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Google
www.google.com
Google is a search engine, a Web site used to search for information
on the World Wide Web. Google collects Web sites using a computer
program (called a wanderer, crawler, robot, worm, or spider). Google
then creates an index of these sites that you can search.
Use a search engine when
you have a narrow topic or idea to research
you want to retrieve a large number of Web pages on a topic
you want to search for information from a particular type of site
or domain (.org, .gov, .edu)
you want to retrieve certain file types (e.g., images, audio, video)
you want to retrieve pages in other languages
Performing a search in Google
1. Think of keywords to use in your search.
2. Click inside the search box with the mouse, then type in your keywords.
3. Click the “Google Search” button or press the Enter
key on your keyboard to start the search.
4. To view a site in the list of results, click on the blue underlined
title of the site.
Google searching tips
Google will return pages that include all of your search terms. There
is no need to include the word "and" between terms. For
example, to look for information about parks in Cincinnati, simply
type Cincinnati parks.
Google is not case sensitive. Typing reggie miller is the same as
typing REGGIE MILLER or Reggie Miller.
The “I’m Feeling Lucky” button will take you directly
into the first Web site on the list of results.
The more words you include in your search, the more specific your
search will be.
If you don’t find what you need in the first 20-30 sites, try
another search engine.
Use Google’s Advanced Search when you want to
search for a phrase
exclude words from your search
find pages in a specific language
find pages from a particular type of site or domain (.com, .org,
.gov, .edu)
search for images
Yahoo!
www.yahoo.com
Yahoo! is a subject directory, a Web site that offers a collection
of links to Internet resources submitted by site creators or evaluators
and organized into subject categories. Most subject directories are
searchable.
Use a subject directory when
you have a broad subject, or just want to browse.
you want to see a list of sites on your topic often recommended
and annotated by experts.
Two ways of searching Yahoo!
Using the categories, you can find information by browsing through
each subject.
1. Click on the category you wish to search.
2. Follow the categories by clicking on the links until you find the
information you want.
By entering keywords into the search box, you can make your way quickly
to any of Yahoo’s categories.
3. Think of keywords to use in your search.
4. Click inside the search box with the mouse, then type in your keywords.
5. Click the “Search” button or press the Enter key on
your keyboard to start the search.
6. To view a category or Web site in the list of results, click on
the blue, underlined title.
Yahoo! searching tips
Results from your search are presented on the “search results”
page with links to Yahoo! categories first and then to individual
Web site matches.
Links to Yahoo! categories are in bold faced type. Links to Web sites
outside Yahoo! are not in bold.
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Try these questions to test your searching skills using Google
or Yahoo!
Look for recipes that use eggplant.
Browse for Web sites about container gardening.
Find the lyrics of the official state song of Indiana.
4. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has useful
information on travelers’ health issues. Can you find this information
without knowing the Web address for the agency?
5. Browse for Web sites about harps.
What is the phone number of the Office of Admission at Otterbein College?
Hint: To find specific information, a search engine works best. Browsing
is easiest in a subject directory.
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