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English lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 30 minutes

Evaluating research sources: primary vs secondary, authority, purpose

Reading Comprehension

CCSS W.11-12.8CCSS RI.11-12.7England: A-level Extended Project (research skills)England: AP Seminar and ResearchEngland: GCSE English Language Paper 2

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Evaluating research sources: primary vs secondary, authority, purpose.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Checking claims online: lateral reading and tracing sources; Bias and loaded language in reporting

Leads to: Evaluating AI-generated and edited media; Paraphrase, quotation or plagiarism?

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Checking claims online: lateral reading and tracing sources; Bias and loaded language in reporting). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? A quote is shared with a famous scientist's photo, but you can't find it in any of her speeches or writings. What should you conclude? → quotes are always accurate online (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Good checkers leave the page and see what other reliable sources say.
  2. Is the proposed answer correct? "The so-called expert claimed the river was safe." What does 'so-called' do? → it gives the expert's job title (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Look for words that judge rather than describe.
  3. Is the proposed answer correct? A post says "A study proves X" but gives no link. What is the best next step? → search for the original study and see what it actually found (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Good checkers leave the page and see what other reliable sources say.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Evaluating research sources: primary vs secondary, authority, purpose. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: For a research project, is this usually a primary or a secondary source? a photograph taken at a 1963 protest march
  • Step 1: Primary sources are first-hand evidence; secondary sources interpret or summarise primary sources.
  • Step 2: Created at the event itself.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: primary source
  • Answer: primary source
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. For a research project, is this usually a primary or a secondary source? a recording of a politician's speech (primary source / secondary source) → primary sourcePrompt: Was it created at the time, by someone directly involved?
  2. Read the question and choose. Which detail best shows that a website is accountable for its content? (it has thousands of followers / it names its authors and editors and publishes corrections / it has lots of adverts / it uses a professional-looking logo) → it names its authors and editors and publishes correctionsPrompt: Think about authority (who made it), currency (when), purpose (why) and evidence (how).

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. For a research project, is this usually a primary or a secondary source? a review of a new film (primary source / secondary source) → secondary sourcePrompt: Was it created at the time, by someone directly involved?
  2. Read the question and choose. Which detail best shows that a website is accountable for its content? (it has thousands of followers / it names its authors and editors and publishes corrections / it has lots of adverts / it uses a professional-looking logo) → it names its authors and editors and publishes correctionsPrompt: Think about authority (who made it), currency (when), purpose (why) and evidence (how).

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Checking claims online: lateral reading and tracing sources.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Evaluating AI-generated and edited media; Paraphrase, quotation or plagiarism?.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-11.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Evaluating research sources: primary vs secondary, authority, purpose

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Read the question and choose. What does 'peer-reviewed' mean?

    • A. it was written by students
    • B. other experts checked the research before it was published
    • C. it was published online
    • D. it is very popular

  2. Question 2

    For a research project, is this usually a primary or a secondary source? an encyclopedia entry about the politician

    • A. primary source
    • B. secondary source

  3. Question 3

    Read the question and choose. You are researching the safety of an energy drink. Which source is most trustworthy?

    • A. a peer-reviewed study by independent researchers
    • B. a blog by a fitness influencer
    • C. a report paid for by the drink's manufacturer
    • D. a forum thread with anonymous comments

  4. Question 4

    For a research project, is this usually a primary or a secondary source? a novelist's handwritten letters to her publisher

    • A. primary source
    • B. secondary source

  5. Question 5

    Read the question and choose. A study on the benefits of a sugary cereal was funded by the cereal company. What should a careful researcher do?

    • A. only read the summary
    • B. ignore it completely, because funded studies are always false
    • C. note the conflict of interest and look for independent studies
    • D. treat it as the most reliable source

  6. Question 6

    For a research project, is this usually a primary or a secondary source? a review of a new film

    • A. primary source
    • B. secondary source

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Answer key: Evaluating research sources: primary vs secondary, authority, purpose

  1. 1. B. other experts checked the research before it was published

  2. 2. B. secondary source

  3. 3. A. a peer-reviewed study by independent researchers

  4. 4. A. primary source

  5. 5. C. note the conflict of interest and look for independent studies

  6. 6. B. secondary source