Reports

"Reports can be straightforward recounts of events, but many of them are more than this. They may contain accounts and descriptions, but they often do more than describe a thing, event or situation. Some reports state a problem and suggest a solution. Some argue a case for or against a particular option, supporting their case with evidence and making a recommendation."

(The Learner as a Reader, Learning Media NZ:P 129)

Purpose

The purpose of a report is to describe and classify information. Reports have a logical sequence of facts that are stated without any personal involvement from the writer.

Informative reports are written about living things like plants and animals and non-living things like cars or oceans. An information report is used when we talk and write about, eg. Bikes. (When writing a description we only talk/write about one specific thing, eg. My Bike).

Features

Structure

Reports usually consist of the following:

• an opening statement. (The Antarctic is a large continent at the South Pole; Possums are nocturnal animals that were introduced to New Zealand from Australia.)
• a series of facts about various aspects of the subject eg where possums live, what they eat, problems they cause, etc. These facts are grouped into paragraphs and each paragraph has a topic sentence.
• diagrams, photographs, illustrations and maps may be used to enhance the text
• reports don't usually have an "ending", although sometimes the detailed information is rounded off by some general statement about the topic.

Language

• Nouns and noun phrases are used rather than personal pronouns. The use of personal pronouns is limited.
• Most reports are written in the present tense.
• Some reports use technical or scientific terms.
• Linking verbs are used, eg. is, are, has, have, belong to, to give coherence.
• Uses some action verbs (climb, eat).
• Descriptive language is used that is factual rather than imaginative eg colour, shape, size, body parts, habits, behaviours, functions, uses.