Writing Target 7.W.8 Usefulness of Resources “..assess the credibility and accuracy of sources…”

Usefulness of Resources The “usefulness of resources” allows you to use materials to determine the right sources to use for investigating a question, topic, or issue. Think about a researching project, where could you look (besides using Google or Bing) to find information?

Class Discussion: What are resources? Answer: dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedias, internet materials, atlases, newspapers, magazines, directories (phone books), advertisements/flyers, and websites 2. Think of some uncommon places to find important information? These are also resources: catalogs, yellow pages, consumer reports, technical manuals, forms, pamphlets, book excerpts, research summaries, science journals and trade journals.

What are these? Sorting Activity Your Task: Go through the various cards placed in your envelope and organize each of the resources into three categories: I know for sure, without a doubt! 2. I think I know, but I might need a reminder 3. I don’t have any idea

Your Task: Using the worksheet, you need to write a “micro” note on the following information. Please Note: These are ALL options that you could see in multiple choice questions on assessments in reading from now through 12th grade.

An almanac is used to find facts about weather, population, currency, and geographical data.

An atlas contains maps and most atlases also have mileage indicators.

The dictionary gives correct spellings of words, their meanings and pronunciation of a word.

The encyclopedia has information on many general topics and people in history. It comes in print and online versions.

A magazine gives weekly or monthly news such as current events, sports information and political or cultural reports.

The newspaper gives the most current daily news such as current events, sports information, and daily weather.

A book excerpt is passage or segment taken from a longer work, such as a literary or musical composition, a document, or a film.

A catalog is a list, of items for sale or courses at a university that include descriptive material about the listings.

The Internet contains current information on many topics The Internet contains current information on many topics. It also has online encyclopedias and other types of resources.

A website a connected group of pages on the World Wide Web related to a single topic or several closely related topics.

Words to know (add these to your notes): Source / Resource: a place to get information Most reliable: exact and most trusted piece of information Most important: most helpful Confirm / Verify: prove that something is true/correct Unimportant / irrelevant: not related to the point, doesn’t matter to the main point.

1. Christopher needs to find out how to pronounce a word 1. Christopher needs to find out how to pronounce a word. Which source would give the best information? Dictionary 2. Andrew has a report due on American inventors. What would be the most reliable resource(s) to use? Encyclopedia 3. Kelly is going to choose her college classes for the fall quarter. Which source would give the best information? Catalog Dictionary Encyclopedia Catalog

Tim is writing a report about Global Warming Tim is writing a report about Global Warming. Which of these would the least reliable source of information for his paper? Catalog Website Encyclopedia Magazine

Day 1 continued: What are these? In your groups, talk about what each of these are. Thesaurus Schedules Directories Advertisements Flyers Yellow Pages Consumer Reports Technical Manuals Forms Research Summaries Science Journals Trade Journals

Your Task: To continue and Micro Note the following pages of information onto the notes section of your worksheet

Thesaurus is a dictionary of synonyms (words that mean the same) and antonyms (opposite/different words)

Schedules are lists of planned times, such as classes, meetings, commitments, or appointments

Directories are books containing an alphabetical index of the names and addresses of persons in a city, district, organization, etc., or of a particular category of people.

Advertisements are used to advertising something such as a product for sale or an event. Advertisements are found in: ads, announcements, posters, billboards, commercials, want ads, classified ads, public notices, fliers, or a movie trailers

Flyers are paid for announcements, in newspapers or magazines, bulletin boards, billboards, on radio or television, etc.

Yellow Pages is a business telephone directory.

Technical Manuals are publications that explains how something works, or how to put something together.

Consumer Reports are books of consumer rated products

Forms are something to fill out that people can list/give information about themselves for someone else.

Research Summaries are a collection of research based study results and data

A Trade Journal is a magazine published with the intention of target marketing to a specific industry or type of trade (occupation). (Note: This is for sure always on MSP)

A Scientific Journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. (Note: This is for sure always on MSP)

Choose the best resource for the information needed. 1. Elizabeth needs to purchase a new car. What would be the best resource to use? a. Website b. Magazine c. Consumer Report d. Technical Manual

4. What resource gives weekly or monthly news such as current events, sports information and political or cultural reports? Atlas Almanac Magazine Technical Manual 5. What resources are paid announcements, as of goods for sale, in newspapers or magazines, on radio or television, etc.? Directory Newspaper Advertisement Science Journal 6. What resources are a passage or segment taken from a longer work, such as a literary or musical composition, a document, or a film? Pamphlet Book excerpt Consumer Report Research Summary Magazine Advertisement Book Excerpt

Activity “How to Become a Scientist” Using your notes, please work through the questions with your table partner. When finished, please keep at your desk for us to review as a class in 15 minutes.

Scientist Answers: B. Choosing a career in science A. websites D. Make sure you make the most of your first degree, so you can move on accordingly. c. technical manual d. science careers are a great choice for those who enjoy research.

Day 2 Relevant Sources…Irrelevant Sources. Look up the definition for “Relevant.” Add it to your notes somewhere. Now, what would “irrelevant” mean?

Sample multiple choice stem questions: (Copy on your notes) Which statement is irrelevant to the selection and could be deleted? Which source would give the best information? Which would be the most reliable source? Which book might include this story? Which resource would you choose to use to find out information about ______?

1. Which resource would you choose to use to find out information about the weather forecast for the week? Science Journal Newspaper Almanac Atlas 2. If you needed to call your dentist and reschedule your appointment, what resource would be lease reliable? Yellow Pages Website Flyer Schedule

“Quick” Practice Please look at the “Asthma” relevant worksheet from your teacher. Try to complete this on your own. You have about 8 minutes to do this.

Sources Assignment Task: In your groups, work to identify which source is “most relevant” to the question being asked. We will review the answers first thing tomorrow. There will not be any work time to complete this tomorrow, so if you do not finish this in class today, you must finish this at home.

Day 3: Practice Identifying Resources Take out your worksheet from yesterday for us to go over the answers. If you have questions, be sure to ask before we begin our assessment. Final Review: Before we begin our assessment, here are a few questions to review.

Your Grandmother needs help purchasing the best washer and dryer for sale. What would be the most reliable resource to use? Directory Advertisement Technical Manual Consumer Report Your family will be taking the ferry this weekend to Poulsbo. What would be the most reliable resource to use? Atlas Schedule Yellow Pages There are rats under your house, where should you look to find an exterminator? Trade Journals Almanac Catalog Consumer Report Schedule Yellow pages

4. Which resource would you choose to use to find out information about Boeing’s 787? Catalog Directory Consumer Report Technical Manual 5. You have just found out you might have seasonal allergies, and need to learn how to take care of your allergy needs. Which source would give the best information? Advertisement Encyclopedia Pamphlet Forms 4. Technical manual 5. pamphlet

Assessment Jetty Island. Micro Notes Text Boxes Coding the Text (you may use a highlighter) USE of our Reading Strategies. Label the Writing Target for each question.