What You Need to Know

Key Concept Diagram

Use reliable sources: check the author, publication date, and whether the source is fact or opinion

Paraphrasing means restating information in your own words — do not copy directly (that is plagiarism)

Note-taking strategies: use dot points, key words, and headings; record the source for each note

A bibliography lists all sources consulted; use a consistent format (author, title, date, source)

Key Vocabulary

Paraphrase

To restate information from a source in your own words, while keeping the original meaning

Plagiarism

Presenting someone else's words or ideas as your own without acknowledgement

Bibliography

A list of all sources used in a research project, formatted consistently

Synthesis

Combining information from multiple sources to form a new, connected understanding

Knowledge Check

Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.

Question 1

Which source is MOST likely to be reliable for a school research project about climate change?

A report published by the CSIRO (Australia's national science agency) An anonymous comment on a social media post A personal blog post by someone who does not like science A paid advertisement for a company

Question 2

You read: "Plastic pollution kills over a million seabirds per year." You write: "More than one million seabirds die each year due to plastic pollution." This is:

Plagiarism Paraphrasing A direct quote Synthesising

Question 3

At the end of your research project, you should include a:

Preface Table of contents Bibliography Glossary of terms

Research Projects and Note-taking