Inquiry and Research Skills Flashcards

In an MLA Works Cited entry for a book, which element appears FIRST?

Answer: Author's last name

MLA format requires entries to begin with the author's last name, followed by a comma and first name.

Which question helps a researcher evaluate the AUTHORITY of a source?

Answer: Who is the author, and what are their credentials?

Evaluating authority involves examining who created the source and whether they have relevant expertise or credentials.

What is 'synthesis' in the context of research writing?

Answer: Combining ideas from several sources to support an original argument

Synthesis involves integrating ideas from multiple sources to build and support the writer's own argument.

A student needs current statistics on U.S. unemployment rates. Which source is MOST appropriate?

Answer: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is a government agency that provides current and authoritative employment data.

Why should a researcher avoid using Wikipedia as a final source in an academic paper?

Answer: Wikipedia content can be edited by anyone and may not be reliable

Wikipedia allows public editing, which means content accuracy cannot be fully guaranteed for academic use.

When a source's information cannot be verified by any other source, a researcher should:

Answer: Use it only as a starting point and seek corroborating evidence

Unverifiable information should prompt further investigation; a single uncorroborated source is insufficient for academic claims.

A student inserts a direct quotation that is longer than four lines into their paper. According to MLA format, this should be formatted as:

Answer: A block quotation, indented one inch from the left margin

MLA requires quotations of more than four lines to be formatted as block quotations, indented one inch from the left margin without quotation marks.