8th Google Searching

Quick Google Search Tips

  • Start with KEYWORDS only, instead of the whole question

      • Use Google’s “related searches” or “people also ask” features to get other keyword ideas

  • use the minus sign - to get rid of words from your search

      • macaroni vs. macaroni -cheese

  • use the plus sign + to require a word in your search

  • use quotation marks “ ” to search for an exact phrase

      • good for names or quotes

  • use site: to search within a particular site or domain

      • Sudan civil war site:.edu

      • Kony Uganda site:nytimes.com

      • DO NOT put a space between site: and the website or domain!

  • Search by date

      • click “tools” then “any time” to find sources UPDATED within a particular range

How to evaluate a website

  • Start with what you know

      • Before you start reading the whole internet, make a note (mental or otherwise) of what you already know about the topic

      • Read a trusted source FIRST

  • As you read other sources, compare their info to what you know & what you learned from your trusted source

  • Look up unknown sources & authors to find out more about them (this is something Wikipedia is good for)

  • What’s the purpose of this website?