Grade 5: Research Report

Strengthen your introduction and conclusion. Try these tips.

Capture your readers' attention right away with a surprising statement or a question. Then state the main idea of your report in an interesting way.

Begin with a surprising statement: People may love flowers, but scientists believe that the pretty colors and scents are meant to attract insects, not people. Many flowers need insects to help them reproduce.

Begin with a question: Can you imagine a flower that smells like rotting meat? Scientists believe that the horrible odor of the rafflesia flower is meant to attract flies. Although few flowers smell disgusting, many flowers need insects to help them reproduce.

In your conclusion, sum up your important points, and remind your reader of the main idea of your report.

The color of the petals is a signal to the insect that the flower contains nectar. [Don't just end with your last fact. Sum up your report.]

Remember, even if you don't like the color or smell of a certain flower, some insect probably does. The flower depends on that insect to spread its pollen and help make new flowers grow.

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