Language Arts: Research Writing and Citation
Using sources, paraphrasing, and citing evidence clearly
Language Arts: Research Writing and Citation
Using sources, paraphrasing, and citing evidence clearly
Language Arts - Grade 9-12
- 1
A student writes this sentence in a research paper: 'Social media affects teen sleep because many students stay awake later while using their phones.' Explain one reason the student should support this sentence with a source.
Think about the difference between an opinion and a claim that needs proof.
The student should support this sentence with a source because it makes a factual claim about teen behavior and sleep patterns. A reliable source provides evidence that makes the claim more credible and accurate. - 2
Read this source sentence: 'Researchers found that students who reviewed notes for ten minutes each day remembered information better at the end of the week.' Write a paraphrase that keeps the original meaning but uses different wording.
A strong paraphrase is: Researchers reported that students improved their weekly memory of class material when they spent ten minutes a day reviewing their notes. This version keeps the meaning but changes the wording and structure. - 3
A student copies a sentence from a website and changes only two words before adding it to a paper. Explain why this is not an acceptable paraphrase.
Focus on both wording and sentence structure.
This is not an acceptable paraphrase because changing only a few words keeps the original wording and structure too closely. A proper paraphrase must fully restate the idea in the student's own language and still credit the source. - 4
Choose the stronger research source for a paper about renewable energy and explain why: Source A is an unsigned blog post from 2018. Source B is a 2023 article from a government energy agency with named authors.
Source B is the stronger source because it is more recent, comes from a government energy agency, and includes named authors. These features make it more credible and useful for accurate research. - 5
Read this sentence from a draft: 'Plastic waste is a huge problem everywhere.' Rewrite it to sound more formal and research-based.
Replace vague words with precise language.
A more formal revision is: Plastic waste is a significant environmental problem in many regions of the world. This version uses more precise and academic language. - 6
A works cited entry includes the author, title, website name, date, and URL. Explain the purpose of a works cited page in a research paper.
A works cited page shows readers where the writer found the information used in the paper. It gives credit to sources, helps readers verify information, and reduces plagiarism by documenting borrowed ideas. - 7
Read this quotation: 'Daily reading improves vocabulary growth over time.' Write one sentence that introduces the quote and one sentence that explains its importance.
Do not leave the quotation standing alone.
One possible response is: According to a literacy study, 'Daily reading improves vocabulary growth over time.' This evidence matters because it supports the idea that regular reading practice can strengthen language development. The quote is introduced and then explained clearly. - 8
A student uses information from a source but does not put quotation marks around an exact sentence from that source. Explain what the student did wrong.
The student used the source incorrectly because exact words taken from a source must be placed inside quotation marks and cited properly. Without quotation marks, the writing presents someone else's words as the student's own work. - 9
For a research paper on school lunches, which source is more trustworthy and why: a peer-reviewed journal article or an anonymous social media post?
Consider review process and authorship.
A peer-reviewed journal article is more trustworthy because experts review it before publication, and it usually includes evidence, methods, and author information. An anonymous social media post does not provide the same level of reliability or accountability. - 10
Read the claim: 'Schools should start later in the morning.' Write one piece of evidence that would strongly support this claim.
One strong piece of evidence would be a study showing that students at schools with later start times get more sleep and perform better academically. This kind of evidence directly supports the claim with research findings. - 11
A student includes three statistics in a paragraph but does not explain any of them. Explain how this weakens the paragraph.
Evidence should be followed by analysis.
This weakens the paragraph because the reader may not understand how the statistics support the main point. Writers need to explain evidence so the connection between the facts and the argument is clear. - 12
Write a topic sentence for a body paragraph in a research essay about the benefits of exercise for teenagers.
A strong topic sentence is: Regular exercise benefits teenagers by improving both physical health and mental well-being. This sentence clearly states the main idea of the paragraph. - 13
A source was published in 2004 and gives statistics about current smartphone use among teenagers. Explain why the date matters when evaluating this source.
Think about how quickly some topics change over time.
The date matters because technology and smartphone use have changed greatly since 2004, so the statistics may no longer be accurate or relevant. Current topics often require recent evidence to support strong research writing. - 14
Read this sentence: 'The article says recycling helps the environment.' Revise it so it refers to the source more specifically and sounds more academic.
A stronger revision is: The article argues that recycling reduces environmental harm by decreasing landfill waste and conserving resources. This version identifies the source's claim more precisely and uses formal language. - 15
Why is it important to cite a source even when you paraphrase instead of quoting directly?
The words may be new, but the idea is borrowed.
It is important to cite a source when paraphrasing because the idea still came from someone else's work, even if the wording changed. Citation gives proper credit and shows readers where the information originated.