Steps to A+ Reports

History?

Biography?

Egypt?

Greece?

Rome?

Medieval Times?

Presidents?

| Copyright Issues |

Take notes as you read. Write your report in your own words. Find out what plagiarize means.

Read the Word to the Wise

If you have been asked by a teacher to write a report about something or someone and use information that you locate on the Internet, be sure to read and follow these guidelines first. Then use the links at the top of the page to find information you can use.

Study this research guide and this research guide.

Get Started

1. Decide on your topic by doing some browsing first.

Read parts of books about a topic that interests you.
Scan the pages of an Encyclopedia.
Look at information on CD-ROM.
Browse some pages on the World Wide Web. (Check out the links above)
Take notes on what you find. Include your sources.

Get Organized

2. Think about what you already know that you might use in your report. Take some more notes.

3. Think about what you need to know to write a complete and interesting report.

4. Begin a web or diagram in Inspiration® with your topic as the main idea and sub-topics for questions and answers. You can also create an outline in Microsoft Word or Appleworks.

5. Do more research, note taking, and webbing to find answers to your questions, keeping track of all your sources.

6. Collect all your notes and answers. You can type them all in Inspiraton® or your word processor.

7. Arrange your web or outline in a logical order. (Both your web and your outline may be checked by your teacher)

8. Print your web or outline when you and your teacher are satisfied with your work.

Write the Report

9. Write your report using only your own words except for short quotes. Try to make your writing interesting.

10. Check your writing for accuracy, spelling, and good usage. Have a friend or a parent read it. Revise.

Check Sources and Accuracy

11. Do not violate anyone's copyright by copying and pasting their words into your report.

Anything that someone else wrote or drew or created and published has a copyright.
Anything published on the World Wide Web has a copyright and may not be copied without permission.
CD-Roms are copyrighted. So are books, encyclopedias, movies, and music. Clip art too.
Writers, artists and musicians can sue in court those who use their work without permission.
Check this site for more information. Have your parents check it too.
More information about copyrights and internet use. This site also has information on citing electronic resources.
10 Big Myths about copyright explained Look carefully at #6 on this list!

12. Make a bibliography that shows exactly where you found your information.

4.19.2006