Gather Information and Assess Credibility - 7th Grade Writing
- What is a primary source?
- An original, firsthand record from the time of an event. Primary sources provide direct evidence without interpretation.
- What is a key requirement for an acceptable paraphrase?
- Use your own wording and sentence structure and cite the source. True paraphrasing shows understanding, not just word swapping.
- Which source is usually most appropriate for peer-reviewed science: .com blog or journal article?
- A peer-reviewed journal article. Peer review ensures expert verification before publication.
- Which option requires a citation: a common proverb or a statistic from a website?
- A statistic from a website. Specific data requires citation; common knowledge doesn't.
- Which Boolean operator broadens a search by allowing either term to appear?
- OR. OR includes results with either term, expanding possibilities.
- Which domain is usually most likely to be a government source: .com, .org, or .gov?
- .gov. Government domains are restricted to official agencies.
- Which option is the best credibility check: "It appears first on Google" or "It cites evidence and sources"?
- It cites evidence and sources. Evidence and sources show research backing, not search ranking.
- What is the correct way to use a direct quote from a source in your writing?
- Use quotation marks and include an in-text citation. Proper attribution prevents plagiarism and shows sources.
- What is the key difference between paraphrasing and summarizing?
- Paraphrase keeps detail; summary condenses to main points. Summaries are shorter overviews; paraphrases maintain similar length.
- What is the difference between quoting and paraphrasing?
- Quoting uses exact words; paraphrasing restates in new words. Both require citations but differ in word usage.
- Identify the credibility factor that checks whether information is current enough for the topic.
- Currency (publication or update date). Recent information matters more for rapidly changing topics.
- What is the best definition of plagiarism for school research writing?
- Using others' words or ideas without proper credit. Plagiarism violates academic integrity by stealing intellectual property.
- What is plagiarism?
- Using someone else's words or ideas without proper credit. Credit protects intellectual property and academic integrity.
- Which search operator should you use to exclude a word, such as jaguar -car?
- A minus sign before the word: -car. Minus operator excludes unwanted terms from results.
- Which search operator limits results to a specific website domain like .gov or .edu?
- Use site: (example: site:.gov). This operator restricts results to specific domains for reliability.
- Identify the credibility factor that checks whether the author is qualified to write on the topic.
- Author expertise and credentials. Qualified authors have relevant education or experience in their field.
- What is a strong search term strategy when your first search results are too broad?
- Add specific keywords (time, place, group, or subtopic) to narrow results. Specificity filters out irrelevant results effectively.
- Find the better search query for a focused topic: "sharks" or "great white shark diet California"?
- "great white shark diet California". Specific terms yield more relevant, targeted search results.
- Identify the most reliable source type for scientific claims: personal blog or peer-reviewed journal?
- Peer-reviewed journal. Peer review ensures expert verification before publication.
- Which search operator should you use to find an exact phrase in quotation marks?
- Use quotation marks for an exact phrase search. Quotes tell search engines to find those exact words together.
- Which search operator should you use to find an exact phrase such as climate change effects?
- Quotation marks: "climate change effects". Quotes force search engines to match the exact phrase.
- Identify the correct action if two credible sources disagree on a fact you want to use.
- Verify with additional reliable sources before using the claim. Cross-checking helps resolve conflicting information accurately.
- Which Boolean operator narrows a search by requiring both terms to appear?
- AND. AND requires both terms present, making results more specific.
- What does it mean to assess a source for bias?
- Check whether it promotes a one-sided viewpoint or agenda. Bias assessment reveals potential unfair slanting of information.
- What does it mean for a source to be credible in academic research?
- It is trustworthy due to expertise, evidence, and transparency. Credible sources have qualified authors who support claims with evidence.
- What information must a standard citation include at minimum, even if formats vary?
- Author, title, source/publisher, and date (plus URL for websites). These elements enable source identification and retrieval.
- What is the main purpose of using multiple sources when researching a topic?
- To confirm information and reduce bias or gaps. Multiple sources provide cross-verification and complete coverage.
- What is paraphrasing?
- Restating information in your own words and sentence structure. Paraphrasing demonstrates understanding while avoiding copying.
- What is the purpose of using a consistent citation format (such as MLA) in a research project?
- To give clear credit and help readers locate the original sources. Consistent formatting ensures transparency and verifiability.
- Which action best avoids plagiarism: cite sources, or only change synonyms?
- Cite sources (and paraphrase genuinely, not just synonyms). Citations acknowledge sources; genuine paraphrasing avoids copying.
- What is a strong search term strategy when your first results are too broad?
- Add specific keywords (place, time, person, or subtopic). Narrowing with specifics helps filter out irrelevant general results.
- What must you include when you quote a source word-for-word?
- Quotation marks plus an in-text citation. Direct quotes need both punctuation and source attribution.
- Identify the best search query for a specific topic: effects of sleep on teen memory.
- "teen" sleep effects memory. Quotes ensure "teen" stays together; other terms refine the topic.
- What information is usually required in a standard citation for a website source?
- Author, title, site/publisher, date, URL, and access date if needed. These elements help readers locate and verify the source.
- What is the main purpose of gathering information from multiple sources for a research task?
- To build a complete, balanced, and well-supported understanding of the topic. Multiple sources prevent bias and provide comprehensive coverage.
- Which factor most strongly supports credibility: author expertise, page color, or font style?
- Author expertise. Qualified authors have relevant education and experience.
- What does it mean for a source to be credible?
- It is trustworthy because the author and evidence are reliable. Credibility requires both author expertise and solid evidence.
- What is a secondary source?
- A source that explains or analyzes primary sources. Secondary sources interpret evidence from primary sources.
- What is a strong search strategy for narrowing results to an exact phrase?
- Put the phrase in quotation marks. Quotation marks tell search engines to find the exact sequence of words.
- What is a summary (as used in research writing)?
- A brief statement of the main ideas without most details. Summaries condense content to essential points only.
- Which option is the best indicator that a source is up to date for a fast-changing topic?
- A recent publication or last-updated date. Current dates ensure information reflects latest developments.
- What is paraphrasing in research writing?
- Restating ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Paraphrasing requires completely rewriting in your own language.
- What is the definition of a credible source in academic research?
- A trustworthy source written by qualified, verifiable authors. Credibility requires both expertise and accountability.
- Which search operator excludes a word from results (example: jaguar -car)?
- A minus sign before the word ( - ). The minus operator filters out unwanted meanings of ambiguous terms.
- Which option is the best way to avoid patchwriting when paraphrasing?
- Rewrite fully, then compare to ensure new wording and structure. Complete rewriting prevents copying the original's phrasing.
- Which option requires citation: a common fact or a unique statistic from a specific study?
- A unique statistic from a specific study. Specific data requires attribution; common knowledge doesn't.
- What is the first credibility check you should make when viewing a new website source?
- Identify the author or organization and its qualifications. Author credentials establish expertise and trustworthiness.
- Identify the correct way to quote a source: copy exactly or change a few words?
- Copy exactly and use quotation marks with a citation. Changing words without quotes misrepresents the author.
- Which is the best action to verify accuracy when two sources disagree?
- Check additional reliable sources for corroboration. Third sources can resolve conflicting information.
- What does it mean to evaluate a source for currency?
- Check how recent the information is and if it is up to date. Currency ensures information reflects current knowledge.
- What is one reliable way to check the accuracy of a surprising claim you found online?
- Verify it using multiple reputable sources that agree. Cross-referencing confirms facts through independent verification.
- Which search operator narrows results by excluding a word you do not want?
- Use the minus sign: -word. The minus operator excludes unwanted terms from search results.