CHAPTER 6

Writing Reports
Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, the students are able to:

a. write a report

b. know how to write a good report of a research project

c. know how to write a report of a place of interest

Starter:

What is a report? Why do people write reports? Who reads them?

Work in pairs:

Discuss these questions.

1. How many hours do you spend watching TV?

 less than one hour

 1-2 hours
 2-3 hours
 more than 3 hours

2. Do you watch more or less TV at weekends?

3. What kind of programs do you watch?

*cartoons *dramas/films *soap operas

*sports *news *documentaries * music
shows, e.g. on MTV *comedies * reality
shows *games and quizzes * talk shows
*others

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Text:

Report on research project into the TV-watching habits of school students.

The purpose of this report was to find out how many hours of TV students watch in a typical
week. It also aimed to find out what kind of programs they watch. In addition, it looked at the
kinds of programs watched by male and female students to find out if there was any difference in
their preferences. (1)

We carried out the research by interviewing students in the target group – school students aged
14 – 18, both male and female. We spoke to students from a number of different schools in five
different cities. We interviewed 120 students in total, 60 boys and 60 girls. (2)

We asked all the interviewees the same questions. First, we asked them if they have a TV in their
bedroom as well as the main TV in the house; then if they usually watch TV alone or with their
family. Next, we asked what kind of TV programs they like and how many hours of TV they
watch in a typical week. After that, we asked how many hours they spend watching TV on
school days (Monday to Friday) and how many hours at the weekend. Finally, we asked how
many hours they spend watching the different kinds of programs. (3)

We found that 60% if interviewees have a TV in their bedroom and most watch it alone. On
school days, 40% of boys and 50% of girls watch TV for two hours or more, mostly between
6.00 and 9.00 p.m. Only 20% of boys and 15% of girls watch less than one hour. However, at
weekends, 60% of boys and 70% of girls watch more than two hours a day, in the mornings and
evenings. Boys prefer to watch sport, cartoons and music programs, whereas girls prefer to
watch soap operas, dramas and music. Only 18% of boys and 16% of girls say they watch news
regularly. However, more girls than boys watch documentaries. (4)

Our research shows that the best time for TV advertisement aimed at young people in this age
group is between 6.00 and 9.00 p.m. on weekdays, and in the mornings. In addition, advertisers
whose target market is mainly girls should aim to place their ads between soap operas, dramas,
and music programs. If the target market is boys, they should place ads between sport, cartoons,
and music programs. (5)

Look at the extract (1-5) from a report above. The report consists of five paragraphs and
respectively it deals with introduction, method, procedure, findings and conclusion. Who would
be particularly interested in this report?

1. students

2. advertising companies

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 3. psychiatrists

Speaking:

Study the extract of the report and write the questions that the interviewers asked. Then work in
pairs and interview your partner.

Getting real:

Prepare a short survey about the following options. Think about the questions you will ask. Then
interview as many people as possible in your class (your classmates) or school.

a. Music

Find out the following information:

 how many people have music in their bedroom, or a personal stereo

 where they listen to music
 how many hours they spend listening to music on weekdays
 how many hours they spend listening to music on weekends
 what kind of music they listen to.

b. Exercise
Find out the following information:

 how many people exercise regularly

 what type(s) of exercise they do
 how many hours they exercise every week
 when they exercise
 where they exercise

Write a report based on your interviews. Make sure your report has an introduction and
conclusion and includes information about your method, procedure and findings.

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Miscellany

The followings are hints of writing a report of a place of interest.

HINTS OF WRITING REPORTS

TITLE: A REPORT OF A VISIT TO A CRODILE FARM (TAMAN BUAYA) MEDAN

INTRODUCTION
This report is aimed at reviewing our visit to a crocodile farm located at Kecamatan Medan
Selayang (Medan Selayang District) on Sunday, January 27, 2013.

PRESENCE
Leader: ……… Co. Leader (1): …….. Co. Leader (2): ……… etc.
Secretary (1): …………… Secretary (2): ………….etc.
Member(s): ………………

FINDINGS
Tell all WHs, for example: Who you are; When you go there; Where you go; Why you go there;
What you are doing there; How you go there etc.; You may tell about the place you visit, where
it is located, how large it is, who own this, how many crocodiles or other animals there are there,
what types of crocodiles there are there, how old the crocodiles are, what their foods are, how
many times the crocodiles have food a day, what time the foods are given, who gives the foods,
how much people should pay to enter this farm and so on.

CONCLUSION
Describe the conclusion of your visit to this place of interest (e.g. a crocodile farm)

SUGGESTION
Elaborate your suggestion about visiting this place. (For example: Don’t forget to bring a
handkerchief to cover your nose because it is terribly bad-smelled there.)

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Vocabulary

ads
carry out
documentaries
elaborate
place of interest
reality show
respectively
soap operas
weekends
weekdays

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