Research Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real ELA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Research Skills flashcards as text
A student wants to find sources published between 2018 and 2023. Which database feature should they use?
Answer: Date range limiter
Most academic databases offer a date range limiter to restrict results to specific publication years.
What is a 'working thesis' in the context of research?
Answer: A preliminary argument that may be revised as research continues
A working thesis is a tentative claim that guides research and is refined as evidence is gathered.
Which citation style is MOST commonly used in English and humanities classes?
Answer: MLA
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is standard for English, literature, and humanities disciplines.
A student reads four articles and writes a paragraph that combines key points from all four without quoting any. They still need to:
Answer: Include in-text citations for all four sources
Any borrowed ideas, even paraphrased or summarized, require in-text citations for all sources used.
What does 'triangulating sources' mean in research?
Answer: Verifying information by confirming it across multiple independent sources
Triangulating means cross-checking a claim with multiple independent sources to confirm its accuracy.
A Wikipedia article on a historical event would be BEST used as:
Answer: A starting point to find more credible sources via its references
Wikipedia is not considered a citable academic source but is useful for background information and locating cited references.
Which element is REQUIRED in both MLA and APA in-text citations?
Answer: The author's name
Both MLA and APA in-text citations require the author's name, though they differ in other elements.