1. Effective research tips

3. Books or the Internet?
There are many ways to find facts about your research topic, but how can you choose the best sources?

4. Internet
1. Anyone can publish a Web page
2. No one checks to see if the information is true or false
3. There are millions of places to look for information
4. Using the Internet is much quicker
5. You can narrow down what you’re looking for more easily
6. The Internet uses search engines
Books/Text
1. A book has to be published by a publishing company
2. Editors check and verify the information
3. Looking for a book can be more time consuming
4. You have to visit a library
5. The library uses the Dewey Decimal System

5. What If I Want To Find a Book?
There are two options for books/print materials:
Look in our library! Go to and click on Library.
Find ebooks online. Go to the Tennessee Electronic Library for a large selection of school approved ebooks.

6. What If I Want To Use the Internet?
Choose your search engine
Google, Yahoo, Bing
Educational Databases – Tennessee Electronic Library
2. Enter the search terms – be specific!

7. How Can I Tell If A Website
Is Credible?
Does the website have:
An author?
A publication date?
Look for:
Grammar errors
Inaccurate information
What about Wikipedia?

8. Citing Your Sources
It is important and necessary to cite the sources where you find your information.