Search Strategies

Google Search Techniques

• Full questions = bad results:
  • What are some of the symptoms of Sickle cell anemia? (3,420,000)
• Use keywords:
  • Sickle cell anemia symptoms (508,000 results)
  • What words might someone else use to search for your topic? Think synonyms (America vs US)
  • Use KeyWord tool to help develop a list of related searches.
• Use quotes - it will search exactly what you put in the quotes. “Sickle cell anemia symptoms” (19,300)
• Related Searches - scroll down to the bottom of the page. (This works for Wikipedia too!)
• Advanced Search
  • Enter search term>Settings>Advanced Search
  • So many possibilities to pinpoint your search

Search Results

• Ctrl + F or Cmd + F (opens an on page find window)
• What’s in a URL
  • .gov, .edu, .com, .org, .mil, beware the ~
    • Example: https://en.wikiversity.org
  • Check out the “about” page on any website you are using to see who is putting the information out there.
  • Is there an “updated on…” date?
• Up-to-date results
  • Search the topic>Tools>Any time>Select time period

Citation help

Noodletools Express https://www.noodletools.com/noodlebib/express.php

Easybib

http://www.easybib.com/

Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html (entire site - see “Suggested Resources” on the left side)

• Sample MLA paper https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_sample_paper.html

• Sample MLA works cited page - https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/12/

• Sample APA paper https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_sample_paper.html

• Sample APA works cited - see “Reference List” entries on the left https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_basic_rules.html