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Reading – Research & Sources

Reading · Level 5 · CCSS: RI.5.9, W.5.8 · Worksheet 5 of 5 · Practice Set 3

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
The score of last night's basketball game
Everything about the water cycle
What it's like to be a meteorologist
A quick fact about how much rain a hurricane can drop

2 Read Two Sources

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

Source 1: Encyclopedia Entry
Coral reefs are underwater ecosystems built by tiny animals called coral polyps that slowly build hard skeletons over time. Reefs can take thousands of years to fully form and provide homes for about 25% of all marine species, from tiny shrimp to large sharks. Healthy reefs need warm, clear, shallow water to survive, which is why they are usually found near the equator. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest reef system on Earth, stretching over 1,400 miles along the coast.

Source 2: Interview with Marine Biologist Rosa Delgado
"Diving alongside these reefs for a decade has taught me how quickly they can change. During one survey, our team was amazed to find a damaged reef bouncing back faster than any of us predicted. Few people realize that reefs actually turn white, or 'bleach,' when the water gets too warm. Protecting reefs, to me, is one of the most urgent tasks in ocean science today."

3 Compare the Sources

🔍 Answer these questions using both sources about coral reefs.

Question	Your Answer
What fact about coral reefs appears in BOTH sources?
What detail about coral reefs is ONLY in the encyclopedia entry?
What detail about coral reefs did Marine Biologist Rosa Delgado share that the encyclopedia did not?
What is Marine Biologist Rosa Delgado's opinion about coral reefs?
If you were writing a report on coral reefs, 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 3.

Topic words: garden, seed, leaf, plan

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.