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:
My bibliography only needs the website address and nothing else.
Corrected: My bibliography should include the author, article title, website name, URL, and the date I accessed the page.
A URL alone does not give readers enough information to evaluate or find the source. Including the author, title, website name, and access date helps readers judge the source's reliability and locate it themselves.
2. Fix the sentence:
I finished my research so I can throw away all my note cards now.
Corrected: I should keep my note cards until my project is graded in case I need to check a source or add more details.
Keeping your note cards until your project is graded is important because you may need to verify a fact, fix a citation, or add more details if your teacher asks questions about your sources.
3. Fix the sentence:
I wrote all my notes on one big page without labeling which source each fact came from.
Corrected: I should label each note with the source it came from so I can give proper credit in my report.
Labeling each note with its source prevents you from accidentally using a fact without giving credit. Without labels, you cannot tell which source a piece of information came from when it is time to write your citations.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A bibliography lists sources in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
Bibliographies are arranged in alphabetical order by the author's last name so readers can quickly find any source they want to check.
2. Writing a short summary of each source helps you remember the main ideas later.
A summary captures the main ideas of a source in your own words, which helps you recall key points when you start writing your report later.
3. Each note card should include the fact you found and the page number where you found it.
Recording the page number lets you go back and double-check the fact or include it in your citation, so your reader knows exactly where the information came from.
4. When citing a magazine article, you need the author, article title, magazine name, and date.
The date tells readers when the article was published, which matters because newer articles may have more up-to-date facts than older ones.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Why is it important to organize your research notes by topic or source before writing your report?
Sample answer: Organizing notes helps you group related facts together, which makes writing each paragraph easier and ensures you cite the correct source for each piece of information.
A good answer includes: Organizing notes helps you group related facts together, which makes writing each paragraph easier and ensures you cite the correct source for each piece of information.
2. What information do you need to include in a bibliography entry for a book?
Sample answer: A book bibliography entry needs the author's name, the title of the book, the city of publication, the publisher, and the year it was published.
A good answer includes: A book bibliography entry needs the author's name, the title of the book, the city of publication, the publisher, and the year it was published.