WEBPATH

Safety
Resource selection-internet versus other
Keywords

WEB PATHFINDER WORKSHEET

Created by Jenni King Secondary Teacher-Librarian http://brisbanesde.qld.edu.au/library/search-tools.htm

You need to analyse your topic and then construct search strategies BEFORE you begin your search on the Web, to save valuable time.

Topic: Eg. That cruelty to domestic animals is increasing in Queensland.

Text Box: Your topic:

1. Brainstorm the topic: Try to identify here all the general keywords or

phrases you can think of that are associated with this topic. Eg animal cruelty, animal welfare, animal clinics, animal rights, animal liberation, animal protection, animal treatment, animal testing.

Text Box: Your brainstorming:

2. Now try to add really specific, unique or distinctive words, phrases or

acronyms (i.e. initials representing a group or association like ANZAC) that are associated with your topic. Eg battery hens, beef lotfeeding, dogfights, RSPCA, rodeo cruelty, cockfighting.

Text Box: Your specific words:

3. Also try to think of any societies, organisations or groups which could have information on the topic via their homepages – you could try the Yellow Pages for these (under Animal Welfare Organisations): Eg Animal Welfare League of Queensland, RSPCA, Animal Liberation Queensland., Cat Rescue, Beauty Without Cruelty.

Text Box: Your societies/organisations:

4. You can reduce the number of irrelevant documents you get by using some of the following search strategies:

If you are searching for a phrase (2 or more words together), enclose the phrase in double quotation marks Eg “animal cruelty”; “battery hens”; “Animal Welfare League of Queensland”.

Text Box: Your enclosed phrases:

You can use some elements of Boolean logic, using AND, OR, and AND NOT to widen or narrow searches. (Note the capitalisation).

· To WIDEN: Link words with OR Eg “animal rights” OR “animal liberation” and you’ll search for both terms at once. This is also useful if different terms are used in different countries Eg automobiles OR cars; “caravan parks” OR “trailer parks”.

Text Box: Your widening phrases:

· To NARROW: There are 2 ways:

q Link words with AND to require all terms to be in documents retrieved Eg “animal rights” AND Queensland.

q Link words with AND NOT to search for one term and exclude another. Eg. “animal cruelty” AND NOT wildlife.

Text Box: Your narrowing phrases:

5. Check if your spelling is correct (1 incorrect letter can make all the

difference!) including whether there are variations of spelling with other countries eg U.S. “color” vs Aust. “colour”. If you want to search for both variants, join them with OR. Eg “colour blindness” OR “color blindness”.

Text Box: Your spelling variations:

6. What broader terms could your topic be covered by? This would give

you access to expert-selected sites in Subject Directories where you

narrow downwards Eg. Animals ® Domestic animals ®Treatment

Text Box: Your broader terms:

7. Now record your search terms and strategies in their relevant search

tool categories, keep them by you as a guide, and you’re ready to research, not just surf, via the Web’s major search tools!

Text Box: TOPIC:

Search Tips

Which search engine?

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~slacey/searchtips.htm

Animated How Search Engines Work

http://www.learnthenet.com/english/section/digdat.html

Web

http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/WEBINTRO/sld001.htm

How to Choose a Search Engine

http://library.albany.edu/internet/choose.html

Kids Click

http://www.rcls.org/wows/

Kongo Cricket

http://www.kongoc7.sa.edu.au/Kindex/Global/Internet/training.htm#backfive

Types of Search Engines

Types	Description	Examples
SEARCH ENGINES	These "spider" programs trawl the Web, continuously adding to vast databases which are accessed via your keywords. Type your keywords/phrases into the white search box, refining as you go. There's no censorship or quality control, so results need your careful evaluation.	Google AltaVista Northern Light Infoseek Fast Search Excite Hotbot Teoma
META-SEARCH ENGINES	These search other search engines’ databases all at the same time. Good for quick and simple keyword searches - but not very thorough.	Metacrawler Vivisimo Ixquick Dogpile Ask Jeeves
SUBJECT DIRECTORIES AND INDEXES	Websites are hierarchically structured into subject categories and sub-categories. Websites are high quality, (though fewer), and hand-selected, being compiled by specialist human editors (not computers), on particular topics. *These can be consumer-oriented (eg. Yahoo) or reference-related (eg. Librarians’ Index).* Useful for a general introduction to a topic and when you want quality, evaluated sites.	Librarians' Index Yahoo Lycos About.com Galaxy Looksmart Argus Clearing house WWW Virtual Library World Wide Web Public Library
ASK THE EXPERT	There are a growing number of websites which can put you in touch with "experts" in every subject imaginable. Just remember, though, YOU are responsible for determining the "expertise" of the "expert"! (And most seem to be American).	AskA+Locator Ask an Expert Sources
AUSTRALIAN SEARCH TOOLS	These are either based in Australia or are an Australian subsidiary of an international search tool. Use these for specific Australian information which international tools might ignore.	Anzwers Looksmart Aus. Matilda Web Wombat Alta Vista Australia Yahoo Australia Ask Jeeves Aus. GoEureka
KIDS’ SEARCH TOOLS	These have been specifically designed to make searching easier for younger and/or less experienced users.	Yahooligans! Ask Jeeves for Kids AAA Kids Online KidsClick! AOL Search: Kids Only Ithaki
REFERENCE SEARCH TOOLS	These contain answers to quick reference questions supplied by encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses and books of quotations eg. Who said this phrase? What does this word/phrase mean? Where does this saying come from?	Xrefer Refdesk Library Spot UQ Cybrary Virtual Reference Collection Other
SPECIALISED SEARCH TOOLS	Specialised search engines are a selective subset of the main ones available which lead to sites that contain specific information that may not turn up when you do a general search of the Web using Altavista, Yahoo, and the other major search engines and directories.	Seekhelp Speciality Search Sites Specialised Search Engines and Directories
MULTIMEDIA & IMAGE SEARCH TOOLS	You can search specifically for images on the Web: photos, cartoons, clipart etc. as well as sounds, using some of these search tools.	Google Images Ditto Picture Australia Yahoo Picture Gallery Find Sounds http://dgl.microsoft.com/

QUICK HINTS:

1. Web Address Guessing:

For many sites belonging to a specific organisation you can actually bypass search tools and attempt to guess the web address (URL) of the organisation.

Use the name, acronym or abbreviated name of the organisation (in lower case)
eg. csiro, uq, racq, nbl, nrl, nasa.

Add the appropriate "top-level domain" (usually .com)
               .com for commercial
               .edu for educational
               .org for other organisations
               .gov for governmental
               .net for internet service providers

You could also add the country domain suffix (Note that the USA doesn't use one)
               .au for Australia
               .uk for Britain
               .ph for Philippines
               .nz for New Zealand

2. Web Address Cutting:

If you find a web address that doesn't work and links that lead to dead ends, try chopping off parts of the web address (URL) starting on the right-hand side and stopping at every forward slash (/).

eg. http://www.brisbanesde.eq.edu.au/library/database.html (won't load)

so try http://www.brisbanesde.eq.edu.au/library/

FOR EXTRA HELP:

1. Choosing and Evaluating Search Tools:

Choose the Best Search Strategy for Your Purpose/Search Engine Watch/Search Tools Guide/NoodleQuest/Surfing the Web/Search the Internet in 5 Steps/Search Tips for Internet Users/Education Queensland's Internet Site Criteria

2. Evaluating Websites:

How to Tell if You're Looking at a Great Website/Evaluating Web Resources/Yahooligans Evaluating Websites

Scavenger Hunt

http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq95/

http://www.bourne.k12.ma.us/BMS/lweeks/Media%20Center%20WebQuest/media_center_webquest.htm

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