Page 133 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade7_Flipbook

aCTIvITy 2.6
continued
evaluating sources: How Credible are They?
aCadeMIC voCabUlary
A primary source is an
original account or record
created at the time of an
event by someone who
witnessed or was involved in
it. Autobiographies, letters,
and government records are
types of primary sources.
Secondary sources analyze,
interpret, or critique primary
sources. Textbooks, books
about historical events, and
works of criticism, such as
movie and book reviews, are
secondary sources.
My Notes
Primary and Secondary Sources
When choosing credible research sources, you will find primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are original documents; they are often used in historical research. For example, if you are researching the era of the Civil War, you might use the primary resource of Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” You might find that speech in a secondary source written about the Civil War or on the Internet.
6. Look at the texts you have read so far in the unit. Are they primary or secondary sources? How do you know?
Evaluating Online Resources
Anyone can publish writing on the Internet. This openness is both one of the strengths and one of the weaknesses of the Internet. In order to be an effective researcher, you must be aware of the differences in quality that exist among websites.
A good place to start evaluating a website’s authority is by looking at its domain suffix. The domain name is the Web address, or Internet identity. The domain suffix, the three letters that follow the dot, is the category in which that website falls. The most commonly used domain suffixes are described below.
Domain Suffix
Definition/Description
.com
Stands for “commercial.” Usually, websites with this suffix intend to make some sort of profit from their Internet services. Typically these are the websites that sell goods or services.
.org
Stands for “organization.” Primarily used by not-for-profit groups such as charities and professional organizations.
.net
Stands for “network.” Used by Internet service providers or web-hosting companies.
.edu
Stands for “education.” Used by colleges, universities, educational organizations, or other institutions.
.gov
Stands for “ government.” Used by federal, state, and local government sites.
106 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 7
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