Report Writing Term 1 2021-2022 - Unit 1 [PDF]

Zitiervorschau

UNIT 1

INTRODUCTION TO REPORT WRITING

AIM: This unit is aimed at providing students with an overview of report writing. This unit highlights - two types of charts (charts with trends and comparative charts) - the question and sample report for each type of charts, - the general structure of a report, and - the assessment criteria.

OVERVIEW A report is the type of writing which describes the information shown in some kinds of charts. It is usually a minimum of 150 words and it is recommended that you spend about 20 minutes on this. The prompt for a report is always a type of charts. You have to write about the information shown, describing the main features and making comparisons whenever relevant. You have to refer closely to the charts and, where relevant, illustrate your main points with figures. You are not required to give any explanation for the data, but have to describe only the information given in the task. There are four different types of charts classified on the basis of format. -

Line graphs

-

Bar charts

-

Pie charts

-

Tables

There is another way to classify the charts, which is based on the language used to describe them as follows. -

Graphs/charts with trends

-

Comparative charts (charts with no trends)

This course book is designed to approach report writing in the second way.

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TYPES OF GRAPHS The four different types of charts are illustrated as follows. 1. Line graphs Line graphs use one line (single line graphs) or more than one line (multiple line graphs) to compare items over time, to show frequency or distribution, and to show correlations. There are horizontal and vertical axes. When time is a variable, it is put on the horizontal axis.  Multiple line graph with trends

2

 Single line graph with no trends

Internet use (hours)

35 30 25 20 15 10

Int

5 0 20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Annual household income ($000)

Annual household income and Internet use 2. Bar charts Bar charts use thick lines or bars or columns to compare sets of figures. Bars can be horizontal, vertical or extended. Horizontal bars are used when labels are long; when the labels are short, either horizontal or vertical bars will work. Bar charts are easy to interpret because they ask people to compare distance along a common scale, which most people judge accurately. Bar charts are useful in a variety of situations: to compare one item to another, to compare items over time, and to show correlations.  Vertical bar chart with trends

3

 Horizontal bar charts with no trends Factors affecting work performance at a major company in Australia

Team spirit Chance for personal development Relaxed working environment Competent boss Job security Respect from colleagues Promotion prospects Job satisfaction Work environment Money 0

10

20

30

40

50

45- 60

60

70

80

90 100

18-30

3. Pie charts Pie charts show proportions, normally presented as percentages. The data in any pie chart can be put in a bar chart. Therefore, a pie chart is used only when to compare one segment to the whole. When one segment is compared to another segment, a bar chart, line graph, or a map is used– even though the data may be expressed in percentages.

4

 Pie charts with trends

Main sources of energy in USA in 1980s and 1990s

1980 Nuclear power, 5% P Coal, 22%

Oil, 42%

Natural gas, 26%

5

 Pie charts with no trends

Electricity generated in Germany and France from all sources and renewables in 2009.

6

4. Tables A table is a display of information usually given in numbers. It is arranged in some orderly fashion, usually in columns and rows. Tables provide us with an effective way of looking at groups of related numbers. They present us with many specific pieces of information in a form that makes it easy for us to compare those bits of data with each other.  Tables with trends

Worldwide mobile phone sales in 2005 and 2006 (% share of market) Company

2005 % Market Share

2006 % Market Share

Nokia

32.5

35

Motorola

17.7

21.1

Samsung

12.7

11.8

Sony Ericson

6.3

7.4

L.G

6.7

6.3

BenQ Mobile

4.9

2.4

Others

19.2

16.2

Totals

100

100

 Tables with no trends FAVORITE PASTIMES FROM 30 - 50 YEARS OLD TV Sport Reading Hobbies Music Beach

Sleep

Canada

60

22

15

40

3

0

2

France

/

/

30

20

4

/

/

England

/

/

30

21

4

/

20

Australia

65

30

15

45

5

30

4

Korea

22

21

60

45

2

2

4

China

15

25

60

50

0

5

5

USA

60

23

15

42

23

30

2

/

/

62

/

/

/

/

Japan

7

QUESTION AND SAMPLE 1. Charts with trends You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The table below shows the number of tourists from five countries to Australia in different years from 1991 to 1999. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Number of visitors to Australia (in thousands) Country of Residence

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

United States

259

267

288

310

393

Canada

51

48

55

61

75

United Kingdom

258

302

335

388

509

Germany

75

102

120

125

140

Other Europe

172

200

259

319

389

The table illustrates the number in thousands of visitors to Australia from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and other European countries over the 1990s. Overall, the number of visitors from all these countries increased significantly over the decade. It is also noticeable that the biggest number of visitors came from the United Kingdom. The biggest increase was in the number of visitors from other countries in Europe, which more than doubled over the period, from 172,000 to 389,000. The largest number of visitors came from the United Kingdom, which rose from 258,000 to 509,000. The number of visitors from the United States also increased over the decade. There were considerably fewer visitors from Canada although the figure rose over the same period from 51,000 to 75,000, with most of the increase occurring in the second half of the decade. There were almost as many visitors from the United Kingdom as from all of the other European countries, including Germany. However, by 1999 there were nearly as many tourists from the other European countries as from the United States. (Adapted from IELTS foundation by Rachael Roberts, Joanne Gakonga and Andrew Preshous)

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2. Charts with no trends You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The pie charts show the main reasons for migration to and from the UK in 2007. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words.

Main reasons for migration to/from the UK - 2007 Immigration No reason , 6%

Definite job, 30%

Others, 11% Looking for job, 12%

Accompany , 15%

Formal study , 26%

Emigration

No reason , 18%

Definite job, 29%

Others, 14%

Formal study , 4%

Looking for job, 22%

Accompany , 13%

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The pie charts illustrate the primary reasons why people came to and left the UK in 2007. Overall, the main factor influencing this decision was employment. It is also noticeable that many more people immigrated for formal study than those who emigrated for the same purpose. Having a definite job accounted for 30% of immigration to the UK, and this figure was very similar for emigration, at 29%. A large number of people, 22%, also emigrated because they were looking for a job, though the proportion of people entering the UK for this purpose was noticeably lower at less than a fifth. Another major factor influencing a move to the UK was for formal study, with over a quarter of people immigrating for this reason. However, interestingly, only a small minority, 4%, emigrated for this. The proportion of those moving to join a family member was quite similar for immigration and emigration, at 15% and 13% respectively.

Although a significant number of people (32%)

gave ‘other’ reasons or did not give a reason why they emigrated, this accounted for only 17% with regards to immigration.

REPORT STRUCTURE An interpretation of a table/line graph/bar chart ... usually contains 3 structural parts which can be arranged in two different ways. The following illustrates the first way of arrangement as shown in the above sample report. -

An opening statement

-

An overview paragraph

-

Body paragraphs

1. Opening statement The opening statement explains what you are describing. It should include the following information: kind of the graph + verb + what + where + when -

The table illustrates the number of visitors to Australia from a number of other countries worldwide over the 1990s.

-

The pie charts illustrate the primary reasons why people came to and left the UK in 2007. 10

2. Overview paragraph FIRST, an overview includes a short summary of the main/ most important feature(s) seen in a graph or chart, illustrating overall/ general changes/trends from the beginning to the end and/or illustrating comparisons, i.e. differences between/among items. -

It can be clearly seen that the number of visitors to Australia from all these countries increased significantly over the decade.

-

Overall, the main factor influencing this decision was employment.

SECOND, an overview could include the following sentences where relevant: an additional comment on a special feature, an overall summary of the main ideas or future implications -

It is also noticeable that the biggest number of visitors came from the United Kingdom.

-

It is also noticeable that many more people immigrated for formal study than those who emigrated for the same purpose.

3. Body paragraphs The number of paragraphs in the body varies based on the data shown in the graph/chart. The way the information is grouped in body paragraphs will be presented in detail in the following units. Note: Another way of arranging the information is as follows. -

Opening = an opening statement + overall trends/features

-

Body paragraphs

-

Closing statement: special feature(s)

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Report writing scripts are marked on four basic criteria and each one has equal weight. WHAT IS THE EXAMINER LOOKING FOR? Task achievement

 Have you written at least 150 words?  Have you understood and reworded the topic of the chart(s)?  Have you made an overview of the data?  Have you grouped the data in a way that helps the reader to understand the information?

 Have you included some data to support your description?  Have you compared and contrasted the data in the chart(s)? Grammatical Range

 Have you used a variety of sentence structures?

and accuracy

 Have you used noun phrases to express your ideas?  Have you used appropriate verb tenses?  Have you controlled your subject-verb agreement?  Have you used correct prepositions?  Have you used correct punctuation?  Overall, is your grammar accurate?

Lexical resources

 Have you used a variety of appropriate and academic words?  Have you used correct word forms? Have you spelled the words correctly?

Coherence and cohesion

 Have you organized your answer in some logical way to describe the data from the chart(s)?

 Have you included an overview sentence to tell the reader the main idea of the chart(s)?

 Have you used a variety of appropriate linking expressions? Have you used referencing pronouns and synonyms to avoid repetition? (Adapted from Lessons for IELTS advanced writing by NEWoriental)

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PRACTICE Can the numbers in the following charts be displayed in another kind of charts? If yes, display the data in as many kinds of charts as you can. Task 1

Worldwide mobile phone sales in 2005 and 2006 (% share of market) Company

2005 % Market Share

2006 % Market Share

Nokia

32.5

35

Motorola

17.7

21.1

Samsung

12.7

11.8

Sony Ericson

6.3

7.4

L.G

6.7

6.3

BenQ Mobile

4.9

2.4

Others

19.2

16.2

Totals

100

100

Task 2

FAVORITE PASTIMES FROM 30 - 50 YEARS OLD TV

Sport Reading Hobbies

Music

Beach

Sleep

Canada

60

22

15

40

3

0

2

France

/

/

30

20

4

/

/

England

/

/

30

21

4

/

20

Australia

65

30

15

45

5

30

4

Korea

22

21

60

45

2

2

4

China

15

25

60

50

0

5

5

USA

60

23

15

42

23

30

2

/

/

62

/

/

/

/

Japan

13

Task 3

Main reasons for migration to/from the UK - 2007 Immigration No reason , 6%

Definite job, 30%

Others, 11% Looking for job, 12%

Accompany , 15%

Formal study , 26%

Emigration

No reason , 18%

Definite job, 29%

Others, 14%

Formal study , 4%

Looking for job, 22%

Accompany , 13%

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Task 4

Electricity generated in Germany and France from all sources and renewables in 2009.

15

Task 5

16