Getting Started  

Getting Started 1: How to Choose a Search Engine

This activity helps you to distinguish between different search engines and with conducting more accurate online searches.

1. Choose one of the following topics to research on the web:

  • Marine pollution in Tokyo Bay

  • Balance of trade issues between Japan and the United States

  • 1906 earthquake in San Francisco or 1923 earthquake in Tokyo

2. Log on to the web and review the page about how to choose the best search engine for your purpose. After you review the choices, narrow your list by selected three search engines. What search engines have you chosen? Why?

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3. Enter the key words you think will best define the topic you’ve chosen and start your search. What key words did you enter?

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4. Summarize the results of your search below.

Name of Search Engine

Number of Hits

# of relevant sites in top 10?

a.

 

 

b.

 

 

c.

 

 

5. Which of the three search engines proved most useful. Why?

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6. Review the web page on performing precise searches. How can you modify your search to make it more precise?

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7. With your new search parameters, initiate a search with one of the search engines? What differences do you notice?

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