Language Arts Lesson 5, page 3

A research report is, as its name suggests, a report on a subject you've researched or studied. In science class, you do research by performing experiments. When you write up your findings, that's a research report. In English class, you do your research by reading. In either case, what's important is that your research report accurately reflects what you found out and what was done.

Like most forms of expository writing, research reports have a specific format. Here it is (with a bit of explanation):

Select a title that, although brief, gives as much information as possible. A title like "Language Arts Assignment III" gives absolutely no information. But a title like "The Relationship Between Playing Grand Theft Auto© and Stealing Cars" gives a lot.

Here is what you should do in each of the sections listed (be sure to start each section on a new page):

Abstract	Give a one-paragraph summary of your report. Briefly state the purpose of your study, your methods, your results and your most important conclusion.
Introduction	Present the problem you studied and tell why you felt it was important. Include a brief outline of your research strategy. (A couple of paragraphs here are enough.)
Literature Review	Show how your research drew on (and builds from) previous research and existing literature in the field. List all works cited in alphabetical order. There are very specific ways to do this: see Language Arts Lesson 2 (Grades 9-12), Instruction 2-2 (Preparing Bibliography Research Materials).
Method	Tell how you conducted your research, what materials and methods you used and if anybody else was involved.
Results	Give the results of your research as honestly and comprehensively as possible. Include tables and figures for clarity and refer to them by number. This is not the place for speculation -- that comes later. This section is sometimes also called Findings.
Discussion	This is the place to interpret your results and make recommendations. It is perfectly OK to state your opinions here. In fact, in a research report you're expected to (unlike a factual technical document or lab report in which no opinions are allowed). Just be sure your opinions are justified by your research. This section is sometimes also called Conclusions.
Works Cited	If you didn't do a literature review, list your sources here.
Appendices	Here is where you put your raw data, information that's too detailed for the body of the report or extra examples and illustrations. Be sure to refer your readers to these items by a phrase such as "See Appendix A."

For detailed instruction on how to prepare a first-class research report, click on the following web site reference

and access all pages:

The information in this Instruction is primarily intended to help you with science reports, but the principles apply to research you will be asked to do in Language Arts, History and Social Studies, too. Reports for these classes don't have to follow this exact format. In fact, they are sometimes not called research reports at all, but Reports of Information.

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