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Choose a Subject and Check Whether Information Is Valid and Reliable

Pick a writing subject that you care about, that has facts you can find, and that is small enough to finish. Then collect information and test it: who wrote it and do they know the topic, when was it written, and what proof does it show? Information is valid when it is correct, and a source is reliable when you can trust it again and again. Never rely on one source: compare at least two careful sources.

🎬 Step-by-step story

  1. A topic can be too big, like "Water". Shrink it until it fits, like "Water in my village well".
  2. Test the topic with three questions: Do I care? Can I find facts? Is it small enough?
  3. Information comes from sources. A textbook and an official report are careful. A rumour is not.
  4. Check any information with three questions: Who wrote it? When? What proof?
  5. Compare sources. Two careful sources that agree are a good sign. One that differs needs a check.
  6. Free play: move the three sliders and watch the trust meter turn red, amber or green.

Tip: drag the 3D scene to turn it. Use two fingers to zoom.

🤔 Common doubts, cleared

Why should I narrow my topic?

A big topic needs a big book. A small topic can be covered well in the time you have. See the big blue box become the small one.

What if I like a topic but there are no facts?

Then it fails the second test. Change the angle so that you can find facts, for example by asking people or counting things yourself.

Is everything on the internet wrong?

No. The internet has careful and careless sources, like the green and red cards. Check who, when and proof every time.

Why does the date matter?

Numbers and advice change. A price list or health rule from 10 years ago may not be true today.

Why not trust a single good source?

Even good sources can make mistakes. If a second careful source agrees, you can be much more sure.

How do I score a source?

Give 0 to 3 for the writer, the date and the proof. 7 or more is good, 4 to 6 needs more checking, below 4 is weak. Move the sliders in the 3D.

Choosing a subject

A good subject (topic) for a report or essay passes three tests:

  1. Interest: do I care about this? You will work harder and write better.
  2. Facts: can I find real information about it in books, reports or from people?
  3. Size: can I finish it in the time and words I have?

Narrow a big topic

Go from wide to small: "Water" to "Water problems in India" to "Water in my village well". Each step adds a place, a time or a group of people.

Write the subject as a clear question: "Why does our village well dry up in May?"

Collecting information from sources

A source is where information comes from. Examples: textbooks, official reports, news from trusted newspapers, interviews with people who know, websites of schools, hospitals or government bodies.

Note the author, the date and the place you found each piece.

Checking validity and reliability

Valid information is correct and fits the question. A reliable source is one you can trust again and again because it is careful.

Ask three questions:

Warning signs: no author, no date, all capital letters, "forward this to 10 people", big claims with no proof, one-sided language.

Cross-check with a second source

Never trust only one source. Cross-checking means finding at least two careful sources and comparing.

Try it

Choose one forwarded message or news post you saw this week. Score it 0 to 3 for who, when and proof. Add the scores. Look for one more source. Then decide: use it, check more, or drop it.

Key formulas and definitions

Worked examples

1. Narrow "Sports" into a topic a Class 8 student can write in two pages.

"Sports" to "Cricket in India" to "How girls in my school got a cricket team". It now has a place, a group and a story you can research by asking people.

2. A website says "90% of people love our juice". Check it with who, when and proof.

Who: the juice company, so it gains from the claim. When: no date. Proof: no number of people asked, no survey name. It is weak. Look for an independent survey before using it.

3. Two sources give different numbers for the population of a town: 2.1 lakh (a 2011 census report) and 2.6 lakh (a news post, no date). Which will you trust first?

The census report: official, dated and based on counting. The news post has no date or proof. Still check for a newer official count.

Common mistakes

Practice quiz

1. A good subject is:
2. The three check questions are:
3. A reliable source is one that you:
4. If two careful sources disagree you should:
5. Which is a warning sign?

Practice: answer these yourself

Type or choose your answer, then press Check. Use a hint if you are stuck; the full solution appears after you answer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between valid and reliable?

Valid means the information is correct and fits the question. Reliable means the source can be trusted again and again. A reliable source gives valid information most of the time.

How do I narrow down a topic?

Add a place, a time or a group of people. "Water" becomes "Water in my village well in summer". Then write it as a question.

How can I tell if a website is trustworthy?

Look for the author, date, proof and sources. Prefer school, hospital, government or well-known newspaper sites, and cross-check with a second source.

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