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.
Quoting means using the source's exact words inside quotation marks so the reader can see the original wording. The quotation marks are the signal that those specific words belong to someone else.
2. A bibliography is a list of all the sources you used in your research project.
A bibliography is the full list of every source used in the project, placed at the end of the report. It lets readers find each source for themselves and gives credit to every author whose ideas were used.
3. In a bibliography entry for a book, you start with the author's last name.
Bibliography entries for books are alphabetized, and the author's last name is listed first so readers can quickly locate any source on the list. Starting with the last name is the standard rule that keeps every entry organized.
4. You must give credit to the original author whenever you use their ideas.
Whenever an author's ideas appear in your writing, you must give them credit so readers know where the idea originally came from. Skipping that credit is plagiarism, even if the words have been rewritten.
5. Changing the sentence structure and vocabulary while keeping the meaning is called paraphrasing.
Paraphrasing is a careful rewrite that changes both the sentence structure and the vocabulary while keeping the original meaning. Changing only a few words is not enough — the whole sentence must be rebuilt.
6. A direct quote must always include quotation marks and the name of the source.
A direct quote needs quotation marks around the exact words and a clear note showing which source they came from. Without the source name, the reader cannot tell who originally said or wrote the words.
7. After the author's name, a book citation includes the title of the book in italics.
After the author's name, a book citation lists the title in italics so the reader can clearly see which book is being credited. The italics make the title stand out from the rest of the citation.
8. Using three or more sources for a report helps you get a balanced view of the topic.
Pulling from three or more sources gives a balanced view because each writer may include different facts or perspectives. Relying on only one source can leave the report one-sided or incomplete.
9. The place of publication tells the reader where a book was printed.
The place of publication tells the reader the city where the book was printed, which is part of identifying the publisher. Including it helps readers find the exact edition of the book if they want to look it up.
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
The sentence with quotation marks and a page number is a direct quote because it uses Smith's exact words with a citation. The plain sentence about bears hibernating has no quotation marks or citation, so it is a summary missing source credit. The Smith, John line listing the title, city, publisher, and year is a bibliography entry. Rewording 'sleep all winter' to 'rest throughout the cold season' is a paraphrase because the same idea appears in new words.