The Golden Rule

Attempt → Hint → Verify → Produce. Draft your question (Attempt), try two or three smart queries (Hint), open two reliable sources and cross-check (Verify), then write your note and cite (Produce).

Step 2: Use Smart Operators (cut the noise)

These mini-tools make search powerfully precise:

• Quotes " " → exact phrase: "compound interest"

• Minus - → remove junk: compound interest -calculator

• Site site: → search one domain: site:.gov.lk or site:cbsl.gov.lk

• File type filetype:pdf → get printable reports/guides

• OR → include either word: inflation OR price level

• Year filter (Search tools) → last year / last 5 years for freshness

Sri Lanka shortcuts

• Government & exams: site:.gov.lk, site:doenets.lk

• Statistics: site:cbsl.gov.lk, site:statistics.gov.lk

• Universities: site:.ac.lk

• Health/standards: site:health.gov.lk, recognized NGOs

“Operators are like filters on a tap—you want clean water fast.”

Step 3: Scan Results Like a Pro (URL, date, snippet)

Don’t click everything. Scan first:

• URL: is it official (gov, edu, recognised org/newspaper)?

• Date: is it recent enough for your topic? (Economics changes; physics definitions don’t.)

• Snippet: does it answer your exact question or just mention keywords?

Open two promising tabs from different sources. Diversity reduces the chance of repeating an error.

Bad vs Better — Click Choices

Step 4: Verify Claims (SIFT + two-source rule)

Use SIFT quickly:

1. Stop — pause the scroll; ask “Who says this?”

2. Investigate the source — check About page, reputation, or who funds it.

3. Find better coverage — look for another strong source saying the same thing.

4. Trace to the original — if a stat is quoted, find the report or dataset.

Two-source rule: if a number matters, confirm it twice (ideally one official + one independent). If sources differ, say so and prefer the primary/original.

Wikipedia? Good for orientation and links, not a final source. Click its citations and use those.

“If it’s important enough to include, it’s important enough to verify.”

Step 5: Take Quick Notes (then write a 200-word mini-answer)

Create a short Research Note in Docs:

• Question (one line)

• Key points (3–5 bullets from source A + source B)

• One short paragraph (your words) answering the question

• Works Cited (2 items, cleanly formatted)

Write in your own words. If you copy a phrase (≤ a few words), put it in quotes and cite. Avoid chunked copy-paste—teachers can see it, and you won’t remember it later.

Step 6: Build a Simple Works Cited (clean and consistent)

You don’t need fancy citation software for everyday notes. Use a simple, consistent format:

Author/Org. “Page Title.” Site/Publisher, Year (or full date). URL (accessed Day Mon Year).

Examples (templates, fill yours):

• Central Bank of Sri Lanka. “Annual Inflation – Concepts & Measurement.” cbsl.gov.lk, 2024. URL. (accessed 06 Sep 2025).

• University of Colombo – Dept. of Economics. “Understanding Compound Interest.” econ.cmb.ac.lk, 2023. URL. (accessed 06 Sep 2025).

In Docs, put Works Cited in a little box or table at the end so it prints neatly. (You’ll formalise citations more in higher studies; for now, be clear and traceable.)

Step 7: Produce a Shareable PDF (light and printable)

When your mini-note is done:

• Run a quick fact check again (dates, numbers, spelling).

• Export as PDF to Outputs (Lesson 3 practice).

• Reopen the PDF on your phone to ensure the Sinhala/Tamil words display correctly if included.

For group submissions, send the PDF plus a view-only link to the Doc.

Bad vs Better (Queries & Notes)

Essentials vs Nice-to-Have

Guided Practice: Build Your Research Mini-Note

Topic options (choose one): A) “Does compound interest beat high inflation?” B) “Top three causes of phishing in Sri Lanka and how to avoid them.” C) “How to compare degree vs TVET for a school leaver.”

1. Write the question (1 line).

2. Draft three queries using operators (two variations each).

3. Open two sources (different domains).

4. Make 3 bullets per source (short; facts + where found).

5. Write a 150–200 word answer in your own words.

6. Add Works Cited (2 clean entries).

7. Export PDF to Outputs.

Quick Win Add site:.gov.lk or filetype:pdf to your next search. Watch the junk disappear.

Artifact to Produce

• Research Note_v1 (Doc) with:

  1. Your question,

  2. Bullets from two sources,

  3. A 150–200 word answer in your words,

  4. Works Cited (2 items).

• Research Note_v1 (PDF) exported to Outputs as: YYYY-MM-DD_Research-Note_Topic_V1.pdf

Self-Verification (SV) Checklist

• I used 2+ operators (e.g., quotes + site: / filetype:pdf)

• I opened two strong sources from different domains

• I applied SIFT and confirmed key facts twice

• My answer is in my own words (no chunked copy-paste)

• Works Cited lists org, title, site, year/date, URL, accessed date

• I exported a PDF to Outputs and checked it on my phone

• Any Sinhala/Tamil appears correctly in the PDF

• My file name follows the rule: YYYY-MM-DD_Research-Note_Topic_V1.pdf

Mobile Tip (Android & iOS)

• Use Reader Mode in your mobile browser for long pages; it saves data and makes note-taking easier.

• Long-press links to preview the URL—often you can spot a fake before opening.

• Share → Save to Drive to capture a page as PDF for offline reading.

• Keep your Docs note Available offline so you can write on the bus.

Stuck? Fast Fixes

• Too many results? Add a minus: -calculator -worksheet, or specify site:.edu OR site:.gov.

• No Sri Lanka context? Add Sri Lanka or use site:.lk.

• Conflicting numbers? Prefer the original report; if still unclear, state the range and the reason.

• Paywalled paper? Look for PDF on an institutional site, a summary from an official body, or press release with key numbers (still cite).

• Can’t find a date? Look for “Last updated” at the bottom; if missing, treat with caution or find another source.

Common Roadblocks (and simple fixes)

If you feel lost, your query is probably too wide. Add a verb or condition: compare, definition, site:.edu, “step by step”. If you keep clicking the first result, slow down: scan three, pick two. If you forget to cite, build the Works Cited box before you write and fill it as you go. If you worry about plagiarism, speak your answer out loud, then type what you just said—that’s your voice.

“Search is a skill. Verification is a habit.”

Keeping Yourself Motivated

Notice how the two-source rule changes your confidence. Your writing feels safer because it is safer. Add two short lines to your portfolio README: “Used site: and filetype:pdf to find official sources,” and “Cited two sources with accessed dates.” These are not small skills—they are markers of professional thinking.

Your First Step Is Complete

You can now turn a question into smart queries, scan results fast, verify with SIFT and the two-source rule, and cite clearly with a clean Works Cited. Your Research Note_v1 (Doc + PDF) lives in the right folders and prints cleanly.