USE GALE (on Homepage or SSO)

👉 Start here for reliable information + different viewpoints

💡 Tips:

• Go to "Opposing Viewpoints"

• Use "Topic Finder" on the bottom of the page to narrow your focus

• Click “Viewpoints” to see both sides

• Scan before reading (title + first paragraph)

• Find at least 2 sources

🗣️ “If all your sources agree… you’re not researching.”

👉 Don’t trust it until you see it in at least 2 reliable places

✔️ Good places to check:

• Another database (like Gale)

• 🇺🇸 .gov sites

• 🎓 .edu sites

• 📰 Trusted sources (like PBS)

🚩 Red Flags:

• Only one source says it

• No evidence or data (no facts, numbers, or studies)

• Sounds overly dramatic ("Obviously...", "Everyone knows...", "This will destroy...")

📅  Check the Date

• is this current?

✔️ Important for:

• technology

• health

• current events

❌ Red flag:

• Very old info being used as fact

Google is powerful—but only if you search the right way.

🔎 Try:

• topic + pros and cons

• site:.gov + topic

• site:.edu + topic

• Place words in "quotation marks" to make sure they get searched in that exact order.

• Place a + sign before a word to make sure it gets included (ex. jaguar +car)

• Place a - sign before a word to make sure it does not get included (ex. jaguar -car)

⚠️ Be careful:

• Blogs or random websites

• Social media or YouTube as “proof”

🧠 Quick Trust Test: 

🔗HOW SEARCH WORKS 🔗

Ask:

• Does it have facts or evidence?

• Does it show more than one side?

• Can I find this in another reliable source?