Research & Citing Sources — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. When you quote a source, you use the exact words inside quotation marks.
Direct quotes use the author's exact words and must be enclosed in quotation marks, followed by a citation that identifies the source.
2. A bibliography is a list of all the sources you used in your research project.
A bibliography (also called a Works Cited or References page) lists all sources consulted in the research, giving credit to original authors.
3. In a bibliography entry for a book, you start with the author's last name.
Standard bibliography formats (MLA, APA) list the author's last name first so entries can be alphabetized easily in the bibliography.
4. You must give credit to the original author whenever you use their ideas.
Citations give proper credit to original authors and allow readers to verify information or read more about a topic from the original source.
5. Changing the sentence structure and vocabulary while keeping the meaning is called paraphrasing.
Paraphrasing demonstrates understanding by rewriting information in new words and sentence structure. A citation is still required even when paraphrasing.
6. A direct quote must always include quotation marks and the name of the source.
Using multiple sources helps researchers check that information is consistent across credible references and avoids relying on potentially biased or inaccurate single sources.
7. After the author's name, a book citation includes the title of the book in italics.
Standard bibliography formats follow a consistent order: author's last name, first name, title, publication details. This helps readers quickly identify and locate sources.
8. Using three or more sources for a report helps you get a balanced view of the topic.
Balanced research considers multiple perspectives and sources, avoiding bias. This produces a more complete, accurate, and credible final paper.
9. The place of publication tells the reader where a book was printed.
Recording the access date for websites is important because online content can change after you read it. Many citation formats require the URL and the date accessed.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
"According to Smith, bears sleep all winter" (p. 12).
→ Direct quote — uses exact words with a citation
Bibliography entry — lists the full source details
"Bears hibernate during the cold months to save energy."
→ Summary with no citation — missing source credit
Direct quote — uses exact words with a citation
"Smith, John. Animal Habits. New York: River Press, 2020."
→ Bibliography entry — lists the full source details
Paraphrase — restates the idea in new words
Changing "sleep all winter" to "rest throughout the cold season"
→ Paraphrase — restates the idea in new words
Summary with no citation — missing source credit
'According to Smith (p.12)' = direct quote with citation; bears hibernate sentence = summary; Smith, John... = bibliography entry; 'bears change their sleep' = paraphrase.