Homepage

Say What You Want

What happened?

A "query" is the word or phrase you search for in Google.

Enter your

query here

Click this button

or hit "enter"

Another Search Option

What happened?

Try clicking "I'm Feeling Lucky."

Different Search Tools

Have you used these?

Advanced Search

Visit the Advanced Search page. Enter a

search using several of the search options

offered there.

What do you notice?

Language Tools

Visit the Language Tools page and see

what the different sections of the page do.

Try the Translate Search section. Visit

Google in another country.

Where did you go?

The Search Engine Results Page

Search bar

Left panel Organic (natural)

search results

Sponsored

links (ads)

Reading Individual Search Results

Give It a Try!

If you had a website, what would a

search engine show about your site?

Write a fictional search result, complete

with title, snippet, web address, and

similar links.

Questions About Search

What does it mean to search an index of

the web?

What are spiders? How do they help

build Google's index of the web?

How does Google search its index when

you enter a search query?

How does Google decide what search

results you really want?

How Search Works

Google engineer Matt Cutts explains how Google Search decides

which search results to give you, based on your search query.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHR6IQJGZs

What Does Google Do When You Search?

Search the index:

When you click the

Google Search

button, Google

races through its

billions of web

pages to find every

page that contains

the word or phrase

or group of words

you've used.

Analyze the web

pages for

relevance: Google

screens web pages

in the index to see

which ones are

most likely to have

what you're looking

for.

Evaluate each

site's reputation:

Google looks at

how often other

websites link to

these pages to

determine how

popular or useful

each one is.

Rank the web

pages: Having

scrutinized the web

pages in terms of

their relevance to

your search words,

Google presents

your results, with

what we believe

are the most useful

pages at the top.

What Matters In My Search Query?

Think of a topic or question you would like

to search for.

Pick three or four keywords to use in your

search query.

What happens if you reorder them? Add

capitalization or punctuation? What if you

take out a word?

What Matters In My Search Query?

1Every word matters.

Try searching for [who], [the who], and [a who]

2Order matters.

Try searching for [blue sky] and [sky blue]

3Capitalization does not matter.

Try searching for [barack obama] and [Barack Obama]

4Punctuation does not matter.

Try searching for [red: delicious! apple?] and [red delicious apple]

*There are some exceptions!

Keyword Search

How do you come up with the right words to

search for? Can you remember a time when

you had trouble finding what you were

looking for? What makes certain searches

hard?

Tips For Better Searches

Use descriptive, specific words. Avoid general or common words.

3

Think of how the page you want will be written. Use words that are

likely to appear on the page.2

Keep it simple. Describe what you want in as few terms as

possible.1

Think Before You Search

What am I

looking for?

How would I

talk about this?

How would

someone else

talk about this?

What keywords could I use in my

search query?

Which of these keywords are common or

general words? Which would be more

specific? Are there better words I could

use?

What kind of

results am I

looking for?

Do I want a definition, a database, a list, a

map, an image, a video, or something else?

How can I

describe this

better?

What do I want? What am I trying to

find? What am I trying to find out?

Give It A Try!

Remember:

Keep it simple.

Use descriptive words.

Think of how the page you

want will be written.

And most importantly:

Think before you search!

Pick a topic you want to find out about

and brainstorm keywords to use in your

search query.

Choosing a Link

Does it matter which link you chose here?

Link Choice Can Matter

Would link choice make a difference here?

Give It a Try!

You are doing your homework on the early

days of our country.

Which of these searches find a screen full

of pretty helpful results, and where do you

have to be more choosy?

[colonial life]

[american revolution]

[treaty of paris]

The Anatomy of a Search Results Page

What are these parts called?

The Anatomy of a Search Results Page

1

2

34

56

1. Search Result

2. Title

3. Snippet

4. Web Address

5. Sponsored Link (Ad)

6. Left Panel

Ranking Results

How does Google's understanding of what I

want affect the order of my search results?

Think About What You See

What clues tell you if these results are about life in

the American Colonies?

Tips for Understanding Web Addresses

Is the domain name from a personal page hosting website?

For example: Homestead.com, Geocities.com, Tripod.com4

Is there a symbol (% or ~) or name, showing it is a personal page?

For example: %, ~, dchen, member, user3

What type of domain is it?

For example: .com, .edu, .gov, .ru, .info, etc.2

Have I heard of the domain?

For example: nytimes.com, lostagoodnews.com1

5Does the address tell what kind of file it is?

For example: pdf, xls, jpg

Chose the Best ResultWhat am I

looking for?

Do the words I

see match my

needs?

Go to the

next result

Do the snippet and title use the words I

looked for in the same way I do? Are

there other words that tell me it is about

something else?

Which of these keywords are common or

general words? Which would be more

specific? Are there better words I could

use?

What kind of

results am I

looking for?

Do I want a definition, a database, a list, a

map, an image, a video, or something else?

Do I want a presentation, a spreadsheet, or

something else?

What does the

web address tell

me?

What do I really want? What do I think it

will look like? What kind of site do I

think it will be on?

Click!

Go to the

next result

Go to the

next result Remember: look at a full screen of results

before deciding!

Working with Instant Search

Give It a Try!

Try a search and discuss what links you would chose. Give evidence

for your results.

What can I learn about my results from these web addresses?

www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq56-1.htm

www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/taiping.htm

britishbattles.homestead.com/eastasia.html

www.redcoat.me.uk/Rev-War.htm

scs.student.virginia.edu/~vjil/PDF/48_249-306.pdf

Type [walk the plank] into your Google search bar very slowly. What

different searches does Google Instant think you are doing while you

type?

Google Search Has Many Parts--Many Media

Which have you used before?

Universal Search

Which types of media appear here?

Navigating Your Options

Navigating Your Options

Give It a Try!

On a sailboat what

is the fore topmast

studding sail and

where does it go?

What type of media do you think will answer this fastest?

Search Challenge

...to get directions for how to get from Disney World to

Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida ... by bicycle?3

...to find out where Kermit the Frog appears in the

intro to The Muppet Show?2

..to find a map of Marco Polo's journey to China?

.1

Where would you go...

Google News

What is the news saying about mummies

of pharaohs?

Google News Archives

What did the news media say about them

in the past?

Google News Custom Date Range

And even farther in the past?

Google Books

What books can you find about plants that

were published between 1700 and 1800?

Give It a Try!

...the cover of Life Magazine from the month the

Vice President was born?3

...a newspaper article from the day you were

born?2

...books on baseball statistics from the 19th

Century?1

Can you find...

Credibility

How do you know something is true?

It Can Be How You Look At Things...

●Site #1: Average of 382,500 km

●Site #2: Average of 384,403 km

●Site #3: Between 225,622 and 252,088 miles

●Site #4: Average of 238,857 miles

Same search, different answers:

Why do you think these are different?

Tips: What To Think About

3

What do I know about the author or organization

providing this information?2

How much do I care for a precise, quality answer?

How much should I save up to buy that new phone?

What do I need to know for my report on the Civil War?

I want some recipe for homemade kettle corn?

1

Why was this page created?To inform me

To persuade me

To sell me something

To undermine someone or something

For another reason

Tips: What To Do

Know who wrote and published the pageFind "About" page

Check web address

Visit site's homepage

Google the author/organization

Use link:

Ask: Is this the right person to give me good information?

l

1

Check your factsCheck multiple sources

Identify the type of page

Look for bibliography

Check the date

Confirm in snopes.com

Spot known errors

Think: Use your common sense!

2

Give It a Try!

Use the tips you have learned and decide which of

the websites are true and which are hoaxes:

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/

http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

http://www.dhmo.org/

http://www.golfcross.com/

Credibility

Credibility is often harder to determine

than simply identifying a hoax site.

Did NASA fake the moon landing?

Try this search:

Testing the Lunar Landing Hoax

Follow the first link:

http://www.ufos-aliens.co.uk/cosmicapollo.html

Check it out. Do you find this site credible?

Give It a Try!

Brainstorm and select a

commonly debated potential fact.

Do you believe it, or not? Do the

research to decide....

Remember to ask:

Who is the author?

What is the page's purpose?

What are opposing viewpoints?

And most importantly:

What do your instincts tell you?

What is an Operator?

An operator is a symbol that modifies the

words or numbers around it.

You already know some operators!+

%" "

*

_

( )>

!

$ #

&

Google Search Operators

In search, an operator changes your search

query -- often with drastic results!

These operators can help you tweak, refine,

and narrow your search.

There are seven basic operators in Google

Search.

Exclusion (-)

The minus symbol (-) excludes words from

your search results.

Try these searches:

[panthers]

[panthers -sports]

What do you notice?

Inclusion (+)

The plus symbol (+) makes sure the word it

precedes is used exactly as you entered it.

Try these searches:

[ball]

[+ball]

What do you notice?

Similar Words (~)

The tilde symbol (~) includes similar words

in your search results.

Try these searches:

[food store]

[~food ~store]

What do you notice?

Multiple Words (OR)

The boolean "or" (OR) includes one, the

other, or both words in your search results.

Try these searches:

[curl straighten hair]

[curl OR straighten hair]

What do you notice?

Number Range (..)

The dot-dot symbol (..) includes a range of

numbers in your search results.

Try these searches:

[academy awards 1965]

[academy awards 1965..1973]

What do you notice?

Fill-in-the-Blank (*)

The star or asterisk symbol (*) leaves space

for a missing word in your search results.

Try these searches:

[dark and night]

[dark and * night]

What do you notice?

Exact Phrase (" ")

Double quotes (" ") include only the exact

phrase -- the exact words in the exact order

you entered them -- in your search results.

Try these searches:

[alexander bell]

["alexander bell"]

What do you notice?

Putting It All Together

• Exclusion (-)

• Inclusion (+)

• Similar Words (~)

• Multiple Words (OR)

• Number Range (..)

• Fill-in-the-Blank (*)

• Exact Phrase (" ")

Can you think of particular examples when

these search operators could help you?

"One-Box" Search Features

Google has learned there are certain kinds

of things that people search for all the time.

Movie times. Weather forecasts. Sports

scores. Local restaurants. Zip codes.

That's why Google has built-in "one-box"

search features to help you find exactly

what you need... right on the search results

page. Let's learn a few shortcuts to help you

locate "one-box" results.

Weather

See the four-day weather forecast for many

US and worldwide cities.

Try these searches:

[weather 90210]

[weather miami]

What do you notice?

Time

See the local time for many cities around

the world.

Try these searches:

[time london]

[time hong kong]

What do you notice?

Sports

See recent scores for your favorite sports

team.

Try these searches:

[boston red sox]

[new york yankees]

What do you notice?

Stocks

See up-to-the-minute stock quotes for

companies around the world.

Try these searches:

[stocks COKE]

[stocks PEP]

What do you notice?

Businesses

See stores and shops in your area.

Try these searches:

[thai food 94305]

[bookstore queens ny]

What do you notice?

Movies

See movie showtimes for your area, then

sort by specific movie, theater, or date.

Try these searches:

[movies 50301]

[movies seattle wa]

What do you notice?

Zip Codes

See the city name and map of the zip code

you're looking for.

Try these searches:

[77010]

[44123]

What do you notice?

Calculator

Use the Google Search bar as a calculator.

Try these searches:

[224.6 + 791 + 3]

[89 * 27]

What do you notice?

Conversions

Use the Google Search bar to convert units,

measurements, or currencies.

Try these searches:

[100 dollars in pesos]

[5 gallons in ounces]

What do you notice?

Spell Check

Use the Google Search bar as a spell-

checker.

Try these searches:

[cemetary]

[neccesary]

What do you notice?

Dictionary

See the definition of a word or phrase.

Try these searches:

[define right of way]

[define nebulous]

What do you notice?

Flights

Check the status of an airline flight -- origin,

destination, and take off and landing times.

Try these searches:

[american 45]

[continental 32]

What do you notice?

Earthquakes

See the most recent earthquakes (and their

magnitude!) around the world.

Try these searches:

[earthquakes baja california]

[earthquakes]

What do you notice?

Public Data

See the latest census information

(population, unemployment rates) for a

state or county.

Try these searches:

[unemployment rate california]

[population santa clara]

What do you notice?

Putting It All Together

Directions:

● Work individually or in teams.

● Use only the Google Search one-

box to find the answers.

● Refer to the Explore Google

Search page for help if needed.

● Some searches require a little

imagination! Guess the one-box

shortcut, and try it!

Google One-Box Scavenger Hunt

1.3456 + 78091 = ?

2.700000 / 89 = ?

3.What is 33% of 34,567?

4.How many inches are in 5 miles?

5.How many minutes are in 40 years?

6.What's the equivalent of $20 in rupees?

7.Name a movie and where it's playing in the 60637 zip code.

8.What is patent 20030095096 for?

9.What is the price of Electronic Arts stock today?

10.What's the population of Marin County?

11.How tall is Shaquille O'Neal?

12.When is Bill Clinton's birthday?

13.What's the predicted weather for Beverly Hills tomorrow?

14.What time is it in Beijing, China?

15.What time is it in Johannesburg, South Africa?

16.What is score of the last game played by your favorite in-

season sports team?

17.How many people live in the United States?

18.Correct the spelling of Misisippi.

19.What is the current unemployment rate in your home

county?

20.What will the weather be like three days from now in

Houston?

21.List a few comic book stores located in your local area.

22.List a G rated movie currently playing in the 60618 zip

code.

23.Where is American Airlines flight 177 taking off from and

landing?

24.What city has the zip code 94305?

25.What is the date of Napoleon's death?

Compare the Left Side of These Screens

What do you notice?

Give It a Try!

Try searching for something you

have been thinking about lately.

What tools in the left panel does

Google suggest you use?

A Closer Look

Remember these links?

A Closer Look

What happens when you

click these?

Features in the Left Panel

In 1990, two men stole 12 pieces of art from the Isabella

Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, valued at $300

million altogether.

[gardner museum theft]

Timeline view: Which dates have the most mentions of

the theft since it happened? Click on the timeline to find

out why they are important.

Date range: What coverage has there been of the theft in

the last year?

Sites with images: What do the stolen pieces look like?

Features in the Left Panel

The country Turkey is trying to join the European Union.

What are people in Turkey saying about this process?

[turkey european union]

Translated search: Read English translations of sites

written in Turkish. What are EU member states saying

about Turkey? Add German and French to find out.

Wonder wheel: What other searches might you want to

do on this subject?

Give It a Try!

Use the options on the left side of the page to solve

these problems more efficiently:

1. Do a quick search to identify the biggest oil spills in

the last fifty years. Then, use a different tool to find

pages from the last week that mention oil spills.

2. Reading about the Mars Rover for science class,

you know that you'll understand better if the text has

lots of pictures to help you. What do you do?

3. You want to read what people were saying in

different European countries about Paul the Octopus.

Find pages about Paul in different languages.