Features of Report Genre writing

1. Features of Report Genre writing Recount Interview Newspaper Report Interview Book Review Sport’s Review Balanced Report Useful Websites Information Writing Power of Persuasion

2. Writing a Recount • Present the events in chronological order. • Use time connectives like – First, Next, Then, Shortly after, Later and Finally • You should write in the past tense. • Write from your point of view – using the pronoun “I” or if you were with your • class or friends “we”. • Draw a time-line to help you order the events experienced. • Give the reader a title that tells the reader what it is about. • Break the text into paragraphs to make it easier to read. • Start a sentence that sets the scene. • Try to include some unusual facts to keep your reader interested. • After retelling the events, end with a closing statement. • Do not forget to link your paragraphs with words/ideas or phrases. • Check it through to make sure you have met all your targets and all the features • are present.

3. Writing a Book Review • A review is a report in which you give your opinion. How you write will depend • on whether you are reviewing a fiction book. • Always start with the title of the book • Put the name of the book, the author and the illustrator at the top. • Mention your favourite characters (who are they?) • Say what you liked about the story. • What do you think of the illustrations. • Don’t give away the ending. If your review has been successful, the reader • Will want to find out for themselves. • To write a non-fiction book review you write a summary of the contents. • Put the name of the book, the author and the photographer at the top. • Say what the book is about and how the contents are organised. • Describe photos, charts and diagrams. • What did you like about the book and did it have any special features. • Check it through to make sure you have met all your targets and all the features • are present.

4. Writing an Interview • An interview is a meeting with someone to ask them questions. • Write down questions on a notepad to fill in the answers to them when you have • interviewed your client. • Take notes when you’re writing down what your interviewee says or use ICT to • record the interview. • Use initials to indicate who is speaking. • Begin a new line for each speaker. • Make sure you ask interesting questions and this will enable the interviewee to • give you interesting replies. • Check it through to make sure you have met all your targets and all the features • are present.

5. Balanced Report • A balanced report presents both sides of an argument and is usually made • up of facts or a mix of fact and opinion. You must make sure you show there • are two sides to an argument and give the reader all the information to make • up their own mind. It must contain true facts and not made-up ones. Perhaps • you may wish to conduct a survey or questionnaire. • Begin with an opening statement to tell the reader what the report is about. • Use bullet points for each new argument (this will make it easier to read). • Use impersonal language and the present tense. • List ‘for’ and ‘against’ arguments in separate columns. • Write a point in favour of the argument followed by one against. • End your report with a statement summing up both arguments or stating which • argument you agree with. • Check it through to make sure you have met all your targets and all the features • are present.

6. Writing a Sport’s Review • Keep sentences short and avoid explanatory clauses. • Use an active voice – a passive voice will slow down your writing. • Use metaphors and similes to build up the mood. • Use adjectives for impact. • Use powerful verbs. • Organise your writing into short paragraphs to make it easier to • read and hold the reader’s interest. • Use a subheading to introduce a new idea. • Use quotes from competitors and spectators to back up your statement. • Check it through to make sure you have met all your targets and all the features • are present.

7. Power of Persuasion • Writing that tries to persuade the reader to agree with what is being • said is known as exaggerated writing. It is biased – it puts forward only • One point of view. It can be used in advertisement posters, brochures and • you need to make it as eye-catching as you can to grab the reader’s attention. • Use large and striking pictures. • Vary the font size of your text. • Write in the present tense to make it sound immediate and urgent. • Use positive language that makes the reader think life will be improved. • Here are some examples of adjectives to use: wonderful, superb, fantastic, • Outstanding, idyllic, coolest, magnificent and one in a million. • Back it up with the stamp of approval of so-called experts and use technical • or scientific words that sound authoritative. • Check it through to make sure you have met all your targets and all the features • are present.

8. Information Writing • Find out about your chosen subject by researching your topic using books • and the internet. Organise your writing into sections so that all your • Information is grouped. • Start with general information. • Use adjectives to describe what you are writing about. • Use technical words. • Use subheadings to divide up the text. • Pick out interesting pieces of factual information and place it in a box • outside the text if required. • Illustrate your text with photos, diagrams, drawings or labelled diagrams. • Write a caption underneath each illustration. • Check it through to make sure you have met all your targets and all the features • are present.

9. Useful Websites http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/english/writing/reports/read/1/ www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupDownloadFile.asp?GroupID=80142.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/english/writing/newspapers/read/1/