Sample report To: Mr Martens From: Michael Berger Subject: Mobile phones at school Introduction Probably every student has a mobile phone. We use them for social media, as alarm clocks, calculators, to help with exam revision, to pay telephone bills, buy train tickets and to communicate with others through voice, messages and mails. And that is where the problems can start. As requested, I have prepared a report on the current situation of mobile phone usage at our school, as teachers have continuously been complaining about students over-using their phones in class. Current situation At the moment all students are allowed to bring their mobile phones to school. 98% of students bring their phones to class every day and 93% use them to text in class. The current situation is unsatisfactory as many teachers find that the lessons are being disturbed. Teachers argue that they need practical strategies for dealing with phones in school. It is true that some students use their phones quite often during classes. They send messages, play games or use social media platforms. Nevertheless, most students switch their phones off before the lessons start. Why phones are important Responsible mobile phone use is truly important for all teenagers, as it is about developing healthy phone habits, managing costs, sticking to family/school rules, keeping phones safe and being respectful. Mobile phones have become part of our daily lives and besides communication, we can use a vast variety of apps that can make our daily life a lot easier. In class, phones are used in multiple ways: as cameras, calculators, organisers and to do research. Suggestion To sum up, we should find a solution that is fair to everyone, instead of banning all mobile phones from school. One way to deal with the problem could be to have students switch off their phones before lessons. If students neglect this law, their mobiles should be taken away until the end of the school day, without exception. In general, we should discuss and agree on phone rules in class. It might help to create an agreement that all of us (teachers – students) should sign. Useful tips Starting off Before you start, it is important that you understand the situation. The heading at the beginning is: To: … From: … Subject: … Introduction Start with a general description of the task. Language Use formal and factual language. Only include relevant facts and details. Give short and clear information. Use reported speech to write about what people told you. Often the passive is used in reports. When writing factual reports, you may also need to use the five Ws: Who? What? When? Where? Why? (and sometimes How?). Paragraphs Use separate paragraphs for each main point. Use clear headings for your paragraphs. Conclusion Write your suggestions and recommendations at the end of the report. It is OK to use “I”. 167 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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