Research Using Books, Articles, and Online Sources

When you research a topic, you collect information from CREDIBLE sources — places that an expert reader would trust. Strong fifth-grade researchers know the three main kinds of sources, when to reach for each one, and how to take careful notes so they never lose track of where a fact came from.

Three Main Source Types

• BOOKS — go DEEP. A book gives long, careful background on a big topic. Encyclopedias, biographies, reference books, and nonfiction books all count. Best when you need full context.
• ARTICLES — focused and recent. Magazine features, newspaper stories, and scientific journal pieces zoom in on one question and are usually written closer to today.
• WEBSITES — fast and current, but uneven. The internet is huge — some pages are written by experts, some by anyone. Always check who wrote it and when.

Evaluating a Source for Credibility

1. AUTHOR — Who wrote it? Look for a real person, a journalist, a professor, or a known organization. No author named is a warning sign.
2. DATE — When was it written or updated? For science and current events, more recent is usually better.
3. ACCURACY — Does it match what other trusted sources say? Cross-check at least one fact in another place.
4. WEB ADDRESS clues — .edu (university), .gov (government), and many .org (organization) sites tend to be more careful. .com is mixed; personal blogs are weakest.

Taking Source Notes on Cards

• Keep one CARD (paper or digital) per source so you do not mix them up later.
• Write the TITLE of the book, article, or page.
• Write the AUTHOR (or the organization if no author is given).
• Write the DATE the source was published or last updated.
• Write the TYPE — book, article, or website — and the web address if it is online.
• Write WHY YOU TRUST IT in one sentence (expert author, recent date, .gov site).
• Write the KEY FACT you got from it, in your own words.