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Reading – Research & Sources

Reading · Level 5 · CCSS: RI.5.9, W.5.8 · Worksheet 5 of 5 · Practice Set 8

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
Yesterday's weather report for the coast
Everything about how hurricanes form
What it's like to be a storm chaser
A quick fact about the strongest hurricane on record

2 Read Two Sources

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

Source 1: Encyclopedia Entry
Hurricanes are powerful storms that form over warm ocean water near the equator, gathering strength as they pull in heat and moisture. They spin in a circular pattern around a calm center called the eye, and can bring heavy rain, strong winds, and flooding to coastal areas. Hurricanes are categorized by wind speed, from Category 1 to Category 5, with Category 5 storms causing the most severe damage. Scientists track hurricanes using satellites and special aircraft that fly directly into the storm to measure conditions.

Source 2: Interview with Storm Researcher Elena Cruz
"It always surprises new crew members that the eye of a hurricane actually feels calm and still. I've flown five research missions straight into storms, and one time our instruments clocked wind speeds over 150 miles per hour just outside that calm center. Better data means better warnings, and better warnings genuinely save lives along the coast."

3 Compare the Sources

🔍 Answer these questions using both sources about hurricanes.

Question	Your Answer
What fact about hurricanes appears in BOTH sources?
What detail about hurricanes is ONLY in the encyclopedia entry?
What detail about hurricanes did Storm Researcher Elena Cruz share that the encyclopedia did not?
What is Storm Researcher Elena Cruz's opinion about hurricanes?
If you were writing a report on hurricanes, 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 8.

Topic words: trail, sign, tree, path

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.