Grade 7 ELA - Research_Evaluate Information and Sources (FIAB)

A student has made a plan for research. Read the plan and the directions that follow.

Research Report Plan

• Topic: The Titanic

• Audience: seventh-grade history teacher

• Purpose: to inform

• Research Question: What was the reason for the sinking of the Titanic?

The student needs to find a credible, or trustworthy, source with relevant information. Which of these is most likely the most useful source for the information needed to answer the research question?

A student has made a plan for research. Read the plan and the directions that follow.

Research Report Plan

• Topic: Physical fitness

• Audience: my peers

• Purpose: to inform

• Research Question: Are there long-term benefits to maintaining physical fitness?

The student needs to find a credible, or trustworthy, source with relevant information. Which website is most likely the best source for the information needed for the report?

A student is creating a research presentation for class on the uses of origami. The student must use sources that are credible, trustworthy, and appropriate for the topic. Select two credible, or trustworthy, sources that are appropriate for the topic.

A student has made a plan for research. Read the plan and the directions that follow.

Research Report Plan

• Topic: Healthy Eating

• Audience: seventh-grade students

• Purpose: to inform

• Research Question: What are some ways people can improve their diet?

Choose two credible, or trustworthy, sources that will most likely provide the information needed to answer the research question.

A student has made a plan for research. Read the plan and the directions that follow.

Research Report Plan

• Topic: Egyptian pyramids

• Audience: seventh-grade social studies class

• Purpose: to inform

• Research Question: How were the Egyptian pyramids built?

Choose two credible, or trustworthy, sources that will most likely provide the information needed to answer the research question.

A student is writing a research report about the effects of cell phone use on teens for health class. He found a source that he is evaluating for accuracy. Read Source 1 and the directions that follow.

Source 1: Cell phones for teens at school: helpful or harmful?

• Cell phones have become extremely popular for today’s teens. Rarely can a person walk down school hallways without seeing cell phones in the hands of a majority of the student population, so there has been much concern about the potential risks and benefits of these devices. We spoke with Dr. Samuel Carter of the Centerville Youth Academy who says “Most of our students spend too much time glued to a screen resulting in a loss of personal relationships and social skills. They need to spend more time interacting with their peers one-on-one rather than through media devices, such as cell phones and computers.” According to Dr. Carter, “Spending too much time attached to the screen tends to make kids less in-tune with their peers. A majority of teens end up making mistakes they regret behind the screen too. These same mistakes probably would not have been made in person.” Dr. Carter also notes that the increase in cell phone use isn’t all bad though. He noted that when used appropriately, such as in structured class environments, cell phones can be a great motivator for student learning.

After looking at Source 2 below, the student realizes that his original information may be inaccurate. Click on two sentences in Source 2 that question the accuracy of Source 1.

A student is writing a research report about the Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle that is harmful to ash trees. The student found a print source that is credible and has accurate information. Read the source and the directions that follow.

Source 1: The Burden of Emerald Ash Borer by Stephanie Diaz

• The Emerald Ash Borer is an unusual beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan, near Detroit, in 2002. The adult beetles are shiny, green and about the size of a grain of cooked rice. The full-grown bugs nibble on the leaves of ash trees, but don’t cause much damage. The problem begins when the larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, interfering with the tree's ability to transport water and food. If adult beetles are not seen on the leaves, it’s hard to tell if a tree is housing Emerald Ash Borer larvae. The most common sign of damage is that the tips of the branches start to die and the tree’s leaf canopy becomes scarce. Emerald Ash Borer probably arrived in the United States on wood material carried in cargo ships or airplanes that flew to the United States from Asia. Since its discovery, Emerald Ash Borer has killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost throughout the United States. Many states have had to introduce quarantines and fines to prevent possibly inhabited ash trees and logs from moving out of areas where Emerald Ash Borer infestation occurs.

The student needs to find additional sources that contain accurate information about his topic. Which source contains information that accurately supports information in the original source?

A student is writing a research report about the Global Positioning System (GPS). Read the sentences from his report and the directions that follow.

• For centuries, humans have relied on nature, like the sun and the stars, to guide their movements. In the past, traveling took longer, and people had a better chance of getting lost. Advances in technology such as the magnetic compass made navigating easier. Now, the United States Air Force oversees the Global Positioning System (GPS) so that people can travel more efficiently. The GPS uses satellites that are placed in outer space. The satellites transmit one-way signals to people who use the technology through electronic devices. Control stations around the world monitor the satellites to make sure they are working properly and providing reliable information. Not only can the system help people find their location on Earth, it will also give them directions to walk or drive to another place. The GPS applications have created advancements in society that have made package delivery faster and have helped determine weather forecasts.

Which source would most likely give the student more information for the paragraph from his report?

A student is writing a research report about how personality is developed. Read the paragraph from her report and the directions that follow.

People have their own, one-of-a-kind personality, but where does that personality come from? Scientists have long been curious about what makes a person who he or she is. Do people inherit their personality or are they shaped by their experiences? In an attempt to find out just where our personality comes from, researchers have studied identical twins, or twins who are the same in every way physically. They found that many of these twins have different personalities and this supports the idea that personality is not just something one is born with.

Choose two sources that would most likely give the student more information for the paragraph from her report.

A student has made a plan for research. Read the plan and the directions that follow.

Research Report Plan

• Topic: Potatoes

• Audience: teacher

• Purpose: to inform

• Research Question: What kind of potatoes are the easiest to farm?

The student needs to find a credible, or trustworthy, source with relevant information. Which of these is most likely the most useful source for the information needed for the report?

A student has made a plan for research. Read the plan and the directions that follow.

Research Report Plan

• Topic: Diamonds

• Audience: seventh-grade science class

• Purpose: to inform

• Research Question: How are diamonds created?

Choose two credible, or trustworthy, sources that will most likely provide the information needed to answer the research question.

A student has made a plan for research. Read the plan and directions that follow.

Research Report Plan

• Topic: Effects of Exercise

• Audience: seventh-grade health class students

• Purpose: to inform

• Research Question: What are the benefits of exercise for teens?

The student needs to find a credible, or trustworthy, source with relevant information. Which website is most likely the most useful source for the information needed to answer the research question?