Smart and cool Keyword Searching

Searching efficiently & effectively: Get the best results

quickly!
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 the force and too
many Jedi are bad for your health. Think of Darth Vader tasting the porridge!

* Lets
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.
*
*
do
Adding more words fetches fewer sites that are closer to what you need.
Adding too many words, such as an entire sentence orTHE question, causes the
search engine to fetch sites with any or all of those words.
some
QUE
STIO
N

explor
ation
before
we
THE QUESTION: Is the element mercury toxic? Lets say your teacher tells you to find the
answer.

look
for the
answer
!
Choose a search engine: Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, Dogpile, etc.

TYPE THE NAME OF THE SEARCH ENGINE YOURE USING:

Google

In your search engine, start by typing in mercury and hitting the enter key.
TYPE THE NUMBER OF WEB PAGES THE SEARCH ENGINE RETRIEVED:
305,000,000

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:
Planet
insurance

By now you may realize that the word mercury has more than one meaning. Try adding
an additional key word to tell what it is about mercury that really interests you. Type in mercury
element.
TYPE THE NUMBER OF WEB PAGES THE SEARCH ENGINE RETRIEVED:
24,900,000

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:

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

597,000

Look over the description of the first few sites.

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

toxin
Symbol: Hg
Atomic number: 80
Atomic mass: 200.59 u 0.02 u
Melting point: -37.89F (-38.83C)
Electron configuration: [Xe] 4f145d106s2
Boiling point: 674.1F (356.7C) The question is on the frst page!
Electrons per shell: 2,8,18,32,18,2
Now you are
getting
somewhere! By now all the sites retrieved should help answer
The question.

ANSWER THE QUESTION IN A COMPLETE SENTENCE:

Yes mercury is toxic look at this
vv
Symbol: Hg
Atomic number: 80
Atomic mass: 200.59 u 0.02 u
Melting point: -37.89F (-38.83C)
How configuration:
Electron many results do
[Xe] 4f145d10
6s2you get using each of these search terms
Search
Boiling terms
point: 674.1F (356.7C) Results
Electrons per shell: 2,8,18,32,18,2
ants 91,700,000
ants eggs 1,020,000
worker ants eggs 535,000

worker 76,100
ants
eggs
worker ants eggs k3 999
Looking at the Numbers - CONCLUSION
WRITE: Using sentences compare 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 describe what you learned from
doing this assignment. What did you learn about using key words to search for information?
That there are a lot of different sites and meanings for each word you type.

Symbol: Hg
Atomic number: 80
Atomic mass: 200.59 u 0.02 u
Melting point: -37.89F (-38.83C)
Electron configuration: [Xe] 4f145d106s2
Boiling point: 674.1F (356.7C)
Electrons per shell: 2,8,18, 32,18,2