Page 71 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade6_Flipbook

Writing Workshop 6 (continued)
Domain Suffix
Gathering Relevant and Reliable Information
4. To gather relevant information about a topic, researchers use either primary or secondary sources.
• A primary source is an original document that provides firsthand information
about a subject.
• A secondary source summarizes or interprets information from a primary source.
Your topic will help determine the relevance of each type of source to your research question.
Read the following list of sources. Categorize each as a primary or secondary source.
a. Diaries of soldiers (Primary)
b. Encyclopedia articles (Secondary)
c. Interviews (Primary)
d. Documentary films about the Civil War (Secondary)
e. Letters (Primary)
f. Ship logs of passenger names (Primary)
g. Nonfiction books about specific battles of the Civil War (Secondary) h. Newspaper articles (Secondary)
i. Biographies(Secondary)
5. In your research, you will use both print and electronic sources. What are
the benefits and drawbacks of each kind of source? In general, why are print sources such as encyclopedias and books more reliable than Internet sources? Why might electronic sources be more valuable for certain topics?
6. You will now examine source documents related to the research topic
chosen by the class. Your goal is to determine whether each resource is valid (authoritative) and reliable. Using the information below, evaluate the reliability and validity of the sources provided. How can you tell that information is relevant and reliable? Why is this information important for you to know?
Internet Sites
Some Internet sites may contain more valid information than others. A valid Internet source is one that contains information that is well researched, a bibli- ography or list of resources, and a statement of the site’s purpose. One way to know whether a Web site is valid is through its domain suffix. The domain name is the Web address, or Internet identity. The domain suffix, typically the three letters that follow the “dot,” is the category in which that Web site falls.
Definition/Description
.com Stands for “commercial.” Web sites with this suffix are created to make a profit from their Internet services. Typically these Web sites sell goods or services.
.org Stands for “organization.” Primarily used by non-profit groups.
.net Stands for “network.” Used by Internet service providers, or Web-hosting companies.
.edu Stands for “education.” Used by major universities or educational organizations or institutions.
.gov Stands for “government.” Used by U.S. government sites.
6 SpringBoard® Writing Workshop with Grammar Activities Grade 6
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