Pull It Together

Sometimes you find the same information in more than one source.

Suppose you find exactly the same information in two different sources. You only need to mention one place where you found the information--not both. More often, though, you will find two or more sources that include very similar or closely related information. To provide the best introduction to your topic, you should think carefully about how to bring those ideas together.

Read these two passages about spiders, and think about how some of the facts could be included in one paragraph.

from aPods Rule!

Some arthropods bite or sting if they think people or other animals are trying to hurt them or their nests. For example, bees and scorpions can sting, and sometimes people get sick from some arthropod bites like mosquitoes or tick bites if they are carrying a disease.

from The Truth About Tarantulas

Some people see a tarantula and run away or try to kill it. Of course, these big, hairy spiders do look frightening. But they have a bad reputation. Tarantulas can bite, but they are not poisonous. In fact, their venom is weaker than a bee's. If people took the time to learn more about tarantulas, they would not be so afraid of them.

Now look at what one student did to integrate, or weave together, some related facts from both sources.

It's true, as "aPods Rule!" says, that arthropods can hurt people by biting or stinging. Arthropods can even make people sick from their bites! But not all arthropods are this dangerous. "The Truth About Tarantulas" explains that tarantulas are actually not poisonous, and their sting is not even as bad as a bee's.