ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND

PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES
DIZON, DOMINADOR JR. N.
ENGLAPP Teacher

Introduction to Writing a Research Report

Preparing and Implementing
Research Instruments
Interpreting and Preparing Visuals
in a Research Paper
Writing of Various Reports

Scintillate, Scintillate,
asteroid minutia.

Freedom from encrustations

of gunk is contagious to rectitude.

Rapture subjugate surmount plumb widely.

The person representing the ultimate

cachinnation possesses thereby the optimal
cachinnation.

Eschew obfuscated phraseology: employ

perspicuous verbiage.

Veracity ascertains emancipation.

The person ascertains, the person is obsolete. The

person beholds and harken back to. The person
fits bill for extrapolate.

In scant cognition theres a precarious condition.

RESEARCH
Definition and Purpose

Research is a systematic and scientific way of

investigating and gathering of information to answer a
particular problem, establish facts, and reach
conclusions. Conducting a research can be done in
various fields such as arts, humanities, social
sciences, natural sciences, technology, and health
sciences.

RESEARCH REPORTS

Survey Report
Field Report
Laboratory or
Scientific Technical Report

Survey Report
It presents the results of the author's research.

Field Report
It is usually used in the field of social sciences to link
theory and applications. It contained author's observations
when out on the field and an analysis using theoretical
concepts from the discipline. Although research papers are
found in tone and style, field reports can be personal and
simple.

Laboratory or
Scientific Technical Report
It is written by those in the sciences mainly to
persuade others to accept or reject a hypothesis,
record the details for future researches, and
document a current phenomenon for future reference
and comparison.

WRITING RESEARCH
REPORTS

 presents results
phenomenon

and

series of quotations
unsubstantiated opinion

interpretation

and

of

compilation

formal investigation and scientific inquiry

of

Analyze the Task

What is the purpose of the report? (It could be analyzing, persuading or
reporting on an investigation.)
Who is the audience for the report?
What is the word limit? (Many times the word limit only includes the body of
the report.)

What is the topic of the report? (The topic may be specified by the lecturer, but
other times you will have a choice.)
What is the expected format of the report?

CHOOSING A RESEARCH
TOPIC

Sample Topics in Question Form

How does the Mindanao peace and order situation affect the
economy of the Philippines?
What are the psychological effects of online games?
What are the factors influencing the economic recession of 2015?
What are the ccharacteristics of global female leaders in the 21st
century?

When choosing a topic, a researcher should consider the

following:

First, a research topic should be relevant.

A relevant topic addresses a particular problem or issue.
It should also be interesting, especially for the researchers.
Interest and natural curiosity in the topic will encourage greater
commitment to the research.

 Finally, a topic should be manageable.

It should be something you can undertake within your ability

and within the time limit given to you.

It should not be too broad or too narrow, and must be

achievable using available financial, human, and material
resources.

Topics

Are you really

interested in
the topic?

Can you get

research
data?

Do you think
the topic is
relevant?

Have you got

enough time
to work on it?

FORMULATING THESIS
STATEMENT

A thesis statement answers the question you

previously asked to narrow down your topic. It guides
and serves as a central point of all the ideas in your
paper.

Possible research questions that are supposed to be

answered through your instrument to support your research
are as follows:
1. How does too much dieting lead to starvation?
2. How does too much dieting lead to loss of strength?
3. How does too much dieting lead to different disease?

Qualities of a Good Research Question

1. A good research question should be clear, especially to a lay

person.
2. A good research question should require the gathering of data
to answer it.
3. A good research question should address an observed problem
or issue.
4. A good research question should be manageable in terms of
your skills and resources.

5. A good research question should be ethical.

6. A good research question should have a particular use.

LAS 1 WEEK 16

PARTS OF RESEARCH
PAPER

Title of Report/Title Page

Make sure this is clear and indicates exactly what you

are researching.
The title page contains an informative title which
describes the content of the paper, name of author/s and
addresses or affiliations, and date when it is submitted.

Approval Sheet

Abstract

This gives a very brief overview (context, research

questions or objectives, methodology, major findings,
conclusions, and sometimes implications, with minimal
number of citations, and statistical data) of the report in a
condensed form.

Introduction

The purpose of your report. The thesis statement will be

useful here. Background information may include a brief
review of the literature already available on the topic so that
you are able to place your research in the field. Some brief
details of your methods and an outline of the structure of the
report. Its length usually ranges from three to five paragraphs.

Literature Review

It contains the summary and sythesis of all available

sources directly related to the study.
Related concepts - concepts and theories are defined,
explained, and described to better understand the study
Related studies - studies directly related to the paper

identify a gap in previous research

outline the main arguments in your field

show that you are familiar with the literature on your topic
indicate who the main writers are in a particular area

evaluate previous studies

position your work in relation to other writers

avoid plagiarism and demonstrate your referencing skills

provide a clear theoretical framework

demonstrate your understanding of the key ideas and
concepts in your topic
define your terms, drawing on other writers definitions

make you more confident that your area of research is

worth studying.

identify areas of controversy

support your own work by citing other authors

highlight current literature and use older sources where
relevant
see what previous methodologies have been used and to
avoid making the same mistakes as previous researchers

demonstrate that you can do research

Methodology

Here you clearly outline what methodology you used in

your research i.e. what you did and how you did it. It must be
clearly written so that it would be easy for another researcher
to duplicate your research if they wished to.

It is usually written in a 'passive' voice (e.g. the

participants were asked to fill in the questionnaire attached in
Appendix 1) rather than an 'active' voice (e.g. I asked the
participants to fill in the questionnaire attached in Appendix 1).

Clearly referred any material you have used from other

sources. Clearly label and number any diagrams, charts, and
graphs. Ensure that they are relevant to the research and add
substance to the text rather than just duplicating what you
have said. You do not include or discuss the results here.

Results

This is where you factually indicate what you found in

your research. You give the results of your research, but do
not interpret them.
It usually contains tables and graphs that summarize the
collected data. Along with the tables and graphs are their
respective interpretations.

When interpreting the graphs and tables, remember the

following:

1. Your first sentence should contain the figure or table

number and the title.
2. The succeeding sentences should focus on the most
important information in the graph or table.
3. The trends or the gaps that you notice may be included
in the body of interpretation.

The interpretation should end with a conclusion based on

the given information.
The flow of the results section should follow the flow of
the research questions/problems/objectives. It is expected that
for each research problem or objective, corresponding results
are presented.

Discussion

This is where you discuss the relevance of your results

and how your findings fit with other research in the area. It will
relate back to your literature review and your introductory
thesis statement.
In this section, you need to restate your research
problems or objectives in the first paragraph as well as the
major findings.

Recommendations

This includes suggestions for what needs to be done as

a result of your findings. Recommendations are usually listed
in order of priority.

Conclusion

This is a summary of the most significant results/findings.

You should not include any new material in this section.
Sometimes you could indicate some areas where your
research has limits or where further research would be useful.
It contains the restatement of major findings, limitations
of the study, recommendations, and implications.

References

This contains the different sources used in the study.

These may be academic books, journals, and other online
sources.
Use APA (American Psychological Association) style
throughout the report.
For more information, please consult the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association, (6th ed.,
2nd
printing)
or
visit
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/1/

STEPS IN WRITING A
RESEARCH REPORT

Day 1

1. Select and narrow down the topic. You may use prewriting
technique such as freewriting, clustering, listing, and
brainstorming to focus on a topic.
2. Conduct a preliminary research by gathering the initial
references (at least 10 refutable references).
3. Formulate the thesis statement and research questions.
Deadline: September 26-28, 2016

Day 2

4. Prepare a preliminary outline.

5. Gather additional references. Use the preliminary outline as
a guide for this stage.
6. Prepare the prefinal outline.

7. Prepare the necessary instruments for your research.

Deadline/Consultation: September 29-October 4, 2016

Day 3

8. Pilot the instrument and revise accordingly.

9. Gather the data.
10. Prepare the tables and graphs and analyze the collected
data.
11. Write the methodology and results section.

12. Write the introduction and literature review.

Deadline/Consultation: October 5-7, 2016

Day 4
13. Write the discussion. Be sure to link the literature review to
the discussion section.
14. Write the conclusion and recommendations.
15. Write the abstract.
16. Prepare the reference list. List all items that are cited in
the body of your paper.
17. Edit and format your paper.

Deadline/Consultation: October 10-12, 2016

Day 5

13. Present final output.

Oral Defense: October 13-14, 2016
Day 6

14. Revise for final submission.

15. Submit final output.

GUIDELINES IN WRITING
A RESEARCH REPORT

 50-75 % of the paper should be devoted to results and

discussion
Be sure to cite all your sources whether they are
paraphrased or directly quoted.
Use direct quotations sparingly. Paraphrase as much as
possible.
STRICTLY follow documentation style.
Topics should be relevant, interesting , current, and
manageable in terms of resources, skills needed, and
time. It should not be too sensitive and controversial as
well.

 Research questions should directly address the given

topic or thesis statement.
Use simple language and avoid verbose words.