ISASP Research and Inquiry Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When paraphrasing a source, a student should:
- Copy the original text word for word into the report
- Restate the information in their own words and cite the source (Correct answer)
- Change only a few words from the original text
- Use quotation marks around the restated text
Correct answer: Restate the information in their own words and cite the source
Paraphrasing means rewriting information in your own words while still crediting the original source with a citation.
Question 2: A student is deciding between a .com and a .gov website for research on Iowa tax laws. Which is generally more reliable for this topic and why?
- .com, because commercial sites have more information
- .gov, because government sites provide official and accurate legal information (Correct answer)
- .com, because it is easier to navigate
- .gov, because government sites are always free to use
Correct answer: .gov, because government sites provide official and accurate legal information
.gov websites are published by official government agencies and are the authoritative source for information about laws and government policies.
Question 3: Which question is the BEST focused research question for a school report?
- What is weather?
- How does weather affect people?
- How do tornadoes impact farming communities in Iowa? (Correct answer)
- Tell me everything about Iowa.
Correct answer: How do tornadoes impact farming communities in Iowa?
A strong research question is specific, focused, and answerable through research, like how tornadoes affect Iowa farming communities.
Question 4: A student finds information in a book published in 1975 about computer technology. Why might this source be a poor choice for a current research report?
- Books are never reliable sources
- The information may be outdated since technology changes rapidly (Correct answer)
- Only internet sources are acceptable for research reports
- Sources from before 2000 are not allowed in school reports
Correct answer: The information may be outdated since technology changes rapidly
Technology changes rapidly, so a 1975 source would not reflect current developments and may contain obsolete or inaccurate information for a current report.
Question 5: What does it mean to synthesize information from multiple sources?
- To copy the best sentences from each source into one document
- To use only the source with the most pages
- To combine ideas from several sources to form a new, complete understanding (Correct answer)
- To list all the sources in alphabetical order
Correct answer: To combine ideas from several sources to form a new, complete understanding
Synthesizing means combining information from multiple sources to build a deeper, more complete understanding of a topic rather than using sources in isolation.
Question 6: A student is reading a persuasive article about building a new highway in Iowa. What should the student watch for to identify possible bias?
- Whether the article has pictures or diagrams
- Whether the author only presents one side of the issue (Correct answer)
- Whether the article is longer than three pages
- Whether the article uses headings and subheadings
Correct answer: Whether the author only presents one side of the issue
Bias in a persuasive article is often revealed when an author presents only one perspective and ignores or downplays opposing viewpoints.
Question 7: Which part of a nonfiction book helps a reader quickly locate information about a specific topic within that book?
- The glossary
- The dedication page
- The index (Correct answer)
- The bibliography
Correct answer: The index
The index is an alphabetical list at the back of a book that shows page numbers where specific topics are discussed, making it easy to locate information quickly.
ISASP Research and Inquiry Skills 2
When paraphrasing a source, a student should: