Research & Citing Sources — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
I found this fact on a random blog so it must be true.
Corrected: I should verify this fact using a reliable source such as an encyclopedia or a .edu website.
A random blog has no proven expert behind it, so the fact could be wrong. Checking the same fact in an encyclopedia or on a .edu site (which belongs to a school or university) confirms that the information is trustworthy before using it in a report.
2. Fix the sentence:
Wikipedia says dogs live 15 years so I will copy that into my report.
Corrected: I will check the information from Wikipedia against a published reference book before using it in my report.
Wikipedia can be edited by almost anyone, so any fact found there should be confirmed in a published reference book where editors have already checked the information. Cross-checking protects the report from accidentally including a mistake.
3. Fix the sentence:
This website has no author or date so it is probably fine to use.
Corrected: This website has no author or date, so it is not a reliable source for my research project.
A trustworthy source shows who wrote it and when, because that lets readers judge the author's expertise and whether the information is current. Without an author or a date, there is no way to confirm that the website is reliable for research.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A source ending in .edu usually belongs to a school or university.
The .edu domain is reserved for educational institutions in the United States, so a website ending in .edu almost always belongs to a school or university. That official connection is what makes those sites usually trustworthy for research.
2. A reliable source has a known author, a clear date, and facts that can be checked.
Reliability in research means the information can be trusted. A reliable source shows a known author, a clear date, and facts that can be checked against other sources, which is exactly what research is meant to confirm.
3. Websites ending in .gov are run by government agencies and are usually trustworthy.
Government agency websites use the .gov domain, which is restricted to official government bodies. Because the agencies themselves publish the information, .gov sites are usually a trustworthy place to find facts.
4. Before trusting a website, check whether the author is an expert on the topic.
Knowing whether the author is an expert on the topic helps you decide if the information is accurate. An expert author has training or experience that an unknown writer might not have, so checking the author is a key step before trusting a website.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Name two signs that a website might NOT be a reliable source for a school report.
Sample answer: Two signs are that the website has no author listed and there is no date showing when the information was published or last updated.
Two warning signs are a missing author and a missing date. Without an author, no one is responsible for the facts, and without a date, there is no way to know if the information is current or already out of date.
2. Why is an encyclopedia a more reliable source than a personal blog?
Sample answer: An encyclopedia is written and reviewed by experts who check the facts, while a personal blog may contain one person's opinions without any fact-checking.
Encyclopedias are written and edited by experts who fact-check every entry before it is published, while a personal blog often shares one writer's opinions with no one checking the work. The fact-checking process is what makes the encyclopedia far more reliable.