Reporting Your Research: Unit Standard 8812

Exemplar A: Credit

Surface features:
Achievement criteria assessing: 
Technical features:
•	spelling
•	punctuation
•	grammar
•	paragraphing

‘Hot Issues’ Research Report: Street Kids

Deeper features:
Achievement criteria assessing: 
•	ideas
•	sequencing; examples
•	structure; style

I can't imagine who would want to live on the streets, but the fact remains is that there are children as young as 11 who prefer to live on the streets. I chose this topic after seeing a documentary on TV about street kids. I decided I wanted to find out more about them. In my research I looked at why street kids choose to live on the streets, what the dangers of living on the streets are, and what people’s opinions are about street kids.

Develops relevant ideas about the research topic.

Integrates information from these sources:
•	Documentary
•	Feature article
•	Interviews

Draws some conclusions. 

Uses technical features without intrusive errors.

Why do street kids choose to live on the streets? Some street kids think that living on the streets is better than living at home because of the problems there are at home. In a newspaper article called ‘The Wild Side,’ I read about two girls who felt unwanted and unloved. They formed their own family on the street. In a TV3 documentary ‘The Street Kids’ a number of street kids came from broken homes. These kids had been physically abused and their parents often had alcohol and drug issues. Some of these kids also had to deal with being abandoned and neglected as a result of parents separating. They had to learn to fend for themselves even if it meant placing themselves in danger.

What are the dangers of living on the streets? 

Sequences writing. 
Uses: 
•	an introduction stating why this topic was selected and introducing the research questions
•	three sections, each dealing with one research question
•	a conclusion

Each section includes: 
•	an opening  statement giving an overview or making a summary point 
•	details and examples relevant to the research question addressed.

The risks the kids on the street  take can be life threatening. The article ‘The Wild Side’ mentioned prostitution, the dangers of being raped and beaten as well as becoming affiliated to gangs. The documentary ‘The Street Kids’ showed that they also faced similar dangers as well as becoming dependent on alcohol,drugs and solvents. Street kids faced the possibility of being stabbed, sometimes by other street kids. 

What are people’s opinions about street kids?
I interviewed people my age and my parents’ age to find out their views on street kids. Bruce [45] felt that family values and the family unit were no longer a part of the system we live in today. Lisa [42] said that more funding needed to go into prevention. More programmes were needed to deter these kids from living on the streets and to help families at risk. Stacey [16] said that she was scared of street kids. She kept away from them if she saw them in town. Kendall [16] felt sorry for them. She knew someone who had ended up on the street after having a tough time at home.

Conclusion

Uses an appropriate style.

Uses an appropriate paragraphed structure. 

From my research I have found that problems in the family can be a major reason that kids end up on the street. They face dangers often linked to drugs and alcohol. In my opinion it is easy to overlook what is happening to these street kids. When they break into a car or burgle a house they are branded as criminals. We look more at the wrongs they have done rather than look at the wrongs that have been done to them. There should be more help available to help families and parents at risk so that kids do not end up on the streets in the first place.

From task 1:

b.	Read exemplar A. Look at how it is structured as follows:

•	an introduction that sets out the focus of the research. It also briefly mentions why this research topic was selected: 
eg: “I chose this topic after seeing a documentary on TV about street kids. I decided I wanted to find out more about them.”

•	the body of the report. This has been set out in paragraphed sections, with each section linked to a research question.
.eg: The three sections from the body of the ‘Streetkids’ report, each based on a research question: 
•	Why do street kids choose to live on the streets?
•	What are the dangers of living on the streets?
•	What are people’s opinions about street kids?

•	a conclusion that makes some final comments on the research topic:
eg: “When they break into a car or burgle a house they are branded as criminals. We look more at the wrongs they have done rather than look at the wrongs that have been done to them.

© Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (First published 1998)