Writing Application
Learn
Now that you know how to find sources, take notes, and evaluate information, it is time to put your research to use. Writing application means turning your research notes into clear, organized writing that shares what you learned with others.
From Notes to Writing
Your research notes are like puzzle pieces. Writing is how you put those pieces together to create a complete picture for your reader. Good research writing:
- Uses your own words (not copied from sources)
- Organizes information in a logical order
- Includes facts and details that support your main idea
- Tells readers where you found your information
Structure of a Research Paragraph
- Topic Sentence: Tells the reader what the paragraph is about
- Supporting Details: Facts, examples, and explanations from your research
- Concluding Sentence: Wraps up the paragraph and connects back to the main idea
Structure of a Research Report
A longer research report includes:
- Introduction: Introduces the topic and tells readers what they will learn
- Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph covers one main point with supporting details
- Conclusion: Summarizes the main points and gives a final thought
- Sources List: Shows where you found your information
Citing Your Sources
When you use facts from your research, you should tell readers where you found them. This is called citing sources. For fourth grade, a simple citation looks like this:
According to the National Geographic Kids website, cheetahs can run up to 70 miles per hour.
Or you can list your sources at the end:
Sources:
- "Cheetah Facts" from National Geographic Kids (website)
- Wild Cats of Africa by Jane Smith (book)
Examples
Example 1: Research Paragraph About Butterflies
Research Notes:
- Butterflies go through metamorphosis
- Four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, adult
- The change takes about 4 weeks
- Source: "Life Cycle of a Butterfly" - Science Kids website
Written Paragraph:
Butterflies go through an amazing change called metamorphosis. According to the Science Kids website, this process has four stages. First, a butterfly starts as a tiny egg. Then it hatches into a caterpillar that eats and grows. Next, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis, which is like a protective shell. Finally, after about four weeks, a beautiful adult butterfly emerges. This incredible transformation shows how much butterflies change during their lives.
Example 2: Turning Notes into Sentences
Note: Elephants - largest land animals - weigh up to 14,000 pounds
Sentence: Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth and can weigh up to 14,000 pounds.
Note: Bats - only flying mammals - use echolocation
Sentence: Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly, and they use echolocation to find their food in the dark.
Example 3: Simple Source List
For a report about the moon:
Sources I Used:
1. "The Moon" - NASA Kids' Club (website)
2. Our Solar System by Seymour Simon (book)
3. "Moon Facts for Kids" - Space.com (website)
Practice
Activity 1: Note to Sentence
Turn these notes into complete sentences:
- Note 1: Penguins - cannot fly - excellent swimmers
- Note 2: Rainforests - receive 80+ inches rain yearly - home to half of all species
- Note 3: George Washington - first president - served 1789-1797
Activity 2: Find the Parts
Read this paragraph and identify: (1) the topic sentence, (2) the supporting details, and (3) the concluding sentence.
The Amazon River is one of the most important rivers in the world. It is the second longest river on Earth, stretching about 4,000 miles through South America. The Amazon carries more water than any other river and flows through the world's largest rainforest. Thousands of species of fish live in its waters, including piranhas and pink river dolphins. The Amazon River is truly a natural wonder that supports incredible biodiversity.
Activity 3: Write Your Own Paragraph
Use these notes to write a complete research paragraph:
- Topic: Honeybees
- Live in colonies with one queen
- Worker bees collect nectar to make honey
- A colony can have 20,000 to 60,000 bees
- Bees communicate by dancing
- Source: National Geographic Kids
Check Your Understanding
Answer these 10 questions to test what you have learned about writing from research.
Question 1: What is the purpose of a topic sentence?
Answer: A topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about. It introduces the main idea that the rest of the paragraph will explain and support.
Question 2: Why should you write research in your own words instead of copying?
Answer: Writing in your own words shows that you understand the information. Copying is called plagiarism and is like cheating because you are using someone else's words as if they were yours.
Question 3: What are the three main parts of a research paragraph?
Answer: The three parts are: (1) Topic sentence - introduces the main idea, (2) Supporting details - facts and examples from research, (3) Concluding sentence - wraps up and connects back to the main idea.
Question 4: What does "citing sources" mean?
Answer: Citing sources means telling your readers where you found your information. This gives credit to the original authors and helps readers check your facts or learn more.
Question 5: In a research report, what is the purpose of the introduction?
Answer: The introduction introduces the topic to readers and tells them what they will learn about. It gets readers interested and prepares them for the information to come.
Question 6: How do supporting details help your research writing?
Answer: Supporting details provide evidence for your main idea. They include facts, examples, and explanations that prove what you are saying is true and help readers understand the topic better.
Question 7: Why should you include a source list at the end of a research report?
Answer: A source list shows readers where you found your information, gives credit to the authors you learned from, proves that you did real research, and helps readers find more information if they want to learn more.
Question 8: What is the difference between a research paragraph and a research report?
Answer: A research paragraph is one paragraph that covers one main point with supporting details. A research report is longer and includes an introduction, multiple body paragraphs (each covering a different main point), a conclusion, and a source list.
Question 9: What should a concluding sentence do?
Answer: A concluding sentence wraps up the paragraph by restating the main idea in a new way, summarizing what was discussed, or connecting the information to a bigger idea. It gives the reader a sense of completion.
Question 10: How can you introduce a fact from your research in a sentence?
Answer: You can use phrases like "According to..." or "The [source name] states that..." or "[Author name] explains that..." For example: "According to NASA, the Sun is about 93 million miles from Earth."
Next Steps
- Practice writing paragraphs from your research notes
- Always cite your sources when sharing facts
- Move on to the unit checkpoint when ready
- Return to this lesson when you need help with research writing