Students’ Guide to Web Search
Expand All Guide SectionsHow Search Engines Work
Using search engines such as Google or Yahoo is one of the fastest ways to find information on the ... read more »
Using Search Engines to Get Better Search Results
Did you know there are lots of ways to make search engines find better results? There are even ... read more »
Evaluating Web Sites
Search engines can’t tell whether a site has reliable or credible information. Even search ... read more »
Starting an Online Research Project
The most obvious places to start looking for facts online are search engines, but they’re not always the best places to get reliable information. Library Web pages are also an excellent source of trustworthy information you can use for school projects and papers. If you're starting an online research project, use the sites below to find the best sources for conducting research, and learn how to cite (give credit to) the sources of your research.
Insights for Starting an Online Research Project
- At-home researchers can get search tips from libraries or librarians by going onto a school or county library Web site from their own computers. These sites often have sections specifically for students, including homework help resources. Libweb lists library Web sites by state.
- Students need to keep track of where they get their information (online or otherwise), and cite (that is, give credit to) the sources used in their reports or papers. The sites in this section help track and create citations for Web (or any other) reference material. We explain how to credit a source for your bibliography in the “How to Cite a Source” section of our Guide to Web Search. When creating citations for a class, check with a teacher to see what citation style is needed.
- Learn how to use lots of cool tools, like Delicious and StumbleUpon, to organize your research in the “Social Bookmarking Tools” section of our Guide to Web Search.
- For Web resources that can help you with homework, be sure to see the “Elementary, Middle and High School Student Resources” section of the Education Web Guide.
Top Sites for Starting an Online Research Project
