10th Grade
Research
Paper
Instructions
 Read over the instructions.
 Are there any questions about what is on the
paper?
ISN : Project Overview
 Take notes on the remaining slides.
 Cornelling is optional
Review the Prompt
 Brainstorm specifics for the following:
 What is humanity?
 How can a person/group have a
positive influence on humanity?
 How can a person/group have a
negative influence on humanity?
Wading Through the Web
Conducting Research on the
Internet
Wading Through the Web
1. You’ve already compared and contrasted the Internet and
books or other texts with your class. Can you think of any
other ways they are different? The same?
Internet
Books/Text
•Anyone can publish a Web page
•No one checks to see if the
information is true or false
•Both provide sources
of information
•There are millions of places to look
for information
•Both are viewed by
•Using the Internet is much quicker millions of people each
day
•You can narrow down what you’re
looking for more easily
•The Internet uses search engines
•A book has to be published by a
publishing company
•Editors check and verify the
information
•Looking for a book can be more
time consuming
•You have to visit a library
•The library uses the Dewey
Decimal System
How to Search on the
Internet
Wading Through the Web
2. How to Search on the Internet
 Most search engines have something called
an Advanced Search. An advanced search
allows you to be more specific about what
type of information you are looking for.
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When you visit a search engine, the Advanced
Search page is a great place to start!
Ex: If using Google, click on settings, and then
choose “Advanced Search.”
Wading Through the Web
2. How to Search on the Internet
 Most Internet search engines also allow you to use a set of words or
symbols to narrow your search.
 AND – use this word when you want to find two words together. For
example “Vasco da Gama AND voyage”
 OR – use this when you can accept a couple of words. For example,
“Vasco da Gama OR European explorers”
 - (minus sign) – use this symbol when you want to exclude a word.
For example, “Vasco da Gama -hotel”
 + (plus sign)– See above
 “quotations” – use quotation marks when you are searching for an
exact phrase. For example, if you were searching for a book title, you
could type “The Voyage of Vasco da Gama” in quotations and the
search engine will look for that exact phrase.
Recognizing Reliable
Websites
Reliable Cites
 Who wrote the information?

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Can you identify the author?
What is his education, training, or experience in
regards to the content?
Is the author connected with an organization? If
so can you determine if it is a respected
organization? Name it.
Can you contact the author/company? How?
If the author is unnamed, can you take extra
steps to find information about the author?
Reliable Cites
 When was the article written?
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Does the author include a date for the
information?
Is it important that the information be current?
Do the links on the site work, or are they
outdated?
Reliable Cites
 Can the information be verified for accuracy?
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What sources does the author of this information
use?
Are the sources listed/linked in the article?
Does the author include a works cited or other
links to provide additional resources or original
source information?
Are there identified sources for any data or
statistics that are provided?
Unreliable Cites
 Usually include

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grammar errors
emotional language
biased or informal tones
 Most wiki sites, including Wikipedia
 Q&A sites (Ex: Yahoo Answers; ask.com)
When all else fails
• One simple way to tell if a site is reliable is to look at
who runs the site. Usually, looking at the first
section of a web address will tell you where it came
from. If it came from a museum, university, or some
other place you’ve heard of, chances are that it can
be trusted.
•
Such websites will usually end in an .edu or .org
rather than .com
Session 3: How to Cite
Internet Sources
MLA Source Citation
 Purdue Online Writing Lab

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/0
8/
 Son of Citation Machine (a link on the vvhs
website)

http://citationmachine.net/iPad/index.php?microm
ode=mla
Choosing a topic
 Would you rather research a hero or villain?
 Someone you already know about or
someone completely new?
 Narrow down to your top 2 choices.

One will be a back-up in case your research
doesn’t go well on day 1.
 Email Ms. Martin at kmartin@mvusd.net with
your name and your 2 topics in the body of
the message.
On Monday
 Bring the following:


Textbook
Index cards, any size, (you need at least 30)
 Prefer one side to be lined; colored if possible

Multiple colored highlighters
 Source Cards


You will be responsible for color coding your
cards.
Review handout. Any questions?