Grade: 4 Subject: ELA Unit: Research Basics Lesson: 6 of 6 SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Unit Checkpoint

Learn

Congratulations on completing the Research Basics unit! This checkpoint will help you review all the skills you have learned and see how well you understand them.

Unit Summary

In this unit, you learned:

Lesson 1: Finding Sources

  • Different types of sources (books, websites, encyclopedias)
  • Where to look for reliable information
  • How to use library and online resources

Lesson 2: Taking Notes

  • How to record important information
  • Writing notes in your own words
  • Organizing notes by topic
  • Keeping track of your sources

Lesson 3: Guided Practice

  • The complete research process step by step
  • Narrowing a topic to make it manageable
  • Writing good research questions

Lesson 4: Source Evaluation

  • The CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose)
  • Identifying reliable vs. unreliable sources
  • Red flags that suggest a source may not be trustworthy

Lesson 5: Writing Application

  • Turning notes into sentences and paragraphs
  • Topic sentences, supporting details, and concluding sentences
  • Citing your sources
  • Structure of a research report

Key Vocabulary Review

  • Source: A place where you find information (book, website, article)
  • Citation: Telling readers where you found your information
  • Paraphrase: Putting information in your own words
  • Reliable: Trustworthy and accurate
  • CRAAP Test: A method to evaluate sources
  • Topic Sentence: The sentence that tells what a paragraph is about
  • Supporting Details: Facts and examples that support your main idea

Examples

Example: Complete Research Process

Here is an example of the entire research process from start to finish:

Step 1: Choose a Topic

Broad topic: Space

Narrowed topic: How astronauts live on the International Space Station

Step 2: Write Research Questions

  • How do astronauts sleep in space?
  • What do astronauts eat?
  • How do astronauts exercise?

Step 3: Find Sources

  • NASA.gov website
  • Life in Space by National Geographic
  • Scholastic News article about the ISS

Step 4: Evaluate Sources

All three sources pass the CRAAP test - they are current, relevant, written by authorities, accurate, and have educational purposes.

Step 5: Take Notes

  • Astronauts sleep in small cabins attached to walls (NASA)
  • They use sleeping bags so they do not float away (NASA)
  • Food comes in packages - some is freeze-dried (Nat Geo)
  • Exercise 2 hours daily to keep muscles strong (Scholastic)

Step 6: Write

Living on the International Space Station is very different from life on Earth. According to NASA, astronauts sleep in small cabins attached to the walls, using sleeping bags so they do not float away while they rest. Mealtime is also unusual. National Geographic explains that food comes in special packages, and some of it is freeze-dried and needs water added. To stay healthy without gravity, astronauts must exercise about two hours every day, as reported by Scholastic News. Even simple daily activities become adventures when you live in space!

Practice

Mini Research Project

Complete this short research project to practice all your skills:

  1. Choose one of these topics:
    • How recycling helps the environment
    • Why honeybees are important
    • How volcanoes form
  2. Write 2-3 research questions about your topic
  3. Find 2 sources that can answer your questions
  4. Evaluate your sources using the CRAAP test
  5. Take notes in your own words (at least 5 facts)
  6. Write one paragraph using your notes
  7. List your sources at the end

Self-Assessment Checklist

Check each skill you feel confident about:

  • I can narrow a broad topic to something specific
  • I can write good research questions
  • I know where to find reliable sources
  • I can use the CRAAP test to evaluate sources
  • I can take notes in my own words
  • I can organize my notes by topic
  • I can write a paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting details
  • I can cite my sources

Check Your Understanding

Answer these 10 questions to test your mastery of the entire unit.

Question 1: Put these research steps in the correct order: Take notes, Evaluate sources, Choose a topic, Write, Find sources

Answer: The correct order is: (1) Choose a topic, (2) Find sources, (3) Evaluate sources, (4) Take notes, (5) Write. You need to choose what to research before finding sources, check that sources are reliable before taking notes, and gather information before writing.

Question 2: What does the "A" for Authority in the CRAAP test ask you to check?

Answer: Authority asks: Who wrote this information? Are they an expert on the topic? Do they have credentials or experience that makes them qualified to write about this subject? A source written by an expert is more reliable than one written by someone with no knowledge of the topic.

Question 3: Why is "Animals" a bad research topic, and how could you make it better?

Answer: "Animals" is too broad - there is too much information to cover well in one project. A better topic would be specific, like "How sea turtles navigate the ocean" or "Why pandas are endangered." Narrow topics let you research deeply and write with focus.

Question 4: A website has no author listed and no date. What should you do?

Answer: These are red flags that the source may not be reliable. You should try to find a different source with a named author and a date. If you must use this source, look for the same information in another reliable source to verify it is accurate.

Question 5: What is the difference between copying and paraphrasing?

Answer: Copying means writing the exact same words from a source, which is plagiarism. Paraphrasing means reading information, understanding it, and then writing it in your own words while keeping the same meaning. Good researchers always paraphrase.

Question 6: Why should you use more than one source in your research?

Answer: Using multiple sources helps you: (1) verify that facts are accurate by seeing if different sources agree, (2) get a more complete picture of your topic, (3) find different perspectives or details, and (4) show that you did thorough research.

Question 7: What three parts should every research paragraph include?

Answer: Every research paragraph needs: (1) a topic sentence that states the main idea, (2) supporting details that provide facts, examples, and explanations from your research, and (3) a concluding sentence that wraps up the paragraph and connects back to the main idea.

Question 8: Which website is likely more reliable for a science report: nasa.gov or coolsciencefacts123.blogspot.com? Explain why.

Answer: NASA.gov is more reliable because: (1) .gov means it is an official government website, (2) NASA is a trusted authority on science and space, (3) the information is checked by experts. The blog may have no expert author and no fact-checking process.

Question 9: What is a source list (or bibliography) and why do you need one?

Answer: A source list (or bibliography) is a list at the end of your report showing all the sources you used. You need one to: (1) give credit to the authors whose information you used, (2) help readers find the sources if they want to learn more, (3) prove that your facts come from real research.

Question 10: If you were researching "how tornadoes form" and found a source from 1985 and a source from 2023, which should you trust more and why?

Answer: The 2023 source is likely more reliable because scientific understanding improves over time. The 1985 source may have outdated information since scientists have learned much more about tornadoes in the past 40 years. However, basic facts that have not changed might be the same in both sources.

Next Steps

  • Celebrate completing the Research Basics unit!
  • Review any lessons where you need more practice
  • Apply these skills to research projects in any subject
  • Continue to the next unit in English Language Arts