7th Grade Writing Flashcards: Gather Information And Assess Credibility

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Gather Information And Assess Credibility, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for 7th Grade Writing.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is a primary source?

Answer: An original, firsthand record from the time of an event. Primary sources provide direct evidence without interpretation.

Flashcard 2: What is a key requirement for an acceptable paraphrase?

Answer: Use your own wording and sentence structure and cite the source. True paraphrasing shows understanding, not just word swapping.

Flashcard 3: Which source is usually most appropriate for peer-reviewed science: .com blog or journal article?

Answer: A peer-reviewed journal article. Peer review ensures expert verification before publication.

Flashcard 4: Which option requires a citation: a common proverb or a statistic from a website?

Answer: A statistic from a website. Specific data requires citation; common knowledge doesn't.

Flashcard 5: Which Boolean operator broadens a search by allowing either term to appear?

Answer: OR. OR includes results with either term, expanding possibilities.

Flashcard 6: Which domain is usually most likely to be a government source: .com, .org, or .gov?

Answer: .gov. Government domains are restricted to official agencies.

Flashcard 7: Which option is the best credibility check: "It appears first on Google" or "It cites evidence and sources"?

Answer: It cites evidence and sources. Evidence and sources show research backing, not search ranking.

Flashcard 8: What is the correct way to use a direct quote from a source in your writing?

Answer: Use quotation marks and include an in-text citation. Proper attribution prevents plagiarism and shows sources.

Flashcard 9: What is the key difference between paraphrasing and summarizing?

Answer: Paraphrase keeps detail; summary condenses to main points. Summaries are shorter overviews; paraphrases maintain similar length.

Flashcard 10: What is the difference between quoting and paraphrasing?

Answer: Quoting uses exact words; paraphrasing restates in new words. Both require citations but differ in word usage.

Flashcard 11: Identify the credibility factor that checks whether information is current enough for the topic.

Answer: Currency (publication or update date). Recent information matters more for rapidly changing topics.

Flashcard 12: What is the best definition of plagiarism for school research writing?

Answer: Using others' words or ideas without proper credit. Plagiarism violates academic integrity by stealing intellectual property.

Flashcard 13: What is plagiarism?

Answer: Using someone else's words or ideas without proper credit. Credit protects intellectual property and academic integrity.

Flashcard 14: Which search operator should you use to exclude a word, such as jaguar -car?

Answer: A minus sign before the word: -car. Minus operator excludes unwanted terms from results.

Flashcard 15: Which search operator limits results to a specific website domain like .gov or .edu?

Answer: Use site: (example: site:.gov). This operator restricts results to specific domains for reliability.

Flashcard 16: Identify the credibility factor that checks whether the author is qualified to write on the topic.

Answer: Author expertise and credentials. Qualified authors have relevant education or experience in their field.

Flashcard 17: What is a strong search term strategy when your first search results are too broad?

Answer: Add specific keywords (time, place, group, or subtopic) to narrow results. Specificity filters out irrelevant results effectively.

Flashcard 18: Find the better search query for a focused topic: "sharks" or "great white shark diet California"?

Answer: "great white shark diet California". Specific terms yield more relevant, targeted search results.

Flashcard 19: Identify the most reliable source type for scientific claims: personal blog or peer-reviewed journal?

Answer: Peer-reviewed journal. Peer review ensures expert verification before publication.

Flashcard 20: Which search operator should you use to find an exact phrase in quotation marks?

Answer: Use quotation marks for an exact phrase search. Quotes tell search engines to find those exact words together.

Flashcard 21: Which search operator should you use to find an exact phrase such as climate change effects?

Answer: Quotation marks: "climate change effects". Quotes force search engines to match the exact phrase.

Flashcard 22: Identify the correct action if two credible sources disagree on a fact you want to use.

Answer: Verify with additional reliable sources before using the claim. Cross-checking helps resolve conflicting information accurately.

Flashcard 23: Which Boolean operator narrows a search by requiring both terms to appear?

Answer: AND. AND requires both terms present, making results more specific.

Flashcard 24: What does it mean to assess a source for bias?

Answer: Check whether it promotes a one-sided viewpoint or agenda. Bias assessment reveals potential unfair slanting of information.

Flashcard 25: What does it mean for a source to be credible in academic research?

Answer: It is trustworthy due to expertise, evidence, and transparency. Credible sources have qualified authors who support claims with evidence.

Flashcard 26: What information must a standard citation include at minimum, even if formats vary?

Answer: Author, title, source/publisher, and date (plus URL for websites). These elements enable source identification and retrieval.

Flashcard 27: What is the main purpose of using multiple sources when researching a topic?

Answer: To confirm information and reduce bias or gaps. Multiple sources provide cross-verification and complete coverage.

Flashcard 28: What is paraphrasing?

Answer: Restating information in your own words and sentence structure. Paraphrasing demonstrates understanding while avoiding copying.

Flashcard 29: What is the purpose of using a consistent citation format (such as MLA) in a research project?

Answer: To give clear credit and help readers locate the original sources. Consistent formatting ensures transparency and verifiability.

Flashcard 30: Which action best avoids plagiarism: cite sources, or only change synonyms?

Answer: Cite sources (and paraphrase genuinely, not just synonyms). Citations acknowledge sources; genuine paraphrasing avoids copying.

Flashcard 31: What is a strong search term strategy when your first results are too broad?

Answer: Add specific keywords (place, time, person, or subtopic). Narrowing with specifics helps filter out irrelevant general results.

Flashcard 32: What must you include when you quote a source word-for-word?

Answer: Quotation marks plus an in-text citation. Direct quotes need both punctuation and source attribution.

Flashcard 33: Identify the best search query for a specific topic: effects of sleep on teen memory.

Answer: "teen" sleep effects memory. Quotes ensure "teen" stays together; other terms refine the topic.

Flashcard 34: What information is usually required in a standard citation for a website source?

Answer: Author, title, site/publisher, date, URL, and access date if needed. These elements help readers locate and verify the source.

Flashcard 35: What is the main purpose of gathering information from multiple sources for a research task?

Answer: To build a complete, balanced, and well-supported understanding of the topic. Multiple sources prevent bias and provide comprehensive coverage.

Flashcard 36: Which factor most strongly supports credibility: author expertise, page color, or font style?

Answer: Author expertise. Qualified authors have relevant education and experience.

Flashcard 37: What does it mean for a source to be credible?

Answer: It is trustworthy because the author and evidence are reliable. Credibility requires both author expertise and solid evidence.

Flashcard 38: What is a secondary source?

Answer: A source that explains or analyzes primary sources. Secondary sources interpret evidence from primary sources.

Flashcard 39: What is a strong search strategy for narrowing results to an exact phrase?

Answer: Put the phrase in quotation marks. Quotation marks tell search engines to find the exact sequence of words.

Flashcard 40: What is a summary (as used in research writing)?

Answer: A brief statement of the main ideas without most details. Summaries condense content to essential points only.

Flashcard 41: Which option is the best indicator that a source is up to date for a fast-changing topic?

Answer: A recent publication or last-updated date. Current dates ensure information reflects latest developments.

Flashcard 42: What is paraphrasing in research writing?

Answer: Restating ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Paraphrasing requires completely rewriting in your own language.

Flashcard 43: What is the definition of a credible source in academic research?

Answer: A trustworthy source written by qualified, verifiable authors. Credibility requires both expertise and accountability.

Flashcard 44: Which search operator excludes a word from results (example: jaguar -car)?

Answer: A minus sign before the word ( - ). The minus operator filters out unwanted meanings of ambiguous terms.

Flashcard 45: Which option is the best way to avoid patchwriting when paraphrasing?

Answer: Rewrite fully, then compare to ensure new wording and structure. Complete rewriting prevents copying the original's phrasing.

Flashcard 46: Which option requires citation: a common fact or a unique statistic from a specific study?

Answer: A unique statistic from a specific study. Specific data requires attribution; common knowledge doesn't.

Flashcard 47: What is the first credibility check you should make when viewing a new website source?

Answer: Identify the author or organization and its qualifications. Author credentials establish expertise and trustworthiness.

Flashcard 48: Identify the correct way to quote a source: copy exactly or change a few words?

Answer: Copy exactly and use quotation marks with a citation. Changing words without quotes misrepresents the author.

Flashcard 49: Which is the best action to verify accuracy when two sources disagree?

Answer: Check additional reliable sources for corroboration. Third sources can resolve conflicting information.

Flashcard 50: What does it mean to evaluate a source for currency?

Answer: Check how recent the information is and if it is up to date. Currency ensures information reflects current knowledge.

Flashcard 51: What is one reliable way to check the accuracy of a surprising claim you found online?

Answer: Verify it using multiple reputable sources that agree. Cross-referencing confirms facts through independent verification.

Flashcard 52: Which search operator narrows results by excluding a word you do not want?

Answer: Use the minus sign: -word. The minus operator excludes unwanted terms from search results.