Smart Keyword Searching

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, its 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.SEARCH ENGINE YOURE USING:

THE QUESTION: Is the element mercury toxic? Lets say your teacher tells you to find the answer. In your search engine, start by typing in mercury and hitting the enter key. NUMBER OF WEB PAGES RETRIEVED:

Look over the description of the first ten sites in the list. TELL WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT BY LOOKING AT THE SITE TITLES & MINI-DESCRIPTIONS:

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.NUMBER OF WEB PAGES RETRIEVED:

Look over the description of the first few sites in the list. TELL WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT BY LOOKING AT THE SITE TITLES & MINI-DESCRIPTIONS:

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

Look over the description of the first few sites. TELL WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT BY LOOKING AT THE SITE TITLES & MINI-DESCRIPTIONS:

Now you are getting somewhere! By now all the sites retrieved should help answerthe question.ANSWER IN A COMPLETE SENTENCE:

How many results do you get using each of these search terms

Search termsResults

ants

ants eggs

worker ants eggs

worker ants eggs

worker ants eggs k3

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?

READ THE DIRECTIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN

1.Make a list of questions that form in your mind when you read the question: A.B.C.

2.Make a list of key words you will use for your search:A.B.C.

QUESTION:Which day of the week will the vice presidents 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: _______________________________________

Buffalo Keyword Challenge: Read the directions!

1.1st Attempt: Record the Power Words you dragged into the box.

2.2nd Attempt: Record the Power Words you dragged into the box.

3.3rd Attempt: Record the Power Words you dragged into the box.

4.Score:

5.What synonym could you use for how many?