Sample Research Report
TAKING GOOD
NOTES
-
Reread the sentence or paragraph. Think
about what it means.
- Decide which question it helps to answer.
- Write ONLY key words under the question.
- Use information from text, pictures, and captions.
The book says:
"Electromagnets are used in hospitals to remove pieces of iron and steel that
have accidentally become stuck in patients' eyes. The pull of the magnetic force removes
the metal pieces without them having to be cut out." (Magnetism - pg. 28)
My notes say:
eye operations to remove pieces of metal from someone's eye
without cutting (pg. 28 - Magnetism)
The book says:
"Police use large magnets on the end of ropes to search the bottom of lakes for
guns and other objects related to a crime."
My notes say:
Police search bottoms of lakes for guns (pg. 5 - New True)
The book says:
"The refrigerator door stays closed because of magnets."
(caption): "Magnets also can hold notes onto the door of a refrigerator."
My notes say:
refrigerator door (pg. 5 - New True) and notes (pg. 6)
MY RESEARCH LOG |
| NAME:
TOPIC:
|
| Question: How are magnets
used? Notes:
cranes with big magnets move cars in junkyards (pg. 5 - New
True) electric can opener, refrigerator door (pg. 5 - New True) and notes (pg. 6)
Police search bottoms of lakes for guns (pg. 5 - New True)
make a compass (pg. 7 - New True)
computer discs (pg. 28 - Magnetism)
eye operations to remove pieces of iron from someone's eye without cutting (pg. 28 -
Magnetism) |
| Question: How were magnets
discovered? Notes:
|
| Question: What makes magnets
attract each other? Notes:
|
| Question: Why would
different materials stop magnets from attracting? Notes:
|
GOOD BEGINNINGS
A good introduction to a research report
- hooks the reader's interest
- tells what the report is about
To hook the reader's interest:
- use a question
- use an interesting fact
EXAMPLES:
"What do you notice first about
a giraffe? Its height is certainly unusual. Giraffes are the tallest animals on
earth."
"The aardvark is a short, stout African animal whose
name means 'earth pig'."
from Grassland Mammals
"If you were asked to name a desert animal, would you say the camel? Camels are
mentioned in many songs, stories, and films about deserts."
from Desert Mammals
INTRODUCTIONS FOR
MAGNET RESEARCH REPORT
What do policemen, Computer operators, and doctors have in
common? They all use magnets to do their jobs. Magnets are important tools in our world.
In this report you will learn how magnets are used, how they work, and how to stop a
magnet from attracting.
OR
Did you know that there's a field much bigger than a
football field or a soccer field? It's the earth's magnetic field, and it reaches 37,300
miles into space. This report will explain what magnets are, how they are used, and some
ways to keep a magnet from working.
MIDDLE OF THE REPORT: MAGNETS
DRAFT
Crane drivers use magnets to move
cars in junkyards. Police use magnets to help them search the bottoms of lakes for guns.
Magnets are used to make a compass and a computer disc. Doctors even use magnets so they
won't have to cut people's eyes. If there is a piece of metal stuck in someone's eye, a
magnet can pull it out. Magnets are used to make refrigerator doors close and to hang
things on the refrigerator.
(Compare "eye operation" with my sentences about this - note the information
is the same, but the words are different.)
(After reviewing the need for a topic sentence, have students brainstorm appropriate
ones to begin the above paragraph and insert - e.g., "Magnets are used in many
ways." or "Magnets are used on the job and inside our homes.")
REVISING MY RESEARCH REPORT
- Underline each TOPIC SENTENCE.
- Put a check next to each sentence that supports the topic sentence.
- Put an X next to any sentence that does not support the topic sentence.
- Write a topic sentence for any paragraph that needs one.
- Move sentences that do not belong to other paragraphs or take them out.
- Add more supporting details, if needed.
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