Unit 2 - how to write a report

1.

CAE
WRITING PART 2
A REPORT
english.teacher_irina

2.

You are a part of a research group which has asked
young offenders, as part of their community service,
to help raise money for charity. You have been asked
to write a report about the project.
You should include:
• information about the purpose of the project
• techniques used for raising money
• what happened as a consequence of the project
Add a conclusion
Write your report in 220-260 words.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
How many parts are there to the question?
Who are you and who are you writing to?
Why are you writing?
What style will be appropriate?
How many paragraphs will you have?
How would you present the information?
How many words should you write? Can you write less
or more?
8. What will make the reader think it is a well-writer
report?

3.

Report on six-month progress as a teacher
You have just completed six months in a new job. In preparation for
a progress meeting, you have been asked to write a report to your
manager.
Your report should explain what you feel you have achieved in the
job so far, describe an problems you have had, and suggest any
future training that would be suitable.
Write your report (around 220 - 260 words)
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the progress following the first
half year in my current position as an English Teacher as well as
enumerate achievements outline issues and make suggestions for
professional development measures.
Achievements
Throughout the first six months of employment at XYZ School, I have made important strides in professional development by
incorporating several new methods such as the task-based approach in daily teaching practice, which has improved my students'
experience tremendously. Apart from personal progress, numerous students have achieved their goals and advanced to higher
education providers under my guidance.
Problems
Despite all of this organisation of internal exams is underdeveloped as there does not seem to exist policy and students have expressed
their displeasure with other groups at the same level receiving easier or more difficult questions in their tests. Additionally, my mentor
has not always been available even though a certain level of guidance in specific areas, for example developing teaching materials, is
still required.
Future opportunities
Considering all of the above, two main areas of possible improvement can be identified. Firstly, student and teacher satisfaction could
be increased by establishing a resource bank for tests and exams and by training all the teachers to use them so as to ensure a
consistent experience for our students. Secondly, regular meetings with a mentor should be mandatory in order to provide guidance
and to help teachers become independent and confident with teaching materials.
Conclusion
In the final analysis, the situation of the teachers and students at our school is very likely to improve and overall satisfaction will
probably increase due to more efficient work processes if ideas included in the report are implemented.

4.

STRUCTURE
Part of a report
Aim
Introduction
Explain the purpose of a report
Paragraph 1
Give the relevant facts
Paragraph 2
Give the relevant facts
Paragraph 3
Give the relevant facts
Conclusion
Make recommendations/suggestions or
sum up
Example

5.

1. Title
The report should start with a title. For instance,
• Report on…. and then you write the topic of what you are reporting
• or you can write the topic and end it with a phrase : a report
Report on six-month progress as a teacher
Six month teacher progress: a report
2. Introduction
The introduction must contain all necessary information covered in the report:
• appropriate beginning in which you explain the purpose of the report
The purpose/principal aim of this report is to…/This report is intended to…/This report outlines…
• the topic of the report
• the main key points
The purpose of this report is to evaluate the progress following the first half year in my current position as an English
Teacher as well as enumerate achievements, outline issues and make suggestions for professional development
measures.

6.

3. Main body
In the main body of your report you should comment on and develop the points you have in the task under suitable,
concise subheadings and place each point into a separate paragraph.
Key points:
• explain what you have achieved
• describe any problems you had
• suggest any future training
Achievements
Throughout the first six months of employment at XYZ School, I have made important strides in professional development by
incorporating several new methods such as the task-based approach in daily teaching practice, which has improved my students'
experience tremendously. Apart from personal progress, numerous students have achieved their goals and advanced to higher education
providers under my guidance.
Problems
Despite all of this organisation of internal exams is underdeveloped as there does not seem to exist policy and students have expressed
their displeasure with other groups at the same level receiving easier or more difficult questions in their tests. Additionally, my mentor
has not always been available even though a certain level of guidance in specific areas, for example developing teaching materials, is still
required.
Future opportunities
Considering all of the above, two main areas of possible improvement can be identified. Firstly, student and teacher satisfaction could be
increased by establishing a resource bank for tests and exams and by training all the teachers to use them so as to ensure a consistent
experience for our students. Secondly, regular meetings with a mentor should be mandatory in order to provide guidance and to help
teachers become independent and confident with teaching materials.

7.

4. Conclusion
The conclusion should contain a final assessment of the report, providing information, conclusions and giving a final
answer. However, if a report contains recommendations or suggestions as a final key point, conclusion might be
omitted.
Conclusion
In the final analysis, the situation of the teachers and students at our school is very likely to improve and overall satisfaction will
probably increase due to more efficient work processes if ideas included in the report are implemented.
To sum up, … / To summarise, … / In conclusion, … / By and large, …

8.

What to avoid?
What to include?
Descriptive language
Passive Voice
Colourful expressions
Participle clauses
Idioms
Comparatives
Phrasal verbs
Clefts
Contractions
Linkers
Giving personal opinion
Conditionals

9.

COHERENCE
English-language TV programmes in my country: report
Effects on local culture
Introduction
1 ………………… of this report is to comment on the popularity of
imported English-language television programmes in my country, to
explain how they are affecting local culture and to recommend
changes that could be made in the way these programmes are shown
Popularity of imported programmes
Approximately fifty percent of the programmes shown on TV in this
country have been made in an English-speaking country and were
originally in English. The popularity of these programmes can be 2
………………… by their larger budgets, which 3 ………………… they are
generally more spectacular than locally made programmes and may
include internationally famous stars in their casts. On most channels,
viewers can choose which language they wish to watch the
programme in, with 4 ………………… that people with a good command
of English tend to watch programmes in their original versions.
accounted for the aim
meant resulted
The popularity of English-language programmes has 5 …………………
that it is hard for local programme-makers to compete, given their
limited budgets 6 …………………, local culture has been heavily
influenced by American values of consumerism. Moreover, exposure
to mistranslations of English-language films has 7 ………………… in
words in our languages being used with new or wrong meanings.
However, a positive effect has been that people have become more
open and ready to change 8 ………………… the fact that they see other
ways of living and thinking.
Recommended changes
I would recommend that the government should subsidise national
television companies 9 ………………… to encourage them to make more
quality programmes. This would have 10 ………………… of reducing our
reliance on imported programmes while at the same time promoting
local values and culture.
as a consequence
so as the effect
due to means
the result

10.

ORGANISATION
Report on improving college facilities
(4) __________________________
The purpose of this report is to suggest ways in which college
facilities could be improved for students, staff and visitors. The
report is based on comments from these three groups and on my
own observations.
Dissatisfaction with car parking facilities was expressed by staff and
visitors. Staff would like reserved spaces away from other parking
areas, while visitors would be grateful for extra spaces to be made
available to them, especially on certain weekday mornings. Visitors
also said they would like key places, like the main reception, to be
more clearly signposted from parking areas.
(2) __________________________
(5) __________________________
Both students and staff commented on the need for increased
provision of computers. Students would welcome more study
areas equipped with computers, while staff felt strongly that they
would also be able to work more efficiently if they had their own
computer programmes.
(6) __________________________
(1) __________________________
(3) __________________________
Staff expressed the view that the cost of food in the canteen was
unnecessarily high and recommended a reduction. Students did
not mention price, but would appreciate a wider choice of food.
Students suggested that the gym and other sports facilities should
be enlarged to take account of the increase in student numbers in
recent years.
I would recommend implementing all the suggestions listed above
with the exception of providing more car parking spaces. It is clear
from past experience that demand for parking is never satisfied. I
would suggest urging drivers to make alternative travel
arrangements.

11.

REGISTER
Report on workplace improvements
Staff suggestions
Staff were 10 consulted / asked and they made the following
suggestions: first, the air-conditioning should be replaced by a more
Introduction
modern, quieter system which provides cool air in the summer and
The aim of this report is to 1 sum up / outline 2 the deficiencies in /
heating in the winter. It was felt that this would 11 reduce / cut down
what's wrong with our present office environment and the
suggestions which have been made for improvements, and to 3 make on tiredness and improve morale, which would enable staff to work
more productively. To deal with distractions from conversations there
recommendations / give ideas for two changes.
were two suggestions: either dividing the office with screens round
each work station, or having separate meeting rooms for
The office environment
12 necessary work discussions / the chats people need at work. Staff
At present, the office suffers from 4 a number of / lots of problems.
also requested more ergonomic office chairs.
Firstly, the air-conditioning system is 5 antiquated / worn out and
therefore noisy. This causes headaches and occasionally makes it
Recommendation
difficult to 6 talk on the phone / hold telephone conversations. Also,
13 As a first measure, I would recommend / The first thing I'd
the open office plan makes it difficult for people to 7 get on with /
recommend is replacing the air conditioning and the office chairs.
concentrate on their work as they are frequently 8 put off /
distracted by conversations in other parts of the office. Finally, many These two changes will 14 have a direct effect on productivity
increase the amount of work people do by reducing 15 absence due
of the office chairs are uncomfortable and employees who spend
9 lots of time / long hours in front of their computers often complain to sick leave / time off because people are ill and 16 giving staff the
chance / enabling staff to work more efficiently and more
of backache.
comfortably.

12.

Understand the task
Plan the report
You are a part of a research group which has asked
young offenders, as part of their community service,
to help raise money for charity. You have been asked
to write a report about the project.
Choose the best subheadings for your report
You should include:
• information about the purpose of the project
• techniques used for raising money
• what happened as a consequence of the project
Add a conclusion
Write your report in 220-260 words.
Conclusion/Proposals/Suggestions
Foreword/Prologue/Introduction
Overview/Aims of the project/General impression
Raising money/Methods of fundraising/How the money
was raised
What I felt/Suggestions/Results
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: _______________
Paragraph 3: _______________
Paragraph 4: _______________
Paragraph 5: _______________
Brainstorm ideas
help organise jumble sale
provides important life skills (e.g. learning to be part of society)
£200 raised
worked hard to do something positive; some had picked up litter
before - this far more rewarding
interviewed young offenders/officer responsible/charity rep.
charity collections (under supervision)
useful paid work in community
can help them understand impact of offending behaviour
can help change behaviour
collection boxes → local businesses