1. Introduction to Search Tools
There are many type of search tools that you can use to locate information on the World Wide Web.
Various search tools are developed by different companies and have different search features and techniques.
They search different and overlapping parts of the WWW.

2. What are the four main categories of Search Tools?

3. Introduction to Search Tools
NO single search tool searches ALL of the web sites (there are millions of web sites and more are added each and every day).
The 4 types of search tools are:
Search engines
Web subject directories
Metasearch engines
Invisible Web Tools (the “Invisible Web” is also known as the "Deep Web")

4. Search Engines
Definition: a computer program that retrieves documents or files or data from a databases on the WWW
Automated software ("robots" or "spiders") scan the Internet and collect information.
The search engine interface allows you to search for certain words or phrases found on Web pages.

5. Search Engines Advantages:
Search engines contain millions of web pages.
You retrieve results that match the word(s) that you are looking for.
Can be useful for searching for unique or specific topics.

6. Search Engines Disadvantages:
Depending on the search engine, you may get thousands or millions of results.
Many of the results may not be exactly what you are looking for, especially if you are using broad or common terms.

7. Search Engine Examples
Google (
Yahoo!
Bing
Exercise:
For each of the search engines above
search for “Vasco da Gama”
record the # of hits
record the first two web sites listed in the results.

8. Subject (web) Directories
Definition: a WWW search tool organizes Internet resources by subject headings and subheadings. Subject directories are usually compiled by human beings who apply some selection criteria to resources included in the database
There may be short summaries that describe the web sites in the directory.

9. Subject (Web) Directories
Advantages:
There may be a higher degree of accuracy using web directories for researching broad subjects or topics.

10. Subject or Web Directories
Disadvantages:
Usually fewer web sites than a search engine.
Web directories may not be as useful as search engines for researching specific or obscure topics.

11. Subject Directory Examples
ipl2
Over 40,000 . Highest quality sites only. Useful, reliable annotations. Formed by a merger of the Librarians' Internet Index and the Internet Public Library.
Infomine infomine.ucr.edu
Over 125,000. Useful, reliable annotations. Compiled by academic librarians from the University of California and elsewhere.
About.com
Over 2 million. Generally good annotations done by "Guides" with various levels of expertise.

12. Directory search tips
In ipl2 or Infomine, look for your subject as you would for any other purpose, and keep your eyes open for sites that look like directories. Read through the descriptions. Sometimes these resources are identified as "Directories, "Virtual Libraries," or "Gateway Pages."
In Yahoo! and Google directories, try adding the terms web directories to your subject keyword term:  
EXAMPLES:
civil war  web directories
weddings  web directories
In About.com, search by topic and look for pages that are described as "101" or "guides" or a "directory." About.com is written by "Guides" who, themselves, often are experts in the sections they manage. Sometimes they write excellent overviews of a topic.
"Recommended Subject Directories." Internet and Web Search Guides. UCAL Berkley,
10 Feb Web. 29 Sep 2010.
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13. Metasearch Engines
Definition: Similar to search engines but are used to search more than one search engine at a time.
Some Metasearch engines will also show you a small number of the "best" web sites from each search engine based on criteria established by the metasearch engine.

14. Metasearch Engines Advantages: Disadvantages:
You can search several search engines at one time.
Disadvantages:
You may retrieve inappropriate Web sites depending on how each individual search engine interprets the search.

15. Metasearch Engines Dogpile (http://www.dogpile.com)
Examples:
Dogpile (
Metacrawler

16. The Invisible Web or DEEP WEB
Definition: Web sites that are hidden from use by the general public. Also known as the Deep Web. Includes specialized databases and directories.

17. Comparison of Different Search Tools: Invisible Web
Advantages:
Can be useful for specific topics or unique terms.
Disadvantages:
The Invisible Web will not be located by the use of conventional search engines and directories. You must know the URL or search using a search tool specifically created for searching parts of the Invisible Web.

18. Comparison of Different Search Tools: Invisible Web
Examples:
Complete Planet (

19. Open Directory Project http://www.dmoz.org/
Classify the following sites as either a Search Engine, Subject Directory or Metasearch engine.
Dogpile.com
Live.com
Lycos.com
About.com
MetaCrawler .com
Open Directory Project

20. Effective Search Strategies
Before beginning a search, think about what you are looking for.
There are strategies that you can use to find information more efficiently , saving valuable time.
There are strategies that can also help you increase the effectiveness of your searches.
Using Internet for research is to find the BEST and most RELEVANT resources as quickly as possible.

21. Effective Search Strategies
double quotations (“ ”)
use to look for words in exactly the order in which you enter them
“human rights”
“affirmative action”

22. Search Strategies minus sign (-) vikings –minnesota
use to exclude a word from your results
vikings –minnesota

23. Search Strategies site: teens site:edu teens site:org teens site:gov
use to limit your search to pages published by certain groups
teens site:edu
teens site:org
teens site:gov

24. Search strategy examples
Depression
Search Terms # of results
depression
depression –great
depression –great seasonal
depression –great seasonal FAQ
depression –great seasonal FAQ site:gov
depression -great seasonal FAQ site:gov symptoms

25. The Great Depression (historical event)
Search Terms # of results
the great depression
“the great depression”
“the great depression” site:edu “black blizzards”
“the great depression” site:gov
“the great depression” site:gov “black blizzards”

26. Playing the Google Game
At your table with your partners, use the searching techniques you have learned to answer the following questions.
Record the search terms you use and the number of results for each search.
The team with the fewest number wins the game.

27. Question #1:
Can you explain how the author has used the raven as a symbol in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem“The Raven”?
“Edgar Allan Poe” raven symbol site:gov
About 235 results

28. Question #2 “Edgar Allan Poe” “Virginia Clem” site:gov 2 results
How was Edgar Allan Poe related to Virginia Clem, and what is the lowest number of results you are able to get when doing a search about their relationship?
“Edgar Allan Poe” “Virginia Clem” site:gov
2 results
“Edgar Allan Poe” “Virginia Clem” site:org
About 39 results