Independently research a question across three sources, check their credibility, and produce synthesized notes in original wording as a combined checkpoint.
This is the second checkpoint of the year, covering everything from the informational-reading unit: matching evidence to claims, using three sources for one question, checking source credibility, synthesizing without copying, reading charts and maps as evidence, and choosing quote versus paraphrase.
Real research always combines these moves. This week you will pick your own research question, gather three sources, judge whether each is credible, and write synthesized notes -- your own words, crediting your sources -- that could become the start of a real report.
Mastery looks like: They independently complete the full research cycle -- credible sources, evidence for claims, synthesis in original words, and correct quote or paraphrase use -- on a self-chosen question.
Common stumbles: Rushing straight to writing without checking credibility first, or reverting to copied phrasing under the time pressure of a checkpoint.
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Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.