Layton’s Researching 101 Tutorial Planning the Search Boolean Logic Searching the Internet Using EBSCO host Quiz Let’s get started! Next

Planning the Search Print out the following Topic Worksheet and fill it out to get started. es/Internet/form.pdf There are some great examples with suggestions for searching on this link: es/Internet/Strategies.html Home

(Lock, S., 2002) Boolean Logic/Search Terms Boolean Logic is a method of advance searching within an engine for the most beneficial results. The words “and,” “or” and “not” are used to narrow your search field. Home Next

More Boolean Logic For a great interactive tutorial on advanced searching visit the following link: n.ca/lrc/boolean.html Home

Searching the Internet Be sure to vary your search terms and use multiple search engines Don’t forget to try subject directories and databases *Here’s a link for a great subject directory on the fifties decade Yahoo Search DirectoryYahoo Search Directory Next Home

(Brandt, D.S., 1996) Searching the Internet Check the reliability of sites : The primary approach to objectively verifying Internet information is similar to that used to review print materials. An evaluation checklist derived from The Savvy Student's Guide to Library Research mentioned above is available at For the most part, it emphasizes checking: reliability and credibility by verifying the author, his or her affiliation, date, and the source of publication; check perspective by assessing biases presented in the information or its source; and check the purpose by determining its scope, coverage, and level. Even more specific to the Internet, there are certain places to look and points to touch on in evaluating Web information. Ann Scholz, in the guideline she put together for Purdue Libraries as part of the Information Strategies course, emphasizes first checking a Web page for its critical elements -- the header, body, and footer -- to determine the author and source. In addition, consider the following: Check to see whether the source is a moderated or an unmoderated list, or an anonymous ftp site. Check online directory sources for affiliations and biographical information. Check and compare this source to other sources, both similar and different ones. Check archives of online lists for other works by this author. Check reviews of online lists to assess the scope and purpose of this one. Home

Using EBSCO host 1.Access Digital Prairie ok.us/prairie/index.h tm 2. Select EBSCO host 3. Enter the school password. Go On

Select the database source you want. Read the abstracts for details. Next

Use your advanced search skills to yield the best results. Next

Example Great results that can be narrowed even further! Home

Are you ready to search??? Let’s see! Take the quiz to see if you’re ready to go on to the next phase. Go back through this tutorial if you are confused or ask for assistance. Go to Quiz I’m not Ready! Return Home

Quiz 1.To come up with a list of search terms one way to get started is to A. Find someone who did this topic last year and borrow their notes. B. Create a list of associated words like: synonyms, abbreviations and broad terms that go along with my topic. C. Sit and stare at the wall waiting for an epiphany. The answer is B, of course!

Quiz continued… 2. If you are seeking an overview on a broad topic, it is a good idea to A. Try a subject directory B. Use Google, always Google C. Just go ask grandma Yep, the answer is A!

Quiz continued… 3. If you wanted to find a timeline of major events in America, which of the following Boolean searches would be most helpful? A. American and History B. America or American and history C. Timeline of major events in American history B is correct! Boolean Searches contain the words “and,” “or” and “not.”

Quiz continued… 4. Which of the following Boolean searches would be most helpful if you still wanted a timeline of American history, but you wanted to eliminate all the teacher lesson plans your search yielded? A. American History, no lesson plans B. America or American and history not “lesson plans” C. Teacher lesson plans on American history It’s B again! Don’t forget that you can put phrases in quotation marks to ensure the words are found together in the site.

Quiz continued… 5. To check the reliability of your Internet sources you should A. See archives of online lists for other works by the author. B. Compare the site to other sources on your topic. C. There is no need to check reliability; if it’s on the web, it must be valid. Tricky, tricky! Both A and B are correct. If you chose answer C go back to slide 6.

Congratulations ! You’ve made it through the tutorial, and now you have the world at your fingertips! Think of yourself as an investigator of facts and get started!