WRITING A

RESEARCH REPORT
IEP Integrated Studies

The Process
1. Choose a topic
2. Gather materials
3. Narrow the topic
4. Formulate a research question
5. Research in-depth
6. Write the introduction and thesis
7. Write the body
8. Write the conclusion
9. Write the bibliography
Choose a topic
Choose a topic in your field of
study. Write about something
you are interested in to lead you
to a question you have about
something particular in your field.
Gather materials
Once you have chosen
a general topic, gather
materials (periodicals,
scholarly articles,
lecture videos,
professional articles)
to explore information
that exists on your
topic.
Take notes on the
information you find
and keep a list of all
materials in a dump
document.
Narrow your topic
Assume your
topic is too
broad. When a
topic is too
broad, it will not
allow you to do
an in-depth
analysis and
demonstrate
critical thinking.

In research
writing you need
a narrowed topic
in order to
explore the topic
in detail.
Formulate a research
question
Develop a question or discover a
controversy related to your topic to
show your perspective.
Your job is to present your own
perspective and use the research to
support your idea.
This question will
be the springboard
for the thesis.
In-depth research
Search the databases for scholarly and
professional articles on your narrowed
topic.

You need to collect and refer to two or
three articles in your research paper.

You may find the need to narrow your
topic even more as you complete your in-
depth research.

Write a source list with annotations.
Write your introduction
The introduction to your research paper will
present the overall topic and your thesis,
the key argument you want to prove in your
paper.
The introduction can include the following
First, an attention getter on the general
topic or an extended definition of the key
topic.
Second, the supporting sentences with
general background information on the
topic
Last, a thesis with the main argument of
the paper.
The thesis
The thesis is one or
two complete
sentences at the end of
the introduction that
express the key
argument you will
prove in your paper.
The thesis must be
clear and direct - not
vague language
a statement that is
not posed as a
question
in third person only

Body paragraphs
The body of the research paper
includes three sections.
1. Literature review summarize what
the current research shows in relation
to your topic.
2. Presentation of your view explain
and develop the support for your
ideas on the topic.
3. Implications/effects of your view
explain the effects/results and the
importance of your idea.
Conclusion
The conclusion is your
last effort to convince
the reader that your
idea is valid.
Write strong, direct
sentences that give the
main points of your
paper and propose
what may happen in
the future.
Do not give new points in the conclusion.
Do not begin the conclusion with overused
transitions, such as In conclusion or In
summary; use a concluding phrase instead.
Bibliography and citations
The bibliography is a list of all sources
used to write your research paper.
The bibliography and all in-text
citations must be in APA style.

Requirements
1000 - 1500 words
12-point font
Times New Roman or Arial
1 margins
double-spaced
title page per APA style
black ink / white paper

GOOD LUCK!