Research with Reliable Sources and Good Notes

Conduct short research using several sources; judge relevance/reliability, paraphrase or summarize notes, and keep a usable source list.

How the lesson starts: Research with Reliable Sources and Good Notes

Ranger Taro's compass
Taro the tree frog is a research ranger. His first tool is a compass. It points him to sources that fit his question. A source can mention the right topic and still not answer it.
Does it fit?
Question: how do volcanoes form? A science book by a geologist could explain it. A joke page about rocks? A toy slime ad? A story about a dragon who sneezes fire? They're built for fun or selling, not facts.
Let's use the compass
Question: what caused the Hill Street bridge to close? A restaurant menu? No. A poem about rain? No. A video game ad? No. A city notice called Bridge Closed for Repairs? Yes! It's built to answer exactly that.