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Reading – Research & Sources

Reading · Level 5 · CCSS: RI.5.9, W.5.8 · Worksheet 5 of 5 · Practice Set 10

Level 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practice SetsSet 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Set 6 Set 7 Set 8 Set 9 Set 10

1 What Are Sources?

📚 A source is where you find information. Different sources are good for different things.

📖 Book · 📰 Magazine/Newspaper · 🌐 Website · 👩‍🏫 Expert/Interview · 📕 Encyclopedia

Books and encyclopedias give reliable, detailed facts. Newspapers cover current events. Websites are quick but need checking. Experts share real firsthand knowledge.

Which source would you use? Write your answer.

I want to find out…	Best Source
This week's local weather alerts
Everything about how earthquakes happen
What it's like to study earthquakes for a living
A quick fact about the largest earthquake ever recorded

2 Read Two Sources

📖 Read these two source texts about earthquakes. Look for information in each one.

Source 1: Encyclopedia Entry
Earthquakes happen when large pieces of the Earth's crust, called tectonic plates, shift and release built-up energy all at once. This sudden release sends out powerful waves that cause the ground to shake, sometimes for only a few seconds and sometimes for much longer. Earthquakes are measured using a tool called a seismograph, which records the size and strength of the shaking. Many earthquakes occur along fault lines, such as the San Andreas Fault in California, where two plates grind slowly against each other.

Source 2: Interview with Seismologist Dr. Priya Nair
"Most people are shocked to hear that thousands of tiny earthquakes happen every day without anyone even feeling them. My job for the past fourteen years has involved reading seismograph data, and once our aftershock predictions genuinely helped a whole community stay safe. That kind of preparation is exactly why I love this work."

3 Compare the Sources

🔍 Answer these questions using both sources about earthquakes.

Question	Your Answer
What fact about earthquakes appears in BOTH sources?
What detail about earthquakes is ONLY in the encyclopedia entry?
What detail about earthquakes did Seismologist Dr. Priya Nair share that the encyclopedia did not?
What is Seismologist Dr. Priya Nair's opinion about earthquakes?
If you were writing a report on earthquakes, which source would you trust more for facts? Why?

4 Plan Your Own Research

✍️ Pick an animal you want to learn about. Write 3 questions and where you would look for answers.

My research animal:

#	My Question	Best Source to Use
1
2
3

5 SBA Performance Task: Extended Response

This section is like a performance task on the state test. Read carefully, find evidence, and write a complete response.

Question: Evaluate the sources presented. Which source is the most reliable and why? Use specific details to support your evaluation.

My claim or answer:

Evidence 1: (Quote or detail from the text)

Evidence 2: (Another quote or detail)

My explanation: (Connect the evidence to your claim in 2-3 sentences)

+ Bonus Reading Practice

Use this short practice to extend Set 10.

Topic words: science lab, model, test, result

1. Write one sentence using two of the words above.

2. What detail would you expect to find in a passage about this topic?

3. Write one inference a reader could make from a text about this topic.