How Search Works An Introduction

What Does Google Do When You Search? Search the index: When you click the Google Search button, Google races through its billions of web pages to find every page that contains the word or phrase or group of words you've used. Analyze the web pages for relevance: Google screens web pages in the index to see which ones are most likely to have what you're looking for. Evaluate each site's reputation: Google looks at how often other websites link to these pages to determine how popular or useful each one is. Rank the web pages: Having scrutinized the web pages in terms of their relevance to your search words, Google presents your results, with what we believe are the most useful pages at the top.

Understanding Search Finding the Right Keywords to Use

What Matters In My Search Query? Think of a topic or question you would like to search for. Pick three or four keywords to use in your search query. What happens if you reorder them? Add capitalization or punctuation? What if you take out a word?

What Matters In My Search Query? 1 Every word matters. Try searching for [who], [the who], and [a who] 2 Order matters. Try searching for [blue sky] and [sky blue] 3 Capitalization does not matter. Try searching for [barack obama] and [Barack Obama] 4 Punctuation does not matter. Try searching for [red: delicious! apple?] and [red delicious apple] * There are some exceptions! Can you think of any? Click here for a few examples.here

Keyword Search How do you come up with the right words to search for? Can you remember a time when you had trouble finding what you were looking for? What makes certain searches hard?

Tips For Better Searches Use descriptive, specific words. Avoid general or common words. 3 Think of how the page you want will be written. Use words that are likely to appear on the page. 2 Keep it simple. Describe what you want in as few terms as possible. 1

Think Before You Search What am I looking for? How would I talk about this? How would someone else talk about this? What keywords could I use in my search query? Which of these keywords are common or general words? Which would be more specific? Are there better words I could use? What kind of results am I looking for? Do I want a definition, a database, a list, a map, an image, a video, or something else? How can I describe this better? What do I want? What am I trying to find? What am I trying to find out?

Give It A Try! Remember: Keep it simple. Use descriptive words. Think of how the page you want will be written. And most importantly: Think before you search! Pick a topic you want to find out about and brainstorm keywords to use in your search query.

Entering a Search Do You Feel Lucky?

Homepage

Say What You Want What happened? A "query" is the word or phrase you search for in Google. Enter your query here Click this button or hit "enter"

Another Search Option What happened? Try clicking "I'm Feeling Lucky."

Different Search Tools Have you used these?

Advanced Search Visit the Advanced Search page. Enter a search using several of the search options offered there. What do you notice?

Language Tools Visit the Language Tools page and see what the different sections of the page do. Try the Translate Search section. Visit Google in another country. Where did you go?

Reading Your Results Search Engine Results Page

The Search Engine Results Page Search bar Left panelOrganic (natural) search results Sponsored links (ads)

Reading Individual Search Results

Give It a Try! If you had a website, what would a search engine show about your site? Write a fictional search result, complete with title, snippet, web address, and similar links.

Defining Credibility An Introduction

Credibility How do you know something is true?

It Can Be How You Look At Things... Site #1: Average of 382,500 km Site #2: Average of 384,403 km Site #3: Between 225,622 and 252,088 miles Site #4: Average of 238,857 miles Same search, different answers: Why do you think these are different?

Tips: What To Think About 3 What do I know about the author or organization providing this information? 2 How much do I care for a precise, quality answer? How much should I save up to buy that new phone? What do I need to know for my report on the Civil War? I want some recipe for homemade kettle corn? 1 Why was this page created? To inform me To persuade me To sell me something To undermine someone or something For another reason

Tips: What To Do Know who wrote and published the page Find "About" page Check web address Visit site's homepage Google the author/organization Use link: Ask: Is this the right person to give me good information? l 1 Check your facts Check multiple sources Identify the type of page Look for bibliography Check the date Confirm in snopes.com Spot known errors Think: Use your common sense! 2

Give It a Try! Use the tips you have learned and decide which of the websites are true and which are hoaxes:

Uncover the Truth Practice Differentiating Information from Disinformation

Credibility Credibility is often harder to determine than simply identifying a hoax site. Did NASA fake the moon landing? Try this search:

Testing the Lunar Landing Hoax Follow the first link: Check it out. Do you find this site credible?

Give It a Try! Brainstorm and select a commonly debated potential fact. Do you believe it, or not? Do the research to decide.... Remember to ask: Who is the author? What is the page's purpose? What are opposing viewpoints? And most importantly: What do your instincts tell you?