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What is a Research Report ?
• A research report presents information about a subject .This is called expository writing. It gathers reliable facts that answer specific questions and identifies where this information comes from (called “sources”). • A report may also present an authoritative opinion about the facts if it helps readers better understand the facts or their importance .
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Traits Of A Research Report Ideas & Content
Organization
MLA Format
Voice& Word Choice
Sentence Fluency & Mechanics Bibliography&
Presentation
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Model / research report on Martin Luther King &
why he was selected to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
5- Cite
Sources
4- Outline
Information
3-Gather
Information
2- Identify
Sources
1- Research
Questions
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Asking questions about your main topic is important to writing a successful report .Research is a process for looking for answers to questions .
List your research questions about the topic :
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‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
What was this person’s early life like?
What kind of ideas did he have?
What kind of work did Martin Luther King do? How did his work affect other people?
How did his work make the world a better place?
What public recognition has he received for his work? 5
Bibliographic information
• On an index card make a bibliographic card for every source that gives helpful information. • Three types of sources are commonly used in research : •
book
an article in a periodical such as a magazine or newspaper a page displayed on the internet
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Notice how the information on each card is punctuated BIBLIOGRAPHIC CARD FOR BIBLIOGRAPHIC CARD FOR BIBLIOGRAPHIC CARD FOR AN ARTICLE FROM A A PAGE ON THE INTERNET
A BOOK
PERDIOCAL
Shalev , Baruch.100 Years of N
Nobel Prizes . Los Angeles : Americas Group , 2002 .
Author’s Last Name , First Name. Book Title . City of Publication : Publisher, date.
Reynolds, Susan. “What’s So Funny About the Nobel Prize for Literature ?” The Los Angeles Times. 1October 2006: C12 .
Author’s Last Name , First Name. “ Article Title” Periodical Title .Date Month Year : Page Numbers.. “Cultures of Creativity.”
Nobel Museum. 2006. The Nobel Foundation.29 November 2006
< http://www.nobelmuseum.se/>
Author’s Last Name , First Name (if any). “Title.” Print version information( if any ). Site Title. Date published or updated. Sponsor . Date you look at information< Internet address >
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Look for facts that answer your research questions . Take notes & record it on note‐ cards as follows :
• At the top of the card write one research question .
• Under the question state facts that help answer the questions .
• At the bottom of the card, name the source where the facts were found. Write a number on the upper corner of each bibliographic card as you create it.
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Sample :
BIBLIOGRAPHIC CARD FOR A PAGE ON THE INTERNET
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Haberman, Frederick. “ Martin Luther King Biography.” Nobelprize.org.1964.The Nobel Foundation.29 November 2006 <http://nobelprize.org/>
How did King’s work make the world better?
In 1955 King helped black people in Alabama boycott buses that segregated whites and blacks .
In 1956 the Supreme Court said racial segregation on buses was wrong.
Source: 2
Notice the number 2 in the upper left corner of the card . This researcher made this source 2 Note – Card for information from above source : research question
Facts that answer research question
Shortcut reference to source
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After sorting your note‐cards into groups you have to create an outline from your note‐cards
• A basic outline identifies the report’s main topic and lists subtopics under the main topic. It also lists detail for each subtopic.
• The subtopics come from the research questions . Turn each question into a short phrase that indicates the idea behind it. Look at these examples .
• RESEARCH QUESTIONS SUBTOPICS
•
•
What kind of work did Martin
Luther King do ?
How did Dr. King’s work make
the world better ?
Dr. King’s work
Impact of King’s work on the world
Note : In listing details under subtopics , decide on an order that makes sense .
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Sample Outline
The subtopics are roman numerals and each detail begins with a capital letter •
•
•
•
Main Topic : Martin Luther king’s contributions to civil rights
l. Dr. King’s work A. Leader of civil rights groups B. Led Alabama bus boycott
C. Led march on Washington D. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
II. . Impact of King’s work on the world A. Bus segregation ended
B. letter from Birmingham jail stirred consciences
C. “ I Have a Dream” speech inspired millions D. Major civil rights laws passed III. Public recognition of Dr. King’s work
A. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
B. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
C.‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
D.‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
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“Parenthetical citation”
• One way to cite a source is right after a sentence where information from that source is used . • Example : Various colleges awarded him many honorary degrees throughout his career, and in 1963 Time magazine named him “ Man of the Year.”(“ Culture of Creativity” )
•This citation indicates that the information comes from an article. If the author of the source were known , the citation would refer to the author’s last name. •Source / book : author’s last name page no. ex. ( Shalev 337 )
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Organization
• Appeals to reader’s interests or curiosity
• Identifies the main topic of the report
Introductory • States a thesis – what the report will show about the topic
Paragraph
• Three paragraphs (or more) each with a topic sentence
• Includes three paragraphs each of which focuses on answering one research question
Body of essay • Support each topic sentence with at least six detail sentences
• States and explains facts and an authoritative opinion in detail sentences
Concluding Paragraph
• Restates thesis as a conclusion in a new way
• Summarize the most important or interesting ideas in the body paragraphs • Gives readers a new ,related idea to think about the subject ( a “ twist” )
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Elizabeth L. Angeli
Professor Sullivan
English 624
12 February 2014
MLA Format Angeli 1
Name/page no.
Dr. King’s great contribution to civil rights
Did you know that When your grandparents were children your age , they had to
drink at one water fountain if they were white and a different fountain if they were
black? When Martin Luther was a child , America’s laws treated white people and
black people differently . As he grew up, king saw how unfair this was and wanted to
improve civil rights . Dr. King’s non-violent struggle for civil rights won him worldwide recognition as a leader who promoted both justice and peace .
MLA requires
double‐spacing
throughout a
document; do
not single‐space
any part of the
document.
Titles are centered
and written in 12‐point, Times New
Roman font. The title is not bolded,
underlined, or italicized.
Thesis statement
The last Sentence of the Introduction
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Topic Sentences • The body paragraphs in the middle of a research report begin with topic sentences that state one of the subtopics in the outline. Each subtopic is the main idea of a paragraph that answers one of the research questions .
• End A Report : A concluding paragraph lets readers know that a report is completed.
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Sample Body Paragraph
Martin Luther King’s work improved the way America treated its black
citizens and increased respect for human equality . The Alabama bus
II. Impact of King’s work on the world A. Bus segregation ended
boycott lasted for a year . After the Supreme Court decided that racial
segregation on public uses was illegal, all people rode the buses as
equals . When Dr . King led huge peaceful protests in Birmingham,
Alabama, he was arrested . From his cell he wrote “ A letter from a
B. Letter from Birmingham jail stirred consciences
Birmingham jail” that appealed to the public to see the justice of his
cause . The letter gained him the support of many people . His “ I have a
Dream Speech” in Washington inspired millions of people who
C. “ I Have a Dream” speech inspired millions
watched this emotional moment on TV . Even today , thousands of
students read this speech and are inspired by it. After Dr. King was
murdered , Congress passed many new laws protecting the civil rights
of all Americans .(Haberman)
D . Major civil rights laws passed 16
Voice & Word Choice
• Speak from 3rd person point of view with an objective tone.
• Show author’s awareness of purpose ( to inform).
• Word Choice :
Avoid overused phrases such as “ This report is about …” or “ In conclusion ..”
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Sentence Fluency & Mechanics • Emphasize important facts from research in detail sentences .
• Link sentences and paragraphs with connecting words.
• Complete all sentences (no fragments) and avoids run‐on sentences.
• Identify sources of information within the body of the essay (parenthetical citation).
• Spell all words correctly.
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Bibliography& Presentation
• Publish neatly typed final draft with no
cross‐outs .
• Has even margins on sides of paper .
• The entries in a bibliography are listed alphabetically .
• A bibliography starts on a separate page that becomes the last page of a report.
• A bibliography page is created from the bibliographic cards / as mentioned before.
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Bibliography
“Cultures of Creativity.” Nobel Museum. 2006. The Nobel Foundation.29 November 2006
< http://www.nobelmuseum.se/> Shalev , Baruch. 100 Years of Nobel Prizes . Los Angeles : Americas Group , 2002 .
Haberman , Frederick. “ Martin Luther King Biography.” Nobelprize.org. 1964. The Nobel
Foundation. 29 November 2006 < http://nobelprize.org>
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