Skip to content
PlayOwl

English · Grade 9

Research Questions and Source Evaluation

Learners begin real research the way researchers do: with a good question. They narrow broad topics into focused, researchable questions, tell primary from secondary sources in a local-history investigation, judge credibility with five questions and lateral reading, and plan searches while recording the details they will need to cite. All sources are invented for practice, so learners can test their judgment safely.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 125 minutes
  • Research and sources check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, put in order and sort into groups
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Turn a broad topic into a focused, researchable question by narrowing or broadening it.
  • Distinguish primary from secondary sources and explain what each kind can and cannot tell a researcher.
  • Evaluate a source's credibility by asking who made it, why, with what evidence, when, and whether other sources agree, including reading laterally.
  • Plan effective searches and record the source information needed for citation.

Lessons

  1. From topic to question 5 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  2. Primary and secondary sources 6 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  3. Is this source credible? 6 steps3 practiceabout 35 min
  4. Search smart and keep records 6 steps4 practiceabout 25 min
  5. Research and sources check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 9th grade reading

Guide for grown-ups