CIS 1.0
Lab #5: Finding Information Online

Part I: About Searching the Web

1. Read the introduction and answer the following questions:


1. What is the "deep web"?  Why is it "invisible" in some sense?
2. What's wrong with using Yahoo?


2. Start reading the introductions to subject directories and search engines to answer the following questions:


1. Both directories and engines offer lists of resources.  What are the differences in how these two services generate these lists?
2. Describe the two major types of subject directories; describe the two major types of search engines.


3. The tutorial compares the Yahoo! and BUBL LINK subject directories.


1. Search for "search engines" in both directories.  Describe the differences in the results.  Which do you find more helpful?     
2. Now search for "Justin Timberlake" in both directories.  Describe the differences in the results.  How do you explain them?


4. Now look at the explanation of search engines
   1. What are the 3 components of any search engines?
   2. What is "converging content" (towards the bottom of the page)? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
   
   
5. The tutorial discusses Google as an interesting example of a search engine.
   1. One of the interesting features of Google is the way it ranks the results of a search. How does Google determine the ranking of pages?
   2. What does "I'm feeling lucky" do?
   3. How can the Google rankings be manipulated?
   
   
6. One of the most important elements of understanding good search strategies is knowing the difference between "AND" logic and "OR" logic.
   1. If we search for democracy AND technology and democracy OR technology, which will give us more results? Why?
   2. Using AltaVista, if we search for democracy technology, what will happen? Why?
   3. Why is TITLE:democracy probably a better search than democracy?
   4. Identify a one-word concept of interest to you (e.g. Shakespeare) and do a TITLE and URL search on it (e.g. TITLE:shakespeare and URL:shakespeare). Which gave more results? Which seems to have given better results?
   
   
7. What is a meta search engine?
   1. What is the advantage of using them?
   2. When are they less useful?
   3. Use Ixquick to find results about whether violence on television has an effect on children. Explain how the results differ from the results you get using a simple search engine.
   
   
8. Evaluating Search Results: You can't believe everything you read online. Some sites are malicious or contain misinformation, or are biased (especially "sponsored links"). In evaluating the credibility of the information,
   1. Consider the source - What are the credentials of the author of the site? Is this site trying to sell you a product?
   2. Evaluate the content - Are the facts accurate? Does the writing style seem amateurish? Is the information current? Is the topic covered comprehensively?

   Look at the sites below, and evaluate whether or not you should believe the information presented:

   1. martinlutherking.org
   2. cure for cancer
   3. Save the Northwest Tree Octopus

Part II: Searching the Web

1. the answer
2. an exact URL for the page (or pages) where you found it.
3. a description of how you found it online. Document your search steps while you are searching the net. Each time you start a search for an answer, take notes so you will be able to describe your successful searches. What search engines, subject trees, or other resources did you use to find your answer? If you used any search engines, which query brought you to the successful hit? If you found your answer by browsing, what sequence of hyperlinks did you follow? If you find your answer by piecing information together from more than one Web page, you will need to document your search steps for each Web page listed.  I must be able to reproduce a pathway to your cited Web page by following your search steps.

You will not receive credit if you skip steps 2 and 3!

A few tips on searching:

• Type control-N on the keyboard (hold down the "Ctrl" key and press "N").  This will open up a new browser window. That way you can keep this page, with a list of the questions in one window, and do your searching in another window. Neat, isn't it?
• There are many different search engines and subject trees. Here are links to many of them
• Type the words carefully - misspelled words won't match.
• Use more words to limit the search. Check on the Options link of the search engine to see how to combine the words (AND or +, usually)
• Use capital letters only if the word must be capitalized.
• Most search engines treat each word separately. If you want a specific phrase, most search engines allow you to use quotes to force the words to be treated as a unit, e.g. "Moby Dick".

1. At which national park would you expect to find "hoodoos"? What are "hoodoos"?
2. What is the fuel tank capacity of a 2001 Toyota Camry LE?
3. On what date did Finland become a member state of the United Nations?
4. Where can I find the full opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court Judges for specific court cases?
5. When was the worst snowstorm on record in New England? What made it the worst?
6. What was the Sacred Truce? Why was it important to the Olympic Games?
7. How many DVD formats are available? Which is the most versatile?
8. On May 5th, 2002, an incredible event occurred in the sky involving three planets. Which planets were involved? What happened?
9. The gem Corundum is called a sapphire unless it is colored red. What do they call a red colored corundum?
10. What are the four national languages of the Democratic Republic of Congo?
11. Who said, "cogito ergo sum"? What does that mean?
12. In 1895, what was Oklahoma's population?
13. Who coined the word "spectrum"? (and why was it given that name?)
14. William Howard Taft said that the position he held after the Presidency was his greatest honor. What was that position?
15. How many tablespoons are there in 2 and a half cups of flour?
16. Who holds the United States Patent number D501,602? What is it for?
17. Which city or town uses the ZIP code 32123?
18. The "Red Room " of the White House wasn't always red. What color did Dolley Madison use to decorate the room that is now know as the Red Room?
19. How do you say "three" in Tagalog?
20. Where else is there a place called Queens, other than in New York City?