Google Search Tips

Play around with keywords! Simply searching for your person may not bring you the best results. Searching for "Marco Polo" returned results including a video chat app, several Italian restaurants, and a Netflix movie.

Think about what your person was famous for and include that in your search. (ex. Marco Polo explorer).

You also may want to search for other subjects relevant to them. Did they write a book? Did they build an important piece of architecture?

Change the site domain! Try searching for either .edu or .gov sites.

Give Google Scholar a try! Scholar will give you the citations for the articles you find.

Finding Images

REMINDERS:

Start with the databases! Figuring out the citations for images you find via Google is tricky. The databases will give you the citations. All you have to do is copy/paste.

Remember, you need PRIMARY sources. All of your images (except maps) should be from the time period. Exceptions: pieces of art/architecture/objects/sculptures may be photographed today, but must have been made during the time period (or recreated).

You will need at least SEVEN images (1 main page and 6 posts).

Ready to move onto Google Images? You MUST VISIT THE ACTUAL PAGE that your image is found on. Do not cite "Google Images" as your source.

Think outside the box! There may not be that many (or any) pictures of your person. You may want to look for:

  • pictures of a book they've written, a piece of art they made, etc.

  • maps!!

  • pictures of the place(s) they lived

  • pictures of events that they may have been present for

*REMEMBER YOU NEED TO CITE ALL IMAGES!*

Need help citing? Try PURDUE OWL. 🦉

Format for a piece of art (in a museum or on a museum website):

Artist Last Name, First Initial of first name, (Year of release). Title of artwork [medium]. Name of museum, City, State, Country. URL of museum.

Format for a photograph:

Photographer last name, First Initial of first name. (Year of publication). Title of photograph [Photograph]. Source. URL.

Format for a map found online:

Map author. "Map title" In: Article author. "Article title", Journal title, Volume (Date).

Cover of a book: Author Last Name, Author First name. Cover Image. Title of Book, by Author Last name, Publisher (if available), year.