Sana Anwar & Joe Baril

REPORT WRITING

What is Report Writing?An answer or account of something, usually as a result of research and learning (one would hope).

Reports can take many forms, from book reports that summarize the plot and reflect on and critique the action of a story to professional reports on findings in business and science fields.

Most often a report is written – it can also be presented to a class or other audience.

In what context is it most appropriate to use written reports?Virtually any subject can make use of written reports.

English and Social Studies classes make good use of them, but it would be an equally useful tool in any business or communication class, or in many science fields.

They are used both in scholarly realms as well as in professional environments.

How do students benefit by using written reports?Written reports can help students learn the writing process.Process writing improves student’s general writing proficiency.

Writing promotes individuality, self expression, individual thinking.

Writing makes us better organizers and communicators.

Paired with today’s computers, desktop publishing can enhance the process of writing reports with a creative element as yet never seen before.

•http://nces.ed.gov/pubs96/web/96845.asp•http://www.eduguide.org/library/viewarticle/273/•http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/download/nwp_file/12439/Kylene_Beers_Genteel_Unteaching.pdf?x-r=pcfile_d

How does report writing connect with 21st Century skills?Writing is a 21st century skill and digital technology has

allowed the average person to become a reporter by using mediums such as social networking sites, email, and blogs to compose and share their views on countless topics

21st Century Skills are made up of the 4 Cs:Critical ThinkingCommunicationCollaborationCreativity

Report Writing can allow for the implementation of all 4 Cs across different curriculums because it allows the writer to follow a structured format while still allowing for individual thought and expression

Source: http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Press/Yancey_final.pdf

Examples of Assignments using Report Writing: Sample 1Report Assignment on Reconstruction: 8th Grade History

The Civil War is over! The North has won and the South is defeated. Richmond, Atlanta, most of Georgia and South Carolina are burned and destroyed, everyone in the South is poor and starving, and you have 4 million new free blacks who don’t know what to do with themselves. We need to rebuild the country!

You have been hired to go as a contractor and ‘reconstruct’ the South. Your job will be to build up a new South where whites and blacks are both free and anyone who wants it can be educated and get work.

Write a status report to your boss (Jimbo or Jimbette) in the North telling him how everything is coming along and what solutions you are coming up with to problems you have seen in the South. Include specific examples of problems you imagine you would see with your own eyes, and how you would fix those problems.

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1Sentences & Paragraphs

Sentences and paragraphs are complete, well-constructed and of varied structure.

All sentences are complete and well-constructed (no fragments, no run-ons). Paragraphing is generally done well.

Most sentences are complete and well-constructed. Paragraphing needs some work.

Many sentence fragments or run-on sentences OR paragraphing needs lots of work.

Grammar & spell ing (conventions)

Writer makes no errors in grammar or spell ing.

Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar and/or spell ing.

Writer makes 3-4 errors in grammar and/or spell ing

Writer makes more than 4 errors in grammar and/or spell ing.

Ideas Ideas were expressed in a clear and organized fashion. It was easy to figure out what the letter was about.

Ideas were expressed in a pretty clear manner, but the organization could have been better.

Ideas were somewhat organized, but were not very clear. It took more than one reading to figure out what the letter was about.

The letter seemed to be a collection of unrelated sentences. It was very diffi cult to figure out what the letter was about.

Length The letter is five or more paragraphs.

The letter is four paragraphs.

The letter is three paragraphs.

The letter is two or less paragraphs.

Content Accuracy The letter contains at least 5 accurate facts about the topic.

The letter contains 3-4 accurate facts about the topic.

The letter contains 1-2 accurate facts about the topic.

The letter contains no accurate facts about the topic.

Reconstruction Progress Report

Sample Work (Also Available On The Wiki)

Examples of Assignments using Report Writing: Sample 210th Grade EnglishTopic: Investigative Report on The Great Gatsby

Instructions: The Great Gatsby is set in New York during the 1920s, a time of great prosperity in America. Your assignment is to compose an article for the Style section of the New York Times. You must write an investigative report on the lifestyles of the rich and famous in 1920s New York.

Examples of Assignments using Report Writing: Sample 3For English – Middle or High School GradesImagine that you are the author of the book you

have just read. Suddenly the book becomes a best seller.

Write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested in making your book into a movie. Explain why the story, characters, conflicts, etc., would make a good film. Suggest a filming location and the actors to play the various roles.

YOU MAY ONLY USE BOOKS WHICH HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN MADE INTO MOVIES.

Source: http://teachnet.com/lessonplans/language-arts/more-ideas-than-ever-book-reports/

Examples of Assignments using Report Writing: Sample 4Middle School or High School Social Studies

Topic: Report on a Current Event Instructions: Research a current event that is being reported in the news due to some kind of problem or conflict, such as the current issue in Libya. You will be writing a report that presents the issue or problem. You must include any relevant background information that helps explain the current situation. You must also offer a potential solution that could improve the current situation, or even solve the problem. Your solution should be realistic based on the context and nature of the problem.

Questions/Thoughts about Report Writing.Do you see any challenges with this

assignment?What challenges do you see?

How much time should we devote to this in class?How much should we let the

students accomplish independently?

What are the benefits of group reports as opposed to individual reports? Drawbacks?

How would you differentiate grading on a rubric?With IEP students?

fin "The Partnership for 21st Century Skills - Framework for 21st Century Learning." The

Partnership for 21st Century Skills - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2011. <http://www.p21.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=120>.

"Writing in the 21st Century." National Council of Teachers of English. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. <www.ncte.org/press/21stcentwriting >.

"Writing in the 21st Century: The Genteel Unteaching of America's Poor - National Writing Project." National Writing Project - Improving the Teaching of Writing in the Nation's Schools. N.p., 23 Apr. 2009. Web. 1 Mar. 2011. <http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/2854>.

Yancey, Kathleen. "Writing in the 21st Century." National Council of Teachers of English. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. <www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Press/Yancey_final.pdf>.

Zinkosky, Pamela. "View Article | EduGuide." Home | EduGuide. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2011. <http://www.eduguide.org/library/viewarticle/273/>.

Robb, K. (n.d.). More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports - Teachnet.com.Teachnet.com - . Retrieved March 3, 2011, from<http://teachnet.com/lessonplans/language-arts/more-ideas-than-ever-book-reports/>