Information+Literacy

Tips for narrowing down internet searches 1. Use Google advanced search - allows you to narrow down your search without symbols (Michael Siu block H)   2. When searching on the internet for information with an exact phrase or word use quotation marks “ “ (Tania block H) 3. Limit the field of search by searching within one site using "site:", followed by the search query. (Ka-Wai block H)   4. Try guessing the URL rather than using a search engine. (Koumei BlockE) 5. To limit searches to what you are looking for, use the "-" symbol to exclude any words that you don't want included. (Gabriel Block E)   6. Use as many words as you can to get more specific results. (Mike McLean block H)   7. Think carefully about what you are about to search for so you can get more relevant information and sites. (Alex Zhang block H)   8. You can find similar website by pressing "similar page" under the google link. [|.bmp] (Jerry Hsu Block H)   9. Chop off parts of the URL to see if the website is relevant (Henry Chan Block E)    10. For some sites, you can use truncation. You enter the first part of a keyword and then insert (*) next to it. Using this method retrieves alternative spellings or word endings of the key word (ex: typing femini* retrieves //feminine// and //feminism//). However, truncation cannot be used for Google, Yahoo or Ask. (Hong Kyun Kim Block E)   11. Use multiple step approach; more than one click may be required to reach an answer. Start from major search engines -> Use Boolean Terms / Unique Keywords and Combinations -> Access websites with multiple links (websites higher up on a result list have usually more numbers of links to other pages) -> Access pages that are buried deep in a Web site. (Matthew Kweon Block H)   12. Insert + immediately before a term (no space) to limit search to documents containing a term. Insert - immediately before a term (no space) to exclude documents containing a term. Can be used immediately (no space) before the " " delimiting a phrase. (Stephanie Yin Block A) 13. Use author's name or date the document was updated as search criteria. (Alum Woo Block A)   14. Use Google Advance search. Think of all the words that would appear on the "perfect" page, and typed it in "all these words". Also think of the words that you do not want to see on the page and type it in "any of these unwanted words" (Katie Yao, Block A)   15. To search for exact wording, type in the first word, space, +, then the second word. Eg. Mike +is +cool (Mike Chan Block A)   16. In Google, popularity ranking using [|PageRank™] emphasizes pages most heavily linked from other pages.(Diane Lin Block H)   17. When a website is not found, delete everything behind the last slash.(Grace Yang Block H) 18. when searching for a subject, use unique words that are related or part of the subject to narrow the search. (Sajed Ahmad, Block A)   19. Before typing anything into a search engine you must first cut down the phrase and be more precise to narrow your searches down. Using a sentece will give you too many results so try paraphrasing.(Megan Ortwein Block E)   20. Pay attention to special spellings of certain words. For example, in the U.S "labor" and "color" are spelled without the "u", but if you wanted to look up labor in the U.K for example, search "labour" instead. (Roger Xu Block H) 21. Use Unique keywords to help narrow down your results. (Stephen Gandolfo Block E) 22. Look for sites to exclude in your search, topics that you have already deemed irrelevant to the topic that you are searching (Dillon Warren, Block A) 1. If the author has included a source bibliography it is likely to be reliable. (Tania block H) 2. Look at the "About Us" or related pages to check for author's credentials and purpose in writing. (Ka-Wai block H) 3. These following indicators can be used to check the lack of credibility of a site. (Grace block H) Anonymity, lack of quality control, bad grammar or misspelled words, and critics of the web sites 4. Check to see if the author has signed it and put contact information such as telephone numbers or email addresses. (Mike McLean) 5. Find out if the author is qualified to write the web page or check the URL domain. (Alex Zhang black H) 6. Check the organization which built the page to make sure that there is no bias information. (Jerry Hsu Block H) 7. Check if the author is knowledgeable by either looking for his biographical information, his reputation, his job and title, by contacting him or by identifying if he is from an organization. (Henry Chan Block E) 8. Check for quality control. A general rule of thumb is that something published by an organization has had the material peer edited than something that is published by an individual, i.e. Harvard University English Faculty vs. Bob from Harvard University English Faculty. (Michael Siu block H) 9. Use the CARS (Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Support) Checklist. Credibility - trustworthy source, author's credentials, organizational support. Accuracy - up to date, factual, detailed. Reasonableness - fair, balanced, objective. Support - listed sources, contact information, available corroboration. (Matthew Kweon Block H) 10. If reproduced information from another source is retyped in the website evaluated, it could mostly likely be altered and thus unreliable. Check the original source and compare to the website's information to make sure that the information is complete. (Gabriel Block E)' 11. Check whether the website is dated and current enough for your research. "Stale" or "dusty" information is just as bad as anonymous information. (Stephanie Yin Block A) 12.Corroboration See if other sources support this source. Corroboration or confirm ability is an important test of truth. find at least three sources that agree. If the sources do not agree, does further research to find out the range of opinion or disagreement before you draw your conclusions. (Katie Yao Block A) 13. Look for a personal name (e.g., //jbarker// or //barker//) following a tilde ( ~ ), a percent sign ( % ), or the words "users," "members," or "people. A personal website might affect on the credibility of the source. (Diane Lin Block H) 14. Check to see how many times when the site has been updated and who can update it. If anyone can alter the website, then the site might not be credible. (Sajed Ahmad, Block A) 15. Look out for the intention of the author and think about the tone of the sites. (Alum Woo Block A)     16. Be extremely careful when using numbers and statistics from websites. If there are no identified sources supporting the reliability of these numbers, there is a chance that a person could have just made them up. (Hong Kyun Kim Block E) 17. If the URL has many slashes, cut off everything pass the last slash then search the main website and see how reliable that page is.(Megan Ortwein Block E)    18. Be skeptical, just because there may be a name of someone who wrote an article, it doesn't mean the information they state is valid. Use general knowledge to determine if it is reliable or not. You can also use www.easywhois.com (as suggested in class by Mrs. Kemsley) to look up who hosts the website and then do further research on that person/organization. (Roger Xu Block H)   19. Use the 8 steps in checking the reliability,   ·  are the aims of the site clear ·  does the site achieve its aim ·  is the site relevant to me   ·   can the information be checked ·  when was the site produced ·  is the information biased in any way ·  does the site tell you about choices open to you (Mike Chan, Block A) 20. Check for any signs for lack of reasonableness. For Example, writers who put themselves in the way of the argument, either emotionally or because of self interest, often reveal their lack of reasonableness. (Stephen Gandolfo Block E) 21. If the sponsorship and the authorship of a site are both unclear about their information, then think twice before actually using this website as your resource or research. (Koumei Tsunoda, Block E) 22. When looking to evaluate a website look to the search engine at which you found the site at. For example, if you are on a search engine that allows keywords to be bought the information giving on the link clicked may not be as reliable as others that could be found. (Dillon Warren, Block A)
 * Information literacy **
 * Tips for evaluating websites **
 * is it clear who has written the information