How to Write a Research Report for High School

Make sure you cite all of your sources in a high school research paper.

Writing research reports is an important skill to learn in high school because this type of writing is crucial in college and throughout life. Unlike the research reports you wrote in elementary or junior high school, your research report should reflect your high school maturity. Your papers should be more refined, more thoroughly researched and better edited. Your teacher has high expectations. If you choose a topic you're interested in, you’ll find that research report writing can be fun.

Things You'll Need

• Index cards
• Research material including books and articles
• Computer with a word-processing program
• Printer

Instructions

1. Choose a topic for your research. This topic should be something you understand well or you are very interested in learning more about. This will make research fun and a little easier. Brainstorming is a great way to decide on a topic. You can begin brainstorming by writing down a topic and then listing every word you can think of that relates to this topic. Do this for about five minutes for several different topics. This exercise can help you narrow down your research topic, and it will also give you a sense of whether you have enough points to make about the topic to write a whole research paper. Make sure your topic isn't too broad. Your teacher will be looking for specific information rather than general information.

2. Research your article. Go to the school and public libraries to look for articles and books relevant to your research report. If you are unsure how to find information, ask the librarian for assistance. If your teacher allows, also use the Internet to search for information. Only use reliable sources for your paper like those from government or educational institutions. Review your research and write down important facts and quotations on index cards. Doing so will allow you to easily categorize your facts and quotes. On each index card, write down the reference information for the corresponding fact or quote, including the name of the book or magazine, the chapter or article title, the author and the page number.Organize your index cards by the subtopics in your paper to prepare for writing the paper.

3. Plan your paper. Write a thesis statement and an outline for your paper. Your paper should have an introduction, at least three subtopics and a conclusion. Your thesis statement should summarize your paper into one sentence. It will also help you organize your paper because you will use the main points of your report to formulate the thesis statement. As you outline your paper, think about your audience and consider what information they already know on the topic. If you are writing the report for your teacher, you can assume she has a basic knowledge of the world, which allows you to write about more details of your topic.

4. Start the first draft of your paper by using a word-processing program on your computer to write your paper like Microsoft Word. Word-processing programs have special functions like a spell check and automatic formatting to assist you in preparing a professional looking paper. Your teacher will probably provide you with information about how to space your lines in your paragraphs and how to set your margins for the paper. The word-processing program provides tools to allow you to do this. Make sure you indent each paragraph using the "tab" key. Do not hand write your paper. A word-processing program is necessary for turning in research papers.

5. Write your introduction. The first sentence should catch your reader's attention and get her interested in the paper. Depending on the length of your report, your introduction should be one to two paragraphs long. Use the introduction to briefly tell the reader what she is about to read and set her expectations. End the introduction with your thesis statement.

6. Write the subtopics. Depending on the length of your paper, each subtopic will be one or more paragraphs. Refer back to your index cards for facts and quotes. Each paragraph should focus on one main subject and contain several sentences that provide examples. Be sure to cite your sources as you write. You can write the last name of the author and the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence where you use the fact or quote. Your index cards that you prepared ahead of time will help you with your citations. It is very important to match up your facts and quotations correctly with the information you provide in your research report. If someone hopes to learn even more about the topic you wrote, they might look at your references to find the same information you had, so you need this to be correct. Furthermore, if your citations do not match up with what you wrote, you teacher might think you made up your facts or quotes. You always want to be able to defend your research by providing sources for exactly where you found your information.

7. Write the conclusion. The conclusion should be a summary of your paper. Your conclusion will probably be one paragraph. Depending on the type of report you are writing, your conclusion will answer the question, 'So what?' Remind your readers why the information in your paper is important. Your conclusion might challenge your readers to take action on the information in your paper or show your readers how your topic fits into the larger world.

8. List your references. This is done on a separate page, and usually listed in alphabetical order. Your teacher will give you specific instructions on how to list your references, or refer you to a style guide that tells you how to do so. References are usually listed by the author's last name, then the author's first name, then the title of the book or article and magazine, followed by the year and publisher among other details.

9. Edit your paper. Go through your paper and make sure it makes sense. Also, fix and grammar and spelling mistakes. For extra assurance, give your paper to a friend or family member to edit. Make sure this person is very good at writing and editing. Fix any mistakes and consider any changes your editor suggests. You do not have to take all suggestions. Use your best judgment.

10. Finalize your paper by formatting your paper by adding page numbers, correcting line spacing and fixing margins, depending on your teacher’s instructions. Read your paper again thoroughly to ensure you have done everything correctly. Print your paper and prepare to turn it in to your teacher.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot find enough research on the topic you choose, pick a different topic. You want a topic with ample research as it will make writing the paper will be easier.

• If you have any questions about any aspect of the paper, ask your teacher before you start.

• Save your work often. You do not want your computer to freeze and lose your work.

• Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is when you write down someone else’s words and pretend that they are your own. This is illegal, and will result in a failing grade. Plagiarism is also avoided by citing all of your sources.

References

• Internet Public Library 2: Research and Writing Step by Step
• Marion County Public Schools: Steps to Writing the High School Research Paper
• Springfield Township High School: What is a Research Project?