13.2 Steps to Writing a Genealogical Research Report

The first step to writing the research report is to state and then expand on the research question developed in Chapter 4. The introduction of the report needs two elements: the research question and a statement explaining whether or not the project was successful in answering that question. Just as not all people have records, not all research questions have answers. A student who searches diligently and does not find a birth record will not lose points because what matters is that the record was carefully sought for. The log will show their diligent work and sound reasoning even if the record does not exist or has not been discovered yet. The same idea applies to answering the research question. It may be that an excellent project was completed without discovering a definitive answer to that question. Students may choose to organize the report by record type, chronologically, by person or place, or by following their research process. It is up to the genealogist to determine what structure makes the most sense based on the project. The goal is to clearly communicate the information, so the data should be arranged with that in mind, and the narrative should lead from one element to another. After the introduction, create sections of the report that highlight the research and documentary evidence compiled to answer the question.

Keep the research question the focus of the report. Although there are cases where few documents are discovered, hopefully many documents have been located and can be presented within the report in support of the researcher’s conclusions. Highlight the items that pertain to the research question. If the research question was whether this person came from Istanbul, then sources tied to that place are important to mention in the report. Every bit of evidence that has come to light will be cited in the family group records, so each detail does not need to be discussed as narrative within the report. For example, the exact dates of birth for every child are important but may not directly address the research question. However, the fact that a birth record places the family in a certain place at a certain time may be important to proving how the family migrated from Istanbul. That is important evidence that should be included. All the children’s birth dates are listed on the family group record or can be presented within the report in a visual way or something other than stating one child’s birthdate after another in a long sentence. A smart way to keep focused, while emphasizing the hard work that has been completed, is to use charts and graphs.

There is not space to go through every census record, but a chart of who was living in the household during each census or a map of where the family was living for each census communicates that the information was discovered and allows the reader to quickly absorb the data and apply it to the report. Visual elements are savvy ways to summarize information without a long narrative.

Analysis is an important element of a genealogical report but, again, be selective about which documents are presented. If there was a key moment in the research where a document or two brought a lot of information to light, go deep examining those and explain the reasoning and evidence for any conclusions. Make the best moments of the project shine by highlighting them. For example, a will discovered during the research process that lists the person’s children with their spouses and the grandchildren is something that covers generations and provides the researcher with many avenues to explore. Discussing that document, sharing the questions it answered, and outlining the additional questions raised in light of the new information would be excellent to include in a research report.

Weave academic resources, quotes, document images, maps, and other elements in with the narrative for a pleasing and engaging whole. Remember that research reports are not written in first person; keep an academic voice to the writing but use wit and express emotion to keep the readers engaged. It is a fine line to walk, but hopefully an academic voice can be maintained while the enthusiasm and excitement of the researcher comes through.

Look up vocabulary words and define them by making footnote citations. One important element usually found near the end of a report, but before the conclusion, is a paragraph or section for future research. There should be notes with items in the research log that gave the genealogist ideas about another research question or different way of looking into the family story. For professional genealogists, those ideas are key to motivating clients to fund additional research projects. Having a section that shows the historian still finds the project interesting and has planned where to go next reflects well on the researcher.

The conclusion of the report should be brief, restating the research question with a conclusion that metaphorically ties a bow on the project.