Page 184 - New Grammar with a Smile 8

3 Writing Reports

A report is a description of an event that has already taken place. It is a factual
account of some event or happening that may have occurred somewhere but is of
interest to the general masses or the readers for whom it is meant.

The way a report is written depends upon two major considerations:
1. Who is going to read it.
2. Why she/he is going to read it.

Features of a newspaper report:
1. Comprehensive but brief; factual yet interesting
2. Includes only relevant points and information
3. Usually written in the third person and in indirect speech
4. The passive voice is used.
5. Language is formal, neutral and figurative; ornamental language is avoided
6. Past indefinite, past continuous and past perfect tenses are used.
7. Personal pronouns are to be avoided.

8. Journalistic vocabulary is used (words like allegedly, reportedly, etc.).
9. Logical development of ideas, i.e., causes/reasons, effects or consequences
10. Opinions of people
11. Content includes the ‘when, where, why, and how’ of the topic being written about

The format of a news report is given below.

Headline
Byline

Place; Date
Introductory paragraph–
Who? What? Where? When? Why?

Paragraph 2
Eyewitness Accounts

Paragraph 3
Future course of action

Headline—
a. States topic in a strong, short phrase or statement
b. Is catchy

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