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12 DE - Banned Book Project: Websites

Google Search Tip

Google has no idea what your search words mean. It looks for web pages where those words appear. 

Know what you're looking for and use related words or synonyms to get better search results. 

Why? Read about how Google's search algorithm works here. 

Important Information

  • Choose a book you have never read before.
  • The book must be age appropriate- no Captain Underpants or Harry Potter.
  • The book must be banned in the United States by a school.
  • One title/series per class- if someone else claimed the book you cannot do the same book, too.
  • Books assigned for school cannot be used, including optional summer reads.
  • Your teacher has final book approval.

Look For:

  • Author Websites
  • Publisher Websites
  • Author Interviews
  • Librarian or Teacher Interviews
  • Newspaper Articles

Advanced Searching

Become a Power User with Boolean Operators
Boolean Operators save you time and get better search results. 

This helps you become a more efficient student, but also works when you're Googling or even in online shopping.

Evaluating Websites

THINK BEFORE YOU ACCEPT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED ON A WEBSITE

Evaluate websites before you use them:

  • Does this website have information that I need?

  • Who wrote the information on this website? Can I contact them?

  • How do I know this person is an expert on this subject?

  • When was the website last updated?  Is this information still up-to-date?

  • What is the purpose of this website?  Is it to provide information, or is it trying to entertain me or to sell me something?

  • Is this information objective?  Does it represent more than one opinion?

  • Who owns the website?

Wikipedia is NOT a reliable academic source!

Better Googling

Google logo with checkmark

("climate change" OR "global warming") AND sea level site:.gov

174,000 results

Google logo with X mark

How does climate change affect sea level?

3,150,000 results

Here's how to craft a better search to get fewer and more relevant results:

  • Identify the main ideas in your research question.
          How does climate change affect sea level?
     
  • Connect the main ideas with AND.
          climate change AND sea level
     
  • Use quotation marks around 2 or more words.
          "climate change" AND "sea level"
     
  • Use OR between synonyms/related terms.
          ("climate change" OR "global warming") AND sea level
     
  • Limit your search to a specific domain, such as .edu, .gov, or .org.
          ("climate change" OR "global warming") AND sea level site:.gov

More information on advanced Google searching and Google Scholar.

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