Prime Time 5/6, Writing, Arbeitsheft

3 48 Text types 3.4 Report g Prime Time 6, page 168 A report is a written text that presents information in a factual way, often containing diagrams, tables, etc. in order to illustrate the content more clearly. Purpose: •• to inform about an issue •• to analyse a topic •• to present (research) projects, statistical data, facts, developments •• to provide a recommendation (optional) Target group: •• decision makers •• people in charge of an organisation, company, etc. Layout and structure: •• Title section: –– name the recipient: To: … –– add your name: From: … –– give your report a title which expresses its main focus •• Beginning: –– introduce the topic in a general way –– mention the purpose of the report •• Body of the report: –– analyse a situation, an issue or a problem in detail –– refer to the materials provided (tables, charts, etc.) –– be as objective and fact-oriented as possible –– be clear and precise in what you write –– evaluate the facts and/or the results –– use a separate paragraph for each idea –– structure the text in a logical way –– link the paragraphs •• Ending: –– draw a conclusion –– make recommendations for future action if possible –– give an outlook on future developments Style: •• neutral/formal •• factual •• no contractions, e.g. “I’m” Useful language: Reports As requested I have prepared a report … . The aim of this report is to … . This report tries to suggest that … . This report is intended to … . I would therefore recommend/suggest … . It would seem that … is the best idea. Most people seem to feel that … . Several people/students/parents/… explained/said/ suggested/thought that … . The current situation is satisfactory/unsatisfactory/ disappointing for students/parents/… because … . To sum up … . How to write a report •• Underline/Highlight the main points of the prompt. –– What is the purpose of the text? –– Who are the people you are writing to? –– What are you supposed to write about? –– Which aspects must be mentioned? –– How long should your text be? Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv