Inquiry and Research: Gathering Relevant Information From A Variety Of Sources (TEKS.ELA.6.12.D)
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Texas 6th Grade ELA › Inquiry and Research: Gathering Relevant Information From A Variety Of Sources (TEKS.ELA.6.12.D)
Topic: Researching the Spanish missions in Texas. Possible sources:
- Texas Historical Commission fact sheet on the San Antonio Missions (2023), with site history and cited references.
- A Texas university history department's peer-reviewed article (2022) analyzing Spanish missions in Texas with extensive citations.
- A San Antonio local newspaper photo gallery covering a recent festival at the missions.
- A private tour company's brochure promoting mission tours.
Which source would be most relevant and reliable for researching the history and significance of the Spanish missions in Texas?
Texas Historical Commission fact sheet on the San Antonio Missions (2023)
Peer-reviewed article from a Texas university history department (2022)
Local newspaper photo gallery about a recent festival at the missions
Tour company brochure promoting mission tours
Explanation
A peer-reviewed article from a Texas university is both highly credible and directly focused on the topic. The state fact sheet (A) is also credible, but the peer-reviewed study offers deeper scholarly analysis. The newspaper gallery (C) and promotional brochure (D) are less suitable for in-depth research.
Topic: Researching current drought conditions and water restrictions in Central Texas. Possible sources:
- A neighborhood community website discussion thread about lawn watering experiences.
- A university paper from 2011 about historical Texas drought patterns.
- A national news feature on drought in the American Southwest, focusing on states outside Texas.
- The state water agency's Texas drought dashboard with weekly-updated maps and restriction guidance.
Which source would be most relevant and reliable for researching current drought conditions in Central Texas?
Community website discussion thread about watering lawns
University paper from 2011 about historical Texas droughts
National news feature on drought mainly in other states
State water agency's Texas drought dashboard with weekly updates
Explanation
The state water agency's dashboard is authoritative, Texas-specific, and updated frequently. The community thread (A) is anecdotal, the 2011 paper (B) is outdated for current conditions, and the national feature (C) is not Texas-focused.
Topic: Researching the economic impact of wind energy in West Texas. Possible sources:
- A Texas university research brief (2024) with data on jobs, tax revenue, and energy output for West Texas wind projects.
- A wind turbine manufacturer's promotional brochure highlighting benefits of its products in Texas.
- A Texas Historical Commission page about historic ranch windmills from the early 1900s.
- A community event flyer advertising an open house at a local wind farm.
Which source would be most relevant and reliable for researching the economic impact of wind energy in West Texas?
Texas university research brief (2024) with data on jobs and tax revenue
Wind turbine manufacturer's promotional brochure about its products
Historical page about early ranch windmills in Texas
Community event flyer for a wind farm open house
Explanation
A current research brief from a Texas university is credible, evidence-based, and directly focused on economic impact. The brochure (B) is promotional, the historical page (C) is not about modern wind energy economics, and the event flyer (D) lacks research depth.
Topic: Researching hurricane evacuation routes for the Texas Gulf Coast for the upcoming season. Possible sources:
- An opinion column from a Galveston-area newspaper discussing traffic frustrations during past evacuations.
- A university case study from 2015 analyzing evacuations during a past Texas hurricane.
- The Texas state transportation department's official 2024 evacuation route map and guidance for coastal counties.
- A weather enthusiast's blog outlining personal "best back roads" to avoid traffic.
Which source would be most relevant and reliable for researching current hurricane evacuation routes for the Texas Gulf Coast?
Opinion column in a Galveston-area newspaper about evacuation traffic
2015 university case study on a past hurricane evacuation
Texas state transportation department's official 2024 evacuation route map and guidance
Weather enthusiast's blog with suggested back roads
Explanation
The official 2024 state transportation department map provides current, authoritative evacuation routes. The opinion column (A) is subjective, the 2015 case study (B) is outdated for current routes, and the blog (D) is unofficial.
Topic: How does Texas preserve its historic courthouses? Choose the most relevant and reliable source from the options.
Which source would be most relevant and reliable for researching how Texas preserves historic courthouses?
A community-run website about one county's courthouse, last updated in 2016, with personal stories and a few photos
A travel blogger's opinion post from 2018 arguing that old courthouses are boring tourist stops
A Texas Historical Commission program brief (2022) describing the statewide Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, including project lists and grant data
A national preservation newsletter focusing on courthouse restorations in the Northeastern United States
Explanation
The Texas Historical Commission brief is a current, authoritative state source focused on Texas courthouse preservation with program data, making it both relevant and reliable.
Topic: What do recent drought conditions look like in the Rio Grande Valley? Choose the most relevant and reliable source from the options.
Which source would be most relevant and reliable for researching drought conditions in the Rio Grande Valley over the last decade?
A Texas Water Development Board report (2023) on South Texas drought indicators and reservoir levels
An online gardening forum thread discussing lawn watering tips in Arizona
A 2004 student project webpage titled "Water in Texas," with several broken links
A Brownsville restaurant's summer blog post about iced tea recipes
Explanation
A recent report from the Texas Water Development Board provides up-to-date, Texas-specific drought data from a credible state agency.
Topic: What are the economic impacts of wind energy in West Texas? Choose the most relevant and reliable source from the options.
Which source would be most relevant and reliable for researching the economic impacts of wind energy in West Texas?
A flyer from a community group opposing wind farms that claims turbines 'ruin everything,' with no data or date listed
A 2011 feature in a West Texas local newspaper about one rancher's experience with a turbine
A national energy company's advertisement highlighting its Texas wind projects
A 2020 peer-reviewed study from a Texas university economics department analyzing jobs and tax revenues from wind development in the Panhandle and Permian Basin
Explanation
A peer-reviewed Texas university study offers recent, data-driven, Texas-specific analysis, making it the most reliable and relevant source.
Topic: What are the current plans for expanding a major highway in the Dallas–Fort Worth area? Choose the most relevant and reliable source from the options.
Which source would be most relevant and reliable for researching current plans to expand a major highway in the Dallas–Fort Worth area?
An encyclopedia entry about the history of highways in the United States
An official Texas Department of Transportation project webpage (updated 2024) with maps, timelines, and public meeting notes for the DFW expansion
A personal video blog discussing morning traffic on the West Coast
A 2012 article from a DFW local newspaper about a different road project that is no longer active
Explanation
The Texas Department of Transportation's official project page is a current, authoritative Texas source with specific details about the DFW expansion.