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Research Report

Research Report


Page Content:

Definition:

The research report is an informational text produced as part of a research project. It summarizes the intent, process, sequence, and content of research, provable findings, and conclusions. Research preceding the report is completed through a systematic inquiry into a subject or problem in order to discover, verify, or revise relevant facts or principles relating to that subject or problem. Credible reporting requires credible research questions and procedures.

Purposes:

  • To convey the results of a research project
  • To report or evaluate research findings
  • To organize research findings in a coherent way

Characteristics:

  • Forms: research story, personalized research, saturation (immersion) report, I-search paper, multi-genre research project, traditional research, case study
  • Informational text: graphics, organizational and illustrative features
  • Introduction establishes the thesis
  • Includes several distinct sections: introduction, methods, results and discussion
  • May be formal (traditional) or more personalized (e.g., I-Search includes sections: Why I Chose This Topic, What I Knew, My Search, and What I Learned)
  • Cohesion
  • Accurate/effective use of footnotes, bibliographies, appendices, introductions, summaries and conclusions
  • Evaluation of distinct sections: introduction, methods, results and discussion
  • Central, key and supporting ideas
  • Technical vocabulary
  • Direct quotes
  • Paraphrases
  • Endnotes, footnotes and parenthetical notes
  • Discipline-specific questions and methodology
  • Valid/creditable conclusions with appropriate substantiation
  • Evaluation of reliability of method and accuracy of findings
  • List of current references
  • References to earlier foundational research
  • Abstract which provides a summary paragraph about the thesis
  • Summary statement which includes findings, conclusions and implications

Grade Level Instructional Scope for COMPREHENDING the Genre and Text of a Research Report:

Grade 6

Opportunities to Teach:

Grade 7

Opportunities to Teach:

Understanding the genre

  • Text features
  • Guide words
  • Sophisticated alphabetical skills (by second, third letters, etc.)
  • Column format
  • Main and supporting ideas
  • Bibliographies
  • Interpretation of supporting graphics
  • Timelines and other chronological displays
  • Electronic links
  • Fact versus opinion
  • Historical, scientific accuracy

Understanding and using the text

  • Content area vocabulary and/or principles
  • Comprehension skills and strategies: connect, compare and contrast ideas, categorize, classify, draw parallels, graphically represent key ideas and details, summarize, retell, sequence events
  • Rereading
  • Questioning/Inquiry
  • Applying knowledge gained to content area questions or inquiries

Understanding the genre

  • Text features
  • Guide words
  • Sophisticated alphabetical skills (by second, third letters, etc.)
  • Column format
  • Main and supporting ideas
  • Bibliographies
  • Interpretation of supporting graphics
  • Timelines and other chronological displays
  • Electronic links
  • Fact versus opinion
  • Historical, scientific accuracy

Understanding and using the text

  • Content area vocabulary and/or principles
  • Comprehension skills and strategies: connect, compare and contrast ideas, categorize, classify, draw parallels, graphically represent key ideas and details, summarize, retell, sequence events
  • Rereading
  • Questioning/Inquiry
  • Applying knowledge gained to content area questions or inquiries

Grade Level Instructional Scope for COMPOSING the Genre and Text of a Research Report:

Grade 3

Opportunities to Teach:

Grade 7

Opportunities to Teach:

Composing the genre

  • Narrowing a topic
  • Selecting a topic
  • Asking questions
  • Taking notes
  • Gathering information
  • Titles, headings, subheadings, and table of contents
  • Summarizing
  • Avoiding plagiarism

Composing the text

  • Outlining/mind-mapping
  • Prewriting: organizing around central ideas and effective text patterns
  • Providing appropriate and adequate supporting details
  • Revising
  • Editing
  • Works cited
  • Introduction
  • Body – Text structure: cause/effect, problem/solution, sequential, main idea/details, enumerated importance

Composing the genre

  • Narrowing a topic
  • Selecting a topic
  • Asking questions
  • Taking notes
  • Gathering information
  • Position statements
  • Supporting evidence and examples
  • Text structures
  • Informational text features
  • Summarizing
  • Avoiding plagiarism

Composing the text

  • Outlining/mind-mapping
  • Prewriting
  • Revising
  • Editing
  • Works cited
  • Introduction
  • Body – Text structure: cause/effect, problem/solution, sequential, main idea/details, enumerated importance, theory and evidence

Booklists:

  • Grade 6
  • Grade 7

Access to the Documents:

Complete K-8 Genre Project
From the Michigan Department of Education

Complete K-8 Genre Booklist
From Kent Intermediate School District


Page last modified on February 10, 2009, at 10:44 AM