Make Your Way 8, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM

• After you have written , check your article carefully for – spelling and grammar mistakes – a clear organisation of ideas – an interesting and engaging first paragraph – a good title – a consistent style and tone – a variety of sentence structure and vocabulary III Report A report summarizes or explains information which has been compiled as a result of research and/or analysis of data and of issues. Reports may cover a wide range of topics and will always focus on transmitting information with a clear purpose , to a specific audience . Purpose and audience Reports can aim at different purposes , and the form of the written report will vary according to the situation. It is important to identify the purpose of the report so that it can be tailored accordingly. If the purpose is to offer details on some specific area of interest, the report can be very narrowly focused and provide the desired information in a brief format . If, on the other hand, the report is intended to “sell an idea” , it has to be more detailed and convincing as to how the proposed idea is an improvement and should be adopted. The intended audience of a report are decision-makers (e.g. superiors or institutions). The report may help them to become familiar with the relevant aspects of a choice they need to make, or it may explain what went into a decision that has already been made. The intended audience of a report will help define what is relevant , how much background information you need to provide and how detailed your recommendations should be. Expert audiences may only need access to data in order to make an informed decision, while a less experienced audience may need more detailed guidance and recommendations. Proceed as follows: • Write an outline . An outline doesn’t necessarily have to be a list – it can also be a mind map. Whatever format you use, find a way to write down your ideas. Start with the topic that the report should be about, then write down two or three ideas from your research . After you’ve done that, write down some details about each idea. • Organize your outline. Once all your basic thoughts are on the page, figure out the best order for your report. • Look at your data and arrange it under topic-based headings . • Note down the key vocabulary you will need. • Include a subject line that clearly describes what your report is about, e.g. Subject: Recent acts of vandalism at Princess Margaret Secondary School Subject: Media exposure on children: Some personal findings Subject: Animal testing: Latest figures • Keep your introduction short and to the point : explain why you are writing about the subject and where your information has come from. • Write one paragraph under each of your topic-based headings. • In your conclusion , give your opinion about the results and summarise what they mean. Also give a recommendation, if appropriate. 128 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des V rlags öbv