This Assignment is Due at the end of class

Please Answer All Questions in Full, Complete Sentences to Receive Full Marks

Part I : Exercise #1: Categorizing Search Tools

For each site, study the interface (the web page itself & how you are allowed to interact with it) and read the help files (or FAQ). Then select the category from the list below each tool, which best describes that tool. You may select more than one category for a tool if the tool can be used in more than one way.

1. AltaVista (http://www.altavista.com)
   • Directory
     
   • Search Engine
   • Meta-Site
2. Dogpile (http://www.dogpile.com)
   • Directory
     
   • Search Engine
   • Meta-Site
3. Yahoo (http://www.yahoo.com)
   • Directory
     
   • Search Engine
   • Meta-Site
4. Lycos (http://www.lycos.com)
   • Directory
     
   • Search Engine
   • Meta-Site
5. Google (http://www.google.com)
   • Directory
     
   • Search Engine
   • Meta-Site

Part II : Lesson One - Understanding the Inner-Workings of Tools. Please answer in FULL COMPLETE sentences

Visit the three search tools listed below. At each site, read the help files or FAQ to determine the answers to the questions. You can answer all of the questions without performing a search.

1. Study the AltaVista site (http://altavista.com). Hint: Click on the Help link to read the help files.

a) In the AltaVista advanced search tool, what Boolean Expressions can be used?

Hint: Click on the Advanced Search link to move to the Advanced search tool and read.


b) In the Alta Vista simple search tool, can users use Boolean logic?


c) In either the AltaVista simple or advanced search page, can you change the way results are displayed? If so, how?

2. Study the Mamma site (http://www.mamma.com). Hint: Click on the Power Search links for helpful information.

a) Does Mamma support phrase searching? ie. Can you search for a phrase such as, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?
b) How can you search MP3 sites in mamma? Hint : Where it gives you the option of searching "the web", choose "audio" and see what comes up.
c) Can you Use the Boolean search options AND and OR at the same time with Mamma? Why or Why not?

3. Study the Yahoo site (http://www.yahoo.com). Hint: Click on the Advanced Search link to view the Search Options page.

a) Can you ask Yahoo to restrict search results to include pages that have been added during a specific time frame (such as the past number of years, weeks, days).
b) Does Yahoo permit phrase searching? (Try looking in Advanced Search Syntax). If so, how do you do it?
c) Does Yahoo give the user any control over how page results are displayed? If so, what are your choices?

Congratulations You're Finished - Please hand in your Assignment.