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Power Searching 101: a crash course

Power Searching 101: a crash course. The stuff you need to know about searching BEFORE you begin your senior project research paper assignment!. But we know how to do it!.

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Power Searching 101: a crash course

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  1. PowerSearching 101: a crash course The stuff you need to know about searching BEFORE you begin your senior project research paper assignment!

  2. But we know how to do it!

  3. Sorry.This review won’t hurt too much! I promise!!!! Besides, it will help as you begin this very important project!

  4. Let the review begin!

  5. I’m a librarian…of course I’m going to begin with print sources – BOOKS!

  6. 1 2 3

  7. Please remember: • In order to checkout a book, a $15 refundable deposit is required. • A better option might be to use the photo copier @ 10 cents per page. • Be sure to write the name of your source on the copy to help you with correct documentation later!

  8. Try something new! • Playaways (audiobooks) • Fiction • No deposit required • Gale Virtual Reference Library (e-Books) • Password: wood17828 • Career Information Center (13 volumes) • No deposit required

  9. Do you know… …the difference between free Web search tools and subscription databases?

  10. Hmmmm

  11. Does the internet site try to persuade rather than inform? BEWARE!

  12. Is the page actually an ad disguised as information? BEWARE!

  13. Is the information trying to sway you? BEWARE!

  14. Is the bias explicit or hidden? BEWARE!

  15. BEWARE! Does the identity of the sponsor suggest bias?

  16. Evaluate Internet sites before using them! You must sort out the gems from the junk!

  17. To cite a web site: • Name of the page • Who’s page is it? (person or group) • URL • Date of access

  18. As you search, consider . . . What types of sources does your instructor want you to cite: Scholarly sources? Popular sources? Periodicals? Database sources? Internet sources? Wikipedia?????

  19. Great for PRE-search, rather than research! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_bombing

  20. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_fried_Mars_Bar

  21. Internet searching can be frustrating! Why can’t I find what I want? Glad you asked!

  22. SEARCHER ERROR: incorrect spelling/typo (you'll find Web pages with the same typo!) one of the most common problems and easy to remedy e.g. searching for stacksinstead of stocks

  23. SEARCHER ERROR: poorly described or conceptualized topic know what you are looking for, and if this is not possible, know what you are NOT looking for (eliminate if necessary) e.g. searching for something on tobacco instead of tobacco and government subsidies

  24. SEARCHER ERROR: query is too general narrow your focus e.g. searching for cars instead of Toyota Camry 2004 

  25. SEARCHER ERROR: query is too specific broaden your search using synonyms or larger categories e.g. searching for flashing lime green stop sign in a gif format instead of stop signs and gif

  26. SEARCHER ERROR: expect instant success, or give up Be patient! It takes effort to find exactly what you are looking for….and who knows….you might learn to enjoy the hunt!

  27. How well do YOU search? Use GOOGLE to answer this question: Which of William Shakespeare’s plays has been said to refer to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605?

  28. ONE Search Path is: 62! Tip: Open the web site….Edit/Find…“gunpowder”… You are there! "William Shakespeare" play "gunpowder plot" 1605 site:edu

  29. Ready to become apower searcher? Let’s begin with a few tips & tricks to help you find the needle in the haystack!

  30. Good searchers…. • Search the free Internet and subscription databases • Make use of advanced search screens • Use search strategies • Use peripheral vision--they mine their results for additional keywords to use as search terms

  31. “Mine” other keywords for searching!

  32. Students often….. • Do not search strategically • Assume search engines understand natural language style • Continually repeat failed search terms and strategies • Show a lack of concern for the quality of their sources or the accuracy of the information found

  33. A question is not a search query. How many buffalo remain in the United States? Who is the president of France?

  34. Tips for a good search query: • Focus on nouns (verbs are often vague, stop words like articles—a, an, the—are ignored by most engines). • Consider alternate forms of words (truncate when you can). adolesc* for adolescent, adolescents, adolescence • Anticipate synonyms and related words. teen, teens, teenagers, youth, students • Check your spelling. Bad spelling usually turns up hits, just bad hits. • Use lowercase letters unless you are searching for proper names. Turn off the CAPS LOCK! • Follow “more like this” or “similar pages” links.

  35. Phrase Searching • This can be one of the best search strategies! • Use only for legitimate phrases, names, titles. • “vitamin A” • “John Quincy Adams” • “An Officer and a Gentleman” • Phrase searching is sometimes overused - not every group of words is a phrase. • Sometimes using AND is a better strategy.

  36. To search the free Web is notenough!

  37. Simple vs. Advanced When searching the Internet or using databases, it’s all about power searching!

  38. Advanced screen

  39. This is an important choice!

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