Learn about your topic of writing. Chances are, it will pertain to something you are learning in the course or will cover later on, so your textbook may not be a bad place to start. Other places to start researching your topic include the Internet and the library.
Select your sources. The assignment will indicate how many sources are required for your research report. Your school's library should have databases that allow you to search for sources relating to your topic. You can also search the Internet for sources. Once you find the required number of sources, you should read them to find quotes or pieces you can paraphrase in your research report. Make sure to keep track of what parts of your sources you intend to use.
Draw an outline for your research report. Most research reports will include an introduction, a body consisting of three to five paragraphs, and a conclusion. Also included in your research report is a works cited page. This documents all the sources used in your research report. The introduction should introduce your topic in a way that is both easy to understand and capable of grabbing your audience's attention. The body is where you really discuss your topic in depth. You will use direct quotations and paraphrases from your sources and answer any questions raised in the writing topic. The conclusion summarizes everything you have discussed in your report. Your goal in the conclusion should be to tie up your research report in a paragraph of two or three sentences.
Compose your works cited page. Professors may require you to use one of two common formats--APA and MLA. There is a possibility, however, that your professor may require a different format. You can find how to format sources in each format online easily.