Write a Research Report
Step 1: Think�What do you want to write about? Choose a topic and at least four things you want to learn about it.
Topic:
Big Question 1:
Big Question 2:
Big Question 3:
Big Question 4:�
Step 2: Find Information�Find books that will answer your big questions and have enough details for you to write paragraphs about each one.�
Step 3: Prewrite�Use the Idea Map on the back of this sheet to write down information you find and organize your main ideas and details.
Step 4: Rough Draft�Now that you have your information, you can write your rough draft in your journal. Your research report should look like this:
Paragraph 1: The Big Topic�In this paragraph, tell your reader about your big topic. Begin with something interesting about your topic and end with a topic sentence for your whole paper. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence!
Paragraph 2: First Small Topic�This paragraph should answer your first question about your topic. Start with a topic sentence that answers your question and then give 3-4 details about it. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence!
Paragraph 3: Second Small Topic�This paragraph should answer your second question about your topic. Start with a topic sentence that answers your question and then give 3-4 details about it. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence!
Paragraph 4: Third Small Topic�This paragraph should answer your third question about your topic. Start with a topic sentence that answers your question and then give 3-4 details about it. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence!
Paragraph 5: Last Small Topic�This paragraph should answer your fourth question about your topic. Start with a topic sentence that answers your question and then give 3-4 details about it. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence that lets the reader know your paper is done.
Big Topic/Title
First Small Topic:
Fourth Small Topic:
Third Small Topic:
Second Small Topic:
Prewrite Your Research Report:
Idea Map
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Write a Research Report
Step 1: Think�What do you want to write about? Choose a topic and at least four things you want to learn about it.
Topic:
Big Question 1:
Big Question 2:
Big Question 3:
Big Question 4:�
Step 2: Find Information�Find books that will answer your big questions and have enough details for you to write paragraphs about each one.�
Step 3: Prewrite�Use the Idea Map on the back of this sheet to write down information you find and organize your main ideas and details.
Step 4: Rough Draft�Now that you have your information, you can write your rough draft in your journal. Your research report should look like this:
Paragraph 1: The Big Topic�In this paragraph, tell your reader about your big topic. Begin with something interesting about your topic and end with a topic sentence for your whole paper. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence!
Paragraph 2: First Small Topic�This paragraph should answer your first question about your topic. Start with a topic sentence that answers your question and then give 3-4 details about it. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence!
Paragraph 3: Second Small Topic�This paragraph should answer your second question about your topic. Start with a topic sentence that answers your question and then give 3-4 details about it. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence!
Paragraph 4: Third Small Topic�This paragraph should answer your third question about your topic. Start with a topic sentence that answers your question and then give 3-4 details about it. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence!
Paragraph 5: Last Small Topic�This paragraph should answer your fourth question about your topic. Start with a topic sentence that answers your question and then give 3-4 details about it. Don’t forget to add an ending sentence that lets the reader know your paper is done.
Interesting Jellyfish
What do jellyfish look like?
How big are jellyfish?
What do jellyfish eat?
How do jellyfish protect themselves?
Big Topic/Title
Jellyfishes
First Small Topic:
Fourth Small Topic:
Third Small Topic:
Second Small Topic:
Prewrite Your Research Report:
Idea Map
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What do jellyfish look like?
What do jellyfish eat?
How do they protect themselves?
How big are jellyfish?
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Big Topic/Title
Jellyfishes
First Small Topic:
Fourth Small Topic:
Third Small Topic:
Second Small Topic:
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Idea Map
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What do jellyfish look like?
What do jellyfish eat?
How do they protect themselves?
How big are jellyfish?
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Their bodies are curved like bells.
They have many tentacles and one mouth.
Jellyfish are various different colors.
They have millions of cells that sting creatures.
Some sting gently.
The Australian box jelly has a sting as powerful as a cobra’s sting.
Thimble jellyfish look simple, like plastic bags.
The upside- down jellyfish grows food inside its body.
The West Coast sea nettle is as big as a basketball.
The Arctic lion's mane jellyfish is as long as a blue whale.
Jellyfish come in all sizes. Some tiny and some huge.
Jellyfish eat whatever they come across.
They feed their food into their mouths with their tentacles.
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Sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins will try to eat them.
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They eat different things.
Detail
Big Topic/Title
Amazing Bats
First Small Topic:
Fourth Small Topic:
Third Small Topic:
Second Small Topic:
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What do bats look like?
What do bats eat?
How do bats get food?
What kinds of bats are there?
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Most bats have black or brown fur.
Bats have strong ears and eyes.
Bats have long arms with webbed skin that they use as wings.
Many bats use their wings to scoop their prey into their mouths.
Bulldog bats use powerful claws to catch fish in the water.
Most bats use sound to catch their prey in the dark of night.
Bats are the only mammals that can fly.
Most bats eat insects
There are more than 1,000 kinds of bats.
They look very different.
Megabats are the biggest. They only eat fruit.
Some bats eat fruits and other plants.
Three types of bats drink the blood of other animals.
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Bats have special body parts to help them get food.
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Some bats suck nectar from flowers hummingbirds.
Vampire bats and gothic bats look scary.
Have you ever seen bats flying around at night? Have you ever wondered about where they go and what a bat’s life is like? This report is all about bats, so keep reading to learn more.
Bats are small, nocturnal animals. In fact, they are the only mammals that can fly. They usually have brown or black fur with long arms with webbed skin that they use as wings. Bats also have large ears because they can hear very well. Most bats have strong eyes, too. That’s why you see them at night!
There are more than a thousand different kinds of bats in the world. That’s a lot of bats, and they all look a little different. Most are small and cute, but megabats are much bigger. Megabats, like the flying fox, are the biggest. They only eat fruit, so don’t worry. If you think bats are scary you are probably thinking of vampire bats. These are the bats that look scary, and they really do drink blood!
Most bats eat insects. They fly around and snatch right out of the sky. Some bats eat other things though. Some bats eat fruits and other plants. Very small bats suck nectar from flowers, just like hummingbirds. There are three types of bats that even drink blood. Scary!
Most bats hunt to get their food. These bats use a high chirping sound to see their prey in the dark and catch it. This is called echolocation. Bats have special body parts to find food. Strong ears help them locate their prey. Some bats like bulldog bats have strong claws to grab their food. Other bats use their wings to catch and put their prey into their mouths. So you see, bats are pretty amazing. Next time you are in the park. Stop and admire the bats that live near you.