05.05 - Search Terms and Unreliable Sources

Our focus in today's class was on finding reliable sources using targeted search terms and information from unreliable sources. To help people in this process, I handed out a Google help sheet (see handouts below) which we reviewed in class. Some of the more useful elements we focused on were:
- the "Keep It Simple" section
- "OR" under the "Broad Searching" category
- " " and - under the "Targeted Searching" category

Then, we looked at how to use information from unreliable sources to come up with search terms that would help people find reliable sources with good information (see handout below). The most helpful search terms were ones that made use of the search tips from the class handout and specific words and phrases from the reading.

For example:
"John Cook" + Hawaii
was better than surfing hawaii

polynesia + surfing
was better than just polynesia

In the remaining time of class, we finished making adjustments to the sources spreadsheet and revised bibliographic entries for yesterday's class site blog post.

Submitted Today:

• Project focus declaration 

Handouts:

• Google Cheat Sheet Search Tips
• Google for Research: Search Tips
• Activity: Using Unreliable Sources

Homework:

• Use the website citation sheet to cite today's blog post on your sources sheet that we created today in class.
• If you did not do so for today's class, complete your project focus declaration sheet.