1. Think about words!

•      Use nouns, the more specific the better!
•     You need context – a basic understanding and overview of your topic. Using topic overviews, find new words, phrases, names and organizations – look for synonyms, related terms
•     Use subject headings in the library databases for new vocabulary, to help you understand broader and narrower topics
•      Use Clusty (http://clusty.com),  or Hakia (http://hakia.com), Some search engines offer subject headings, organizations, and more.

2. Use your Boolean techniques

•   AND (not all search engines and databases are as friendly as Google!) between words and phrases 
•  + (even Google likes the +)        
• - (when you are trying to eliminate words) 
•  “use quotation marks” when you want words kept together

3. Use sources that evaluate websites 

• databases from libraries
• the Librarians Internet Index (http://lii.org)
• Internet Public Library (http://ipl.org)
• Infomine: Scholarly Internet Resource Collections from UC
• AcademicInfo: "In-depth directory ... of the best and most useful links and resources within a specific subject area

4. Use the advanced search features (in databases, search engines or    directories)

·        Limit to type of domain ·        Limit to dates ·        Limit to languages

5. Use directories (e.g. Google directory) or Google Scholar

6.  Use your best resources to guide you to more resources

      Find a great article? What resources did the author/s use?   Go after those resources