What are some ways to ensure that websites you use are reliable? how can you distinguish between fact and fiction? what advice can you offer classmates that will them in conducting research on the internet?

The best advice I can give you is to look at the domain and the website ! For example many domains such as ".Com" may be reliable but to make sure it is the real deal check for ".GOV" never ever use any information from Wikipedia !! Fact and fiction usually a fact is something that can be proven by research ! That's the difference between the two !! Glad I could help :)