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Writing a Research Report

To write a good research report, you need to do four things: (1) choose an interesting and specific topic, (2) gather information about your topic, (3) make a plan, and (4) write an engaging and accurate report to share what you have learned.

Prewriting Choosing a Specific Topic

Choose a Topic 🟪 The first thing you have to do when you write a research report is to find a specific topic. (Fish is a general subject; bizarre fish is more specific. More about that later.) You also have to find a topic that works well for your assignment and for the students who will later be reading or listening to your report.

Create a Cluster 🟪 You may want to use a cluster to begin your topic search. First, put your subject in the middle. After looking over information about your subject, list specific questions that interest you.

* Put a star next to the question(s) you want to answer in your paper. This will be your specific topic and focus.