Professional Development Institute

Online Courses and Teacher Resources

    In the last thirteen years, PDI has trained over 30,000 teachers in the United States and across the globe!

 

PDI Home Page

Expository Writing: Focus on Research Reports (Grades 4-12)/Flex Course

Do your students struggle when they have to write anything other than a narrative essay or story? This online course focuses on helping students learn how to write research reports. The focus will be on teaching students organizational patterns, as well as how to develop an outline, and thesis statement. Teaching students how to do research and then read and paraphrase for writing will also be emphasized. Teachers will gain assessment strategies as well.

"The information was very practical and useful." - Joyce Gunderson

Three Enrollment Options

Course Registration Only $124

Course plus continuing education units from USC ($124 plus $175)

Course plus graduate level credit from USD ($124 plus $200)

 

Topical Outline:

Unit One

  • Writing Standards
  • Choosing a Research Topic
  • Assignment #1: Write an autobiography
  • Assignment #2: Article reflection
  • Test #1
  • Unit Two

  • Types of Sources
  • Research on the Internet
  • Research Using Traditional Sources
  • Test #2
  • Unit Three

  • Taking Notes
  • Organizing Notes
  • Developing an Outline
  • Assignment #3: Respond to a classmate
  • Test #3
  • Unit Four

  • Writing an Introduction
  • How to Paraphrase
  • Writing the Report
  • Writing a Conclusion
  • Test #4
  • Unit Five

  • Developing the Bibliography
  • Revision
  • Editing
  • Test #5
  • Unit Six

  • Assessment
  • Assignment #4: Develop the guidelines and rubric for the research paper you want your students to write.
  •  

    Click here to request a copy of the syllabus

    Access Your Online Course

    Register Now

      Online Course Options

    General Information

    Flex-Time Online Courses

    Semester Online Courses

    Frequently Asked Questions

      Completion Document Options

    General Information

    USC Continuing Education Units

    USD Graduate-Level Credit

    PDI Completion Letter

    Online Resource Books

    Monthly Specials/Online Survey

    About Us

    Help/Contact Us