Writing Action Research or Field Report

1
Writing Action Research or Field Report

• Introduction
• An Example Report
• APA Style
• The Title
• Organization
• Paragraphs
• Effective Transitions
• Strategies for Writing a Conclusion
• Peer Editing
• Individual Review Meetings
• Presentations

2
The Title

• Use a subtitle to clarify what the report is
  about.
• Use a reasonably catchy title

3
An Example Report

• Follow the College style requirements (paper
  size, margin, cover sheets).
• Table of contents
• Abstract
• Chapter 1 Introduction (purpose, importance,
  assumptions, definitions, research questions)
• Chapter 2 Review of the Literature
• Chapter 3 Methods (subjects, setting,
  instrument, data collection procedures)
• Chapter 4 Result (include graphs or tables)
• Chapter 5 Discussion (including conclusion,
  recommendation, action plan)
• References
• Appendices

4
Organization

• The key to your report is not brilliance or
  even inspiration, but organization.
• Use of headings and subheadings
• Use of outline

5
The Paragraph

• Unity The entire paragraph should concern itself
  with a single focus. If it begins with a certain
  point of discussion, it should not end with
  another or wander within different ideas.
• Coherence Create logical or verbal bridges in
  your paragraphs to be coherent. For example, key
  words or synonymous words can be repeated in
  several sentences.
• A Topic Sentence Put your topic sentence near
  the beginning of the paragraph.
• Adequate Development It usually takes more than
  1,2,or 3 sentences to have a fully developed
  paragraph.
• Do not use future tense in Ch. 1 verbs as you did
  with the proposal. Use past tense in data
  gathering section.

6
Effective Transitions

• Does your report have a nice flow ( continuity,
  or progression)?
• Use a lead-in sentence to introduce discussion of
  a new concept .
• The end of a paragraph can set up a clear
  connection to the next paragraph.
• One way to create a transition is to repeat a key
  word or phrase from the preceding paragraph.
• Use these transitional words to link
  complementary ideas again, in addition, at the
  same time, in the same way, by the same token,
  similarly, likewise, hence, as a result,
  furthermore, moreover, secondly. To link
  conflicting ideas, use these words in reality,
  in truth, on the other hand, on the contrary,
  nonetheless, however, in contrast.

7
The Conclusion

• Propose a course of action, possible approaches
  or solutions to the issue raised.
• Challenge the reader Address ideas from a fresh
  perspective in order to encourage the reader to
  continue thinking about the topic .
• Looking to the future Raise questions for future
  study.
• Describing the limitations of your study.
• Save a provocative or exciting insight or
  quotation for the conclusion.
• Echoing the introduction Include something from
  the introduction (e.g. a detail, image, scenario,
  or example) to bring the report full cycle.

8
Presentation

• Present your field or action research report to
  the rest of class
• You are encouraged to use the Powerpoint to make
  your presentation
• It is more of a celebration than an oral defense.
  
• GOOD LUCK !