Research & Citing Sources — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A primary source gives firsthand information, such as a diary or an interview.
Primary sources are firsthand records made by someone who experienced the event, such as a diary or an interview. Because the information comes straight from the original person, it has not been retold or interpreted by anyone else.
2. A textbook that explains a historical event is an example of a secondary source.
A textbook is written after the event by an author who studied many sources and explained what happened, which makes it a secondary source. Secondary sources interpret and summarize information rather than provide a direct firsthand record.
3. The first step of the research process is choosing a focused topic.
Research starts by narrowing the project to a focused topic so the search for facts has a clear direction. A topic that is too broad makes it hard to choose which sources to read.
4. When you quickly look through a text to find specific facts, you are scanning the source.
Scanning is the quick reading skill of running your eyes across a text to find specific facts, like a date or a name. It saves time during research because you are not reading every word, just hunting for what you need.
5. A published book is usually a reliable source because editors review it before printing.
Books go through editors who review the writing and check the facts before printing, which is why a published book is usually a reliable source. That extra layer of review is something most random websites do not have.
6. Checking more than one source to confirm a fact is called verifying.
Verifying means confirming a fact by finding it in another reliable source. If two or more independent sources agree, the fact is more likely to be accurate than information that appears in only one place.
7. An article written by a university professor is more credible than one by an unknown blogger.
A university professor has years of training and study in their subject, so an article they write is more credible than one by an unknown blogger with no clear expertise. Author credentials are a major part of judging a source.
8. The date of a source tells you whether the information is still current and useful.
The publication date shows how recent the information is, which matters because facts about science, technology, or current events change over time. An older date can warn the reader that the source might no longer be useful.
9. A credible news article includes the reporter's name and the date it was published.
A credible news article identifies the reporter and the date of publication so readers can judge the writer's expertise and how current the report is. Missing either piece is a sign that the article may not be trustworthy.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
A diary entry written by a soldier in 1863
→ Primary source — a firsthand account from the past
Secondary source — interprets events after they happened
A textbook chapter about the Civil War
→ Secondary source — interprets events after they happened
Secondary source — summarizes information from many sources
A newspaper interview with an eyewitness
→ Primary source — direct words from someone who was there
Primary source — a firsthand account from the past
An encyclopedia article about volcanoes
→ Secondary source — summarizes information from many sources
Primary source — direct words from someone who was there
A soldier's 1863 diary and a newspaper interview with an eyewitness are primary sources because they come straight from people who lived through the events. The Civil War textbook chapter and the volcano encyclopedia article are secondary sources because their authors gathered and explained information from many other sources rather than experiencing the events themselves.