--- title: "Research & Source Evaluation" description: "Summarise and organise material from reading and research — gathering relevant information from multiple sources, assessing credibility, integrating evidence without plagiarising, and supporting ideas" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/research-and-source-evaluation-mt_Qcsl1Z1x0l source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/research-and-source-evaluation-mt_Qcsl1Z1x0l.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Research & Source Evaluation Summarise and organise material from reading and research — gathering relevant information from multiple sources, assessing credibility, integrating evidence without plagiarising, and supporting ideas with factual detail Subject: English · Area: Writing Composition · Ages 11 to 14 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/research-and-source-evaluation-mt_Qcsl1Z1x0l ## Ready when they can - Take notes from multiple sources on a topic and organise them under logical headings - Paraphrase information from a source accurately without copying word-for-word - Assess whether a source is credible and relevant before including it in research writing ## Lesson: Judging Your Sources You already know how to take notes and turn them into a short summary. Now you're gathering from several sources at once. That means grouping notes under clear headings, putting each idea in your own words, and checking whether each source deserves your trust before you use it. **Example.** Zara is researching ocean plastic pollution. She reads three articles and sorts her notes under three headings: Causes, Effects on wildlife, and Possible solutions. Every fact she writes down goes under the heading it belongs to, even if it came from a different article than the fact above it. **Tip.** Paraphrasing means rewriting an idea in new words and a new sentence structure, not just swapping a few words for synonyms. If someone could match your sentence back to the original word for word, it's still too close. **Example.** Original: 'Coral reefs support twenty-five percent of all marine species.' A true paraphrase: 'A quarter of the ocean's species rely on coral reefs for survival.' A weak attempt: 'Coral reefs help twenty-five percent of all sea species.' That weak version just swaps in synonyms and keeps the same structure, so it's still too close to the original. Before you use a source, ask three questions. Who wrote this, and do they know the subject? When was it written, and is it still accurate for a subject that may have moved on since? Is the writer trying to inform you, or trying to sell or persuade you? Notice that where a source came in a list of search results answers none of these, so ranking tells you nothing about trust. A source that fails these checks should not shape your writing. *(drawing: Ask these three questions before a source earns a place in your writing. If it can't give you good answers, find a stronger source.)* **Recap.** Sort notes under headings, paraphrase in your own words, and check who wrote a source before you trust it. ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Writing a Précis](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/writing-a-precis-mt_curkA82CmO) - [Research & Note-Taking](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/research-and-note-taking-mt_dRLP8g0SAg) - [Using Multiple Sources](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/using-multiple-sources-mt_JVVKT-_AD9) - [Synthesising across multiple texts](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/synthesising-across-multiple-texts-mt_kJ4xXKL_nO) - [Summarising Non-Fiction Main Ideas](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/summarising-non-fiction-main-ideas-mt_XnRhhEqJLJ) ## Opens up - [Checking a Claim Before You Repeat It](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/checking-a-claim-before-you-repeat-it-mt_alX03luQ-m) - [Using an AI Tool on Schoolwork Without Cheating Yourself](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/using-an-ai-tool-on-schoolwork-without-cheating-yourself-mt_fjlXx-hkp_) - [Using Researched Evidence in Argument](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/using-researched-evidence-in-argument-mt_heDDfyi4O6) - [Framing a Research Question](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/framing-a-research-question-mt_IEMPNTY48g) - [Checking a Model's Claim Against a Source](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/checking-a-models-claim-against-a-source-mt_Qh4Pnnfqv2) - [Reusing Someone Else's Work: Licences and Giving Credit](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/reusing-someone-elses-work-licences-and-giving-credit-mt_SeLxugBmM7) - [Writing Science Reports](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/writing-science-reports-mt_ThTbUuNb3p) - [Developed Informational and Explanatory Writing](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/developed-informational-and-explanatory-writing-mt_zCUIJLdK_s)