1. Research Like a Rock Star
Use Murphy’s Laws & Become a
Research Superstar

2. Information Sources What Should You Use and When?
Book (Monograph)
Online Database Articles (Scholarly Journal articles, Magazine & Newspaper articles)
Magazines
Newspaper
Wikis
Blogs
Advocacy Websites

3. Ms. Murphy’s Recommendations for Everyone doing Research Papers
Read an Encyclopedia Article (either Grolier or Britannica)
Search Destiny (Online Catalog) for books (both print and eBooks).
Search Databases, specifically SIRS and Academic Search Premier, and eBook databases.
Search Other Library Databases
Find Scholarly Articles or Vetted articles from the internet.
Library Catalog

4. Murphy’s Law #1 Use short phrases to search
When using online databases use short search phrases or individual words to search.
When using web browsers like Google or Bing use complete sentences to search. (Remember any websites used during research must be vetted using the website test document available on Ms. Murphy’s teacher page; turn in attached to your source card.)

5. Murphy’s Law #2 Use Advanced Search Features!
Use Boolean Operators.
“” Use quotes to search for an exact word or set of words.
Add a dash (-) before a word or site to exclude all results that include that word.
~ Add a tilde sign (~) immediately in front of a word to search for that word as well as even more synonyms.
* Use an asterisk (*) within a query as a placeholder for any unknown or "wildcard" terms.

6. Let’s Practice with some of your Topics!
Holocaust
Madonna
World War II
Jacqueline Kennedy
Hitler
The Jungle
Soccer
DNA
9/11
Astronomy
Internet
12. Napoleon Bonaparte 13. George Jones 14. Audrey Hepburn Library Catalog

7. Murphy’s Law # 3
Only use sources that have authority, and don’t forget your website site forms if you use webpages as sources.
State of Disbelief
ALWAYS CITE YOUR SOURCES.
Database articles will have the citation provided!