Strategic Web Searching 

• Search_Worksheet.pdf - print out and write on it
• Search_Worksheet.doc - open, make a copy and type in it

1.  Clearly define your research topic/question (Write it down)  
   
2.  Choose keywords (usually 2-4 words) 
   
3.  Add some helper words to refine your search. 
   •  Focus on one side of an issue:   Pro, support, con, against   
   •  Find the numbers: Facts, figures, statistics   
   • Find out what have others have done: Program, system, method, history   
   • Add a preferred source: gov, edu, museum, national, state, scientific, news
    
4.  Apply search strategies to get MORE. 
   • Try Synonyms: A different word with same meaning  
   • Use Quotes to search for the exact phrase (these words in this order)
     • "White House" instead of White House 
     • "Declaration of Independence" instead of Declaration of Independence
   • Use the minus sign: to remove all sources containing that word
     • mango producers –mexico  
     • animal rights -PETA
   • Use OR: to combine several searches
     • National Park yosemite OR redwood
     • famous church Argentina OR Chile 
    
5.  Record search terms tried and websites found as you do your research. 

1. Topic/question:  What can students do to prevent bullying from happening in schools?
2. Keywords:  students prevent bullying
3. Helper words:  against facts statistics program edu gov
4. More strategies: none look useful
5. Searches to try
   • students prevent bullying
   • students against bullying
   • students prevent bullying program
   • students prevent bullying program facts
   • students prevent bullying statistics gov
   • keep trying combinations until you find what you are looking for
    

1. Topic/question: Should football be outlawed because of the risk of head injuries?
2. Keywords:  football outlawed risk head injuries
3. Helper words:  against history statistics news scientific
4. More strategies:  
   • quotes "head injury"
   • synonym for "head injury" -> concussion
   • sort of synonym for football -> NFL
   • synonym for outlawed -> banned 
    
5. Searches to try
   • football "head injury" risk statistics
   • NFL concussion statistics
   • football banned concussion risk
   • news facts "head injury" football
   • concussion risk football scientific
   • keep trying combinations until you find what you are looking for
    

Example web search

1. Topic/question: What do most of the people in the world eat to get protein? 
2. Keywords:  people eat world protein 
3. Helper words:  facts history scientific 
4. More strategies:  sort of synonym for eat ->diet 
   • synonym for "people in the world" -> "global population" 
   • get protein -> protein source   
    
5. Searches to try       
   •  world protein source facts 
   •  "global population" protein source 
   •  world diet protein scientific 
   •  world diet protein gov facts 
   • keep trying combinations until you find what you are looking for