Internet+Research+5



=**Lesson Plan 5 : Search Engines**=


 * Aim:**

What is a search engine?


 * Common Core State Standards:**


 * CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.7** Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.


 * CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.8** Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.


 * Objectives:**


 * Students will learn how to distinguish search engines from directories and when to use them.


 * Vocabulary:**


 * search engine
 * spider
 * bot
 * Web crawler
 * Meta tag keywords
 * full-text searching
 * index


 * Class Activity:**

1) You will use four different search engines for this assignment: Google, Ask.com, Yahoo! Search, and Bing to find Web pages that contain information about global warming. As you use each search engine, carefully review each search results page to note the differences in the first 10 hits, the position of paid placement or sponsored listings, and any other features offered by the search engine. To make it easy on yourself, open several tabs at once to make it easy to switch back and forth between search engines. To do this, hold down the command key and hit t (Mac) or hold down the control key and hit t (PC).

2) Note the similarities and differences of the search results you get. For example, where does the site globalwarming.org appear in the search results of each? First, second, third? Why do you think that different search engines place search results in different orders? Also note the similarities and differences in the ads on each results page. What are the URLs of the ads? Are there some ads on one search engine that are not on other search engines? Why do you think this is?

3) Now perform a search in each engine on a topic of your choice. What is your topic? Answer the above questions about the search results you get for your topic.

4) Record all of your answers by creating a new page on your wiki and labeling it "Internet Research 5" along with today's date.