IGCSE Success: Report Writing Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Focus of the video: Report writing for Cambridge First Language English exam.
• Importance of being prepared for all text types, including reports.

Understanding Report Writing

• Common student fears associated with report writing.
• Report writing is a skill like any other type of writing.
• Students should aim to be confident in all seven text types:
  • Newspaper report
  • Formal report
  • Speech
  • Letter
  • Journal
  • Interview
  • Article

Functions of Formal Reports

1. Record Observations or Investigations
   • Serve as documentation of findings.
2. Highlight Problems and Offer Solutions
   • Provide a critical appraisal and recommendations.

Structure of a Formal Report

1. Overview
   • Establishes the purpose of the report.
   • Outlines what the report aims to achieve.
2. Main Body
   • Discusses problems found during the investigation.
3. Conclusion
   • Presents sensible solutions to the identified problems.
   • Suggests the use of subheadings for clarity.

Voice and Style

• Objective Voice:
  • Use factual language; avoid flowery or figurative language.
  • Write in the third person.
• Practice makes perfect:
  • View report writing as a different writing style to master.

Example of a Formal Report

• Topic: Electricity consumption at the School of YouTube.
• Presentational Features:
  • Appropriate title, subheadings, and bullet points.
• Overview Example:
  • "This report will outline..."
  • States purpose and recommendations for energy conservation.
• Main Body Section:
  • Use subheadings to organize sections (e.g., Problems Observed).
  • Objective voice with facts and statistics on electricity usage.
• Feedback Section:
  • Gathered comments from staff, students, and parents.
• Conclusion Section:
  • Summary of findings and specific recommendations.
  • Importance of small actions to improve energy usage.
  • Suggests a designated person for monitoring.

Writing Techniques

• Use of complex sentence starters.
• Use discourse markers to connect ideas.

Closing

• Recap of key points about report writing.
• Encouragement to practice and get comfortable with formal writing.