ATL Research Skills Report Comments, Ages 14-16
Research covers information literacy (forming a question, finding varied sources, making notes in their own words, judging reliability, citing sources honestly) and media literacy (recognising purpose, bias and perspective, comparing media, and sharing findings through different media).
Below are 13 sample sentences for Ages 14-16: two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Expert / Practitioner / Learner / Novice), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 research sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.
Jump to: Expert · Practitioner · Learner · Novice · Writing tips
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Expert E
Strengths
- [Name] manages extended independent research with skill, keeping organised notes and a full record of sources from the outset.
- [Name] uses technology safely and responsibly without being asked, protecting personal information and respecting the rights of content creators.
Next step
- As preparation for the final two years of school, [Name] could practise writing an annotated bibliography that evaluates each source in a few sentences.
Practitioner P
Strengths
- Work on the personal project shows [Name] planning research sensibly and keeping organised notes and records of sources.
- [Name] follows safe and respectful online habits in lessons, such as keeping passwords private and crediting the images used.
Next step
- To prepare for the final two years of school, [Name] could practise evaluating academic articles alongside news and web sources.
Learner L
Strengths
- When shown how word choice and images shape a story, [Name] can identify bias in media coverage of current issues.
- [Name] is developing safe online habits and, with reminders, keeps personal details private when using shared tools.
Next step
- Breaking longer research tasks into stages with mini-deadlines will help [Name] prepare for the heavier workload of the final two years of school.
Novice N
Strengths
- With teacher check-ins, [Name] is beginning to combine notes from two sources into a short paragraph.
- Safe online habits are emerging, and with teacher check-ins [Name] keeps passwords and personal details private.
Next step
- Sentence starters for paraphrasing, such as 'The writer explains that', will help [Name] present ideas from sources in [his/her/their] own words.
Support at home
- If your child shares something surprising from social media, you could look together for a second source that confirms or questions it.
How to write research comments for Ages 14-16
- Academic honesty matters more as independent work grows. Say whether the student references sources accurately and paraphrases rather than stitching copied sentences together, and name the referencing step that needs practice.
- Comment on synthesis: whether the student combines several sources into one clear point and notes where they disagree. Long independent projects show this well, so draw evidence from the research log or bibliography.
- For media literacy, note whether the student can compare how two outlets frame the same issue and explain the effect of word choice or images. A next goal could be checking each key claim against a second source.
Watch out: Avoid treating the number of sources as the measure of research. Five unchecked websites show less skill than two well-chosen, evaluated sources, so comment on how the student selected and judged information.
Show the stage through what the student does rather than writing the stage name. Expert language is independent, flexible and used in unfamiliar tasks, often modelled for others; Practitioner fits usually and with few reminders in familiar work; Learner fits with guidance, a model or a checklist; Novice describes what is emerging with close support, which is normal for many students new to secondary school.
What Research covers
ATL clusters covered for research:
- information-literacy skills: finding, interpreting, judging and creating information (research questions, varied sources, note-making, evaluating reliability, citing sources and academic honesty)
- media-literacy skills: interacting with media to use and create ideas and information (recognising bias and purpose, comparing perspectives, communicating through different media)
More ATL skills ages 11-16 comments
- Communication, Ages 14-16
- Social, Ages 14-16
- Self-Management, Ages 14-16
- Research, Ages 11-14
- Thinking, Ages 14-16
- Learner Profile, Ages 14-16
- Opening and closing sentences
- All ATL skills ages 11-16 skills and grade bands
- For the same report: Subject Report Comments for Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary, Stages 1-9
- Build a comment with the comment picker
How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.