Assignments & Exams
LBR110 Effective Internet Searching
| Introductory Letter |
Unit 1 Assignment | Unit
2 Assignment |
Unit
3 Assignment |
Unit
4 Assignment |
Unit
5 Assignment |
Exam 1 |
Student Introductory Letter - Compose a letter of introduction and email it to me. My letter of introduction to you will give you further insight into the course.I must receive your introductory letter before any unit assignments or exams are submitted. Include the following elements in your letter:
-
personal email address (used when NVCC student mail is down)
-
two important dates: your withdraw date and end of enrollment date
-
work experience
-
computer experience
-
educational background especially NVCC courses
-
why are you taking LBR110?
-
how you intend to use effective searching skills in an occupational or educational setting?
- what search tool(s) do you currently use?
- what are the most helpful features of your favorite search tool?
- how do you revise your search strategy or search tool when you can't find the appropriate information that you need?
- what search skill do you most want to master?
- have you accessed the NVCC magazine databases from home?
- acknowledge that you have read the Start Here portion of the site
- acknowledge that you have logged onto the course WebBoard and reviewed the FAQ's and Announcements
- acknowledge that you understand what is required
when you see
proxy required beside a citation for a periodical article - special ADA accommodations you require to complete the course?
By sending this letter of introduction you are acknowledging two things:
1. your understanding that web sites mentioned in the assignments are "live" within the corresponding course unit and that assignments should be completed using material from the appropriate course unit.
2. you have read the instructor's letter of introduction and understand the contents
Assignment # I - Online
Environment
Use complete sentences and email
the answers to questions
1 -4 to me via NVCC email.
1. What are the two primary parts of
the World Wide Web? How are they different from each other?
2. Read either "Exploring the Invisible Web" or "Getting to Know the Invisible Web" and briefly summarize(1-3 sentences) the main points. Proxy required
3. Select one of the following invisible web resources and evaluate the ease of use and organization.
- Complete Planet
- Direct Search
- Invisible Web Catalog
4. What are the two most common
mistakes that students make when searching the world wide web?
5. Post the answer to the following question on the LBR110 WebBoard.
- Select InfoTrac-General Reference Center Gold
- Perform a subject search for Internet/Web Search Services
- Select Narrow by subdivision
- Identify 3 subdivisions that would help you understand search tools
Proxy
required - if NVCC student email is down, this service is
unavailable. You can visit an NVCC campus library and access the databases
at any time.
Assignment # 2 - Search Tools - Analysis and
Comparison
Use complete sentences and email
the answers to
questions 1 - 6 to me via NVCC email.
1. Identify and describe the 4 parts of a search tool.
2. Compare Yahoo and DMOZ (Open Directory project). Consider purpose, editors, site quality, and presentation of results.
3. Explain why the Librarian's Index to the Internet is a good "first step" in look for information.
4. What are the 3 R's of Teoma and how do they affect search results?
5. Explain how Google's PageRank system -- Link Popularity benefits users.
6. List 3 custom searches offered by HotBot that allow users to create very specific searches.
7. Post the answer to the following question on the LBR110 WebBoard. Subscribe to Search Day, the free newsletter published by Chris Sherman as part of Search Engine Watch. Select one article from the latest issue and provide the following:
- article title
- summarize the contents
- date of issue
Assignment
# 3 - Applied Searching
- Techniques
Use complete sentences and email
the answers to 1 - 5 to me
using NVCC email.
1. Visit NVCC's How to choose a search engine site and identify a
search tool that can do the following:
find quality sites reviewed by professions and
rated ____________
find a very specific or unusual topic and need a large
tool ____________
narrow a broad topic _____________
2. Select one of the search requests below, create an
effective search expression using search techniques mentioned in this unit
that would find the most specific and relevant information (do NOT merely
repeat the words as they are listed) and apply that search to a single
search engine of your choice.:
I need information about the Jicarilla apache legend or story about the fox and the porcupine.
I need information about the United States Marine Corps mascot, Sergeant Chesty XI.
Search expression:
Name of Search tool:
Number of results:
3.
Use either the Alta Vista Image option or Google Image feature
and perform an effective search for an image of one of
the topics below:
ruby throated hummingbird
Silk Road map
Niagara Falls
How many images did you find?
Describe search strategy:
Name of search tool :
4. Select Vivisimo and look for information about A Place to Stay, a movie about crop circles for which Colin Andrews served as a consultant. How can you use the clustered results feature in Vivisimo to help you find relevant information.
5. Perform an advanced search using Google, MSN, or AlltheWeb to locate a .org site about one of the following topics:
medical
use of marijuana
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Describe your search strategy , provide the URL of the first site, and give total number of sites found.
6. Post the answer to
this question on the LBR110 WebBoard.
Read the article entitled Seven stupid searching mistakes and
identify two mistakes that you will correct after reading the article.
Assignment # 4 - Site Evaluation
Use complete sentences and email
the answers to 1 - 5 to
me using NVCC email.
1.
Select one of the sites listed and evaluate its content and
authority.
www.3fatchicks.com
www.nvcc.edu/home/ataormina/wdc/
www.fraud.org/
2.
Select one of the sites listed and identify its bias or point of view.
Follow a few links on the site to determine what position the site
represents.
www.martinlutherking.org/
www.guerrillagirls.com/
www.whitehouse.net
3.
Select one of the sites listed and explain its purpose.
www.cast.org/bobby/
www.sca.org/
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214481/index.htm
4.
Compare the organization and navigation of either group of web sites.
1. www.usafreedomcorps.gov
www.peacecorps.org/indexf.cfm
2. www.dmband.com/index.asp
www.rollingstone.com/
5. Perform a words in title search (advanced search) using a single search engine of your choice and locate a .com site on a topic of your choice.
Title of
site:
URL of site:
Describe your search
strategy and name the search tool.
Evaluate the site using the Widener
University criteria for a Business page.
6. Post the answer to the following
question on the LBR110 WebBoard.
Read Mary Elaine Block's article Gullible's
Travels and identify the most helpful tip .
Assignment #5
- Site Submission
Use complete sentences and
email the
answers to 1 -5 to me using NVCC email.
1. Select one of the sites below and
use the view source option to examine the keyword and
content meta tags. List some of the meta tags and
evalute if they reflect the site
content (why or why not)?
www.ibdb.com/default.asp
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/
www.ldteens.org/
2. Identify two search tools that offer users the opportunity to submit or suggest a web site (not Excite or Lycos). Provide the URL for the site submission/suggestion link
#1 URL
--
#2 URL --
3. Explain two ways the links to a URL feature (HotBot, Google, AlltheWeb) can help a web site designer.
4. Visit the Wayback Machine and search for one of the search tools mentioned in LBR110 (for ex. Google, AlltheWeb, Yahoo, DMOZ etc.). Select the earliest possible date and briefly describe how the site design has changed.
5. Choose one of the following terms and
use a web site to define it in your own words :
gatored
web ring
cloaking
bots
web log
portal
vortal
paid placement
- List the URL and title of the source you used to explain the term.
- Define the term using your own words.
6. Post the answer to the following question on the LBR110
WebBoard.
Post one question about searching that remains unanswered for you?
Exam 1 - Web Search
Visit an NVCC learning lab/testing center to take the Web Search
proctored exam. You should allow 1 -1/2 hours to complete the exam.
Bring
the following:
1.
Exam #1 pass
2. photo ID
The Learning Lab Assistant will give you a topic . Use Microsoft Word to type up (double-spaced) the answers to the questions below. The Learning Lab staff will help you save and print the exam to be turned in.
Be complete in your analysis
of search process and results. Comparative comments should be specific and
thorough. Your grade will be based on the quality of your
search strategy and your analysis of search results according to the table
below.
| Skill to be assessed | Point Value |
| Using correct 3 tool(s) | 3 |
| Demonstrating and describing effective search strategy | 8 |
| Critique results using criteria | 7 |
| Selecting & explaining most useful tool | 2 |
| 20 possible points |
Search for the topic using 1 - 3 below:
1. About.com
or Librarian's
Index to the Internet
2. DMOZ or Yahoo
3. a single search engine of
your choice (not Yahoo or DMOZ)
Type your name, date, and social security number on the exam.
(mandatory)
Identify the topic and list the 3 search tools
used (3 points)
Create effective search expressions (show all search
attempts)(4 points)
Describe and demonstrate effective search strategy
(4 points)
Review the first screen of results returned by
each tool .
Critique the results in terms of the result display
format, relevance, quality, annotations, duplicate pages within a
site, and
dead links. (7 points)
Indicate which search tool provided the most useful results and why?
(2 points)
Exam 2 - Web Site Evaluation
Visit an NVCC learning lab/testing center to take the Web Site Evaluation
proctored exam. You should allow 1 - 1/2 hours to complete the exam.
Bring
the following:
1. Exam
#2 pass
2. photo ID
Use
Microsoft Word to type up (double-spaced) your evaluations. Print out a copy of your
answers and turn it into the Learning Lab staff.
If you need assistance with saving and printing the Learning Lab staff
will assist you. Be thorough, specific, and critical in your analysis
of the web sites. Your grade will be based on the quality of
your search strategy and the analysis of the sites according to the table
below.
| Skill to be assessed | Point value |
| Identifying & using advanced search | 2 |
| Provide title & URL of 3 domains & list # of results for each | 3 |
| Demonstrating & describing effective search strategy | 8 |
| Site comparison using criteria | 7 |
| 20 possible points |
The Learning Lab will give you a topic. Use the Advanced Search option for AlltheWeb or MSN to locate the following English language sites about that topic:
- one .edu site
- one .org site
- one .com site
Type your name, date, and social security number on the exam.
(mandatory)
Identify the search tool and advanced search option selected. (2
points)
Provide the title and URL of the three sites to being compared.
List the number of results for each domain searched. (3 points)
Describe your
search strategy and list the search terms inserted into
advanced search form. (8 points)
Compare the sites in terms of
purpose, content, authority, bias, organization, and navigation, and
currency. (7 points)
For information contact jegan@nvcc.edu
Last revision February 02, 2003