Research Skills — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word on each line.
1. An outline lists the main ideas and details you will include in your report.
An outline organizes your main ideas and supporting details before you start writing, so your report has a clear structure from beginning to end.
2. To cite a website, you need to write down the web address so others can find it.
A web address (URL) is the link that takes you to a specific page online, so writing it down lets others visit the same source you used.
3. A research question guides your research by telling you what to look for.
A research question gives your project a clear focus, like "Why do bears hibernate?" so you know exactly what facts to search for.
4. Captions under pictures give extra information about what the image shows.
Captions appear below pictures and explain what the image shows, giving readers extra details they might not get from the picture alone.
5. A fact is something that can be proven to be true, while an opinion is a personal belief.
A fact can be proven true with evidence, like "Water freezes at 32 degrees." An opinion is a personal belief that cannot be proven, like "Winter is the best season."
6. When you scan text, you look for key words without reading every line.
Scanning means moving your eyes over the page looking for specific key words, which is faster than reading every line when you need one particular fact.
7. The conclusion of a report paragraph should restate the main idea in a new way.
The conclusion wraps up your paragraph by restating the main idea in different words, reminding the reader what the paragraph was about.
8. A primary source is information that comes directly from the person who saw or did something.
A primary source comes directly from someone who experienced the event firsthand, like a diary entry written by a soldier during a war.
9. You should revise your report after writing to check for mistakes.
Revising means rereading your report to fix errors, improve word choices, and make sure your ideas are clear before turning it in.
Part B: Matching
Match each research step on the left to what you do during that step on the right.
1. Match each research step to its description.
Ask a question
→ Decide what you want to find out
Group your facts by topic before drafting
Gather sources
→ Collect books, articles, and websites on your topic
List the books and websites you used
Organize notes
→ Group your facts by topic before drafting
Decide what you want to find out
Write a bibliography
→ List the books and websites you used
Collect books, articles, and websites on your topic
Correct matches: Ask a question → Decide what you want to find out; Gather sources → Collect books, articles, and websites on your topic; Organize notes → Group your facts by topic before drafting; Write a bibliography → List the books and websites you used.