Students correct three source-reliability errors — trusting a random blog, copying Wikipedia without verification, and using an undated, authorless website. Part B has four fill-in-the-blank questions about .edu domains, reliable source markers, and .gov websites. Part C has two short-answer questions about warning signs of unreliable websites and why encyclopedias outrank blogs.
Correcting source-reliability errors builds the critical evaluation habit students need before they can responsibly use any information in academic writing.
Style:
Research & Citing Sources
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.
Rewrite: I should verify this fact using a reliable source such as an encyclopedia or a .edu website.
2. Fix the sentence:
Wikipedia says dogs live 15 years so I will copy that into my report.
Rewrite: I will check the information from Wikipedia against a published reference book before using it in my report.
3. Fix the sentence:
This website has no author or date so it is probably fine to use.
Rewrite: This website has no author or date, so it is not a reliable source for my research project.
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.
2. A reliable source has a known author, a clear date, and facts that can be checked.
3. Websites ending in .gov are run by government agencies and are usually trustworthy.
4. Before trusting a website, check whether the author is an expert on the topic.
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.
Two signs are that the website has no author listed and there is no date showing when the information was published or last updated.
2. Why is an encyclopedia a more reliable source than a personal blog?
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.
Research & Citing Sources
★ 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.
Rewrite: I should verify this fact using a reliable source such as an encyclopedia or a .edu website.
2) Fix the sentence:
Wikipedia says dogs live 15 years so I will copy that into my report.
Rewrite: I will check the information from Wikipedia against a published reference book before using it in my report.
3) Fix the sentence:
This website has no author or date so it is probably fine to use.
Rewrite: This website has no author or date, so it is not a reliable source for my research project.
★ 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.
2) A reliable source has a known author, a clear date, and facts that can be checked.
3) Websites ending in .gov are run by government agencies and are usually trustworthy.
4) Before trusting a website, check whether the author is an expert on the topic.
★ 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.
Two signs are that the website has no author listed and there is no date showing when the information was published or last updated.
2) Why is an encyclopedia a more reliable source than a personal blog?
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.
Ready to Practice?
Complete each section carefully.
9 Questions
15-20 minutes
Auto-graded
Retry anytime
🏆
Questions Correct
0
Correct
0
Incorrect
0
Skipped
0:00
Time
0%
Score
Review Your Answers
See what you got right, missed, or skipped.