1. Doing Research on the Internet

2. Picking a Search Engine Google –The world will never be the same! –One of the most comprehensive sites for searching –Learn to use the best or correct search terms for the best results

3. Other helpful sites Dogpile.com –Compiles all the major search engines into one website Yahoo and MSN –Searches like google and will turn up different pages

4. Search Terms Use the less ‘reliable’ sites like Wikipedia to find search terms that will lead you to better sources Try different search engines, different terms, and even searching related topics to find what you are looking for Don’t get frustrated with too much or too little information –Too much, narrow your search more specifically Dolphins environmental conservation –Too little, broaden your search Feeding habits of Dolphins to Dolphins food

5. Choosing a Good Resource http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/ http://www.dhmo.org/ You don’t want to look silly! Don’t forget your common sense!!! Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s real!

6. What’s in a name? Look at the end of the url –edu –org –gov Universities or other institutions where research is done or funded are always good resources

7. Accuracy Look for a reliable source from someone who knows what they are talking about! Look for an author, if they aren’t willing to claim their work why should you? If not an author a company or institution

8. Objectivity Is the site biased? Do they seem to push one side of the story? Do they have a strong opinion? Is there enough information?

9. Other Resources A reliable site will reference many other sites or places where further research can be done Typically there are a list of references that are not always electronic included. Look for copy rights and other indications the site is paid for

10. Ponds? Lakes? All Stems Old, grows new each year So you found some articles… now what? Equisetum hyemale Horsetail is a very primitive perennial plant with dark-green hollow, jointed or segmented stems 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick with no true leaves. Stems may be singular or have whorls of branches. Only single stems produce the cone-shaped spore producing body at the tip. Horsetails can be standing in water or in wet areas. Horsetail stems contain silicon crystals (i.e. sand) embedded in its tissue. This gritty texture gives it a common name of "scouring rush".

11. Use your notes… NOT THE WORDS OF THE ARTICLE Equisetum hyemale: commonly called horsetails or scouring rush Found in wet marshy areas like ponds No true leaves, just bundles of stems Grows new each year from seeds produced from the cone shaped spore at the top of the single stem Get the name scouring rush from the silicon sand like grains found in the stems

12. Plant Structure Diagram shows the ‘cone spore’ Segmented stems

13. Citations "AquaPlant." Horsetails. Texas AgriLife Extention Service, 2010. Web. 12 Jul 2010..

14. Making PowerPoint work for you First choose a slide design from “tools” “slide design” Some have automatic formatting that will mess up your slides if you get too far into your presentation before settling on one. Be careful with colors! Make sure they are easy to read… –This is NOT a good choice Take your time, check your grammar Size pictures accordingly

15. Using PowerPoint Don’t get caught up in “making it look good”… your research is more important! Don’t put too much on one slide (I’m guilty of this) Do have more information to talk about then what is on the slide Do use pictures that look clear and easy to see Do use appropriate animations