search terms exactly?
• Will Google return pages that match variants of your search terms?
• Is there any word Google will ignore during search?
• Is there a limit to the number of queries?
• Does the distance between the two queries matter? ( eg. [ snake in the grass ], [ snake grass ])
• Does the order of query matter?Is Google case sensitive?

4 Do you know the function of these operators?

• Quoted Phrases
• The + Operator
• The – Operator
• The ~ Operator
• The OR and | Operators
• The .. Operator
• The * Operator

5 Searching with key words

Find documents on the web that provide the answers to the following questions. What’s your level of comfort with the referring site(s) and why? Is it true that if you touch a cold halogen light bulb with clean fingers, you will shorten its lifespan?

1. Are 75% of Americans chronically dehydrated? Find opposing points of view.
2. Are you less likely to get dental cavities if you drink fluoridated water?
3. Is clumping kitty litter a major health hazard to cats?
4. What are the benefits and drawbacks of a flu (influenza) shot?
5. Does microwaving food in plastic containers or plastic cling wrap release harmful chemicals into the food? Check whether this is an urban legend.