Brittany Butler, Library Media Specialist, BGHS Adapted from “Teaching the Ten Steps to Better Web Research” by Dulcinea Media

10 1. Database 2. Google 3. Wikipedia

10 1. Try another search engine. 2. Ask for help. 3. Use the first site listed

1. It’s on Wikipedia...duh! 2. It sounds good to me and/or looks right. 3. It was written by an organization. 4. None of the above

1. Never 2. Sometimes 3. Every time I click on a website!

1. Never 2. Sometimes 3. Every time I click on a website!

 Search Engines may not be the best way to start.  Try a database first, like Ebsco, through KYVL.org.  Use teacher/librarian suggested websites.

 Try sweetsearch.com instead of Google  Zuula.com (ads are easier to spot)

 Don’t just click on the first link!  Don’t stop on the first page of results!

 Define your task.  What are you looking for?  Can you write out the assignment in your own words?

 Use AND and OR and NOT  Use quotes  Advanced Search Options

 Who Wrote This website/article?  Why Did They Write This? Advertisement? Political Agenda? Why Wikipedia isn’t reliable. Stephen Colbert: Wikilobbying  When Did They Write This?

 Find photos, diaries, newspaper articles.  Find articles written at the time of the event (Eyewitness accounts).

 Do a search for the author/organization to check reliability.  If you don’t know who wrote the article or website, DON’T USE IT AS A SOURCE!

 Is this article promoting someone’s agenda? Ex: “HFCS is fine because it’s corn!” (Brought to you by the National Corn Growers of America)  Ask, “Is someone trying to sell me something?”

 Remember not to rely on just one search engine.  Verify accuracy of info using another search engine.

 Colbert coins term “Wikilobbying” 