AVB 10202 COMMUNICATIVE AVIATION ENGLISH II

LESSON 2: DISCUSSION SKILLS

LESSON 2(b): REPORT WRITING

1.0 Introduction

A report is a specific form of writing that is organised around concisely identifying

and examining issues, events, or findings that have happened in a physical sense.
Gould (2011) describes a report as a systematic, well-organised document which
defines and analyses a subject or problem. This includes:

• the record of a sequence of events

• interpretation of the significance of specific events or facts.

Not only that, reports also are often conveyed in writing, speech, television, or film.
Most official form of information or work are completed via report.

2.0 Steps in writing a report

Writing your report is an ongoing process of writing and re-writing. Therefore, it is

important to realise that you do not need to begin at the introduction and write until
you get to the conclusion. Often the body is written first since you might need to
redraft your report several times.

There are several steps to write a report:

1. Analyse the assessment task

2. Brainstorm your ideas
3. Research your topic
4. Organise your information
5. Write an outline
6. Write a first draft
7. Re-write to improve the draft

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LESSON 2: DISCUSSION SKILLS

8. Edit and proofread

3.0 Basic structure of a report

Reports generally have a similar structure, but some details may differ depending on
the purpose of writing the reports. Furthermore, similarities and differences of the
structure of the reports may depend on:

• the type of report – if it is a research report, laboratory report, business report,

investigative report, etc.,
• how formal the report has to be, or
• the length of the report.

The basic structure of a report might include:

1. Assignment cover page

2. Introduction
3. Discussions
4. Conclusions

*The sections of a report usually have headings and subheadings, which are usually
numbered.

3.1 Report cover page

Some reports might include this information as their cover page:

1. Title of the report

2. Name of the authors
3. Class
4. Date

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LESSON 2: DISCUSSION SKILLS

The information might be changed depending on the types of reports as well as the
requirements set by your institution.

3.2 Introduction

After choosing a topic, you will need to locate introductory sources that give basic
background information about the subject. Finding background information at the
beginning of your research is especially important if you are unfamiliar with the
subject area, or not sure from what angle to approach your topic. Some of the
information that a background search can provide includes:

• Broad overview of the subject

• Definitions of the topic
• Introduction to key issues
• Names of people who are authorities in the subject field
• Major dates and events
• Keywords and subject-specific vocabulary terms that can be used for database
searches
• Bibliographies that lead to additional resources

It is important to include the objective(s) / purpose(s) of writing the report as shown

in the examples below.

Examples of writing the purpose:

Example 1

The purpose of this report is to investigate the reasons behind the rise in
computer gaming addiction among teenagers. The report will also recommend
preventive measures for computer gaming addiction.

Example 2

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LESSON 2: DISCUSSION SKILLS

This report looks into the factors influencing students’ behaviour in lecture
theatres and suggests ways to promote positive learning behaviour among
students.

Example 3

This report studies the causes of unhealthy eating among teenagers and
recommends ways to promote more healthy eating habits.

3.3 Discussions

The style of writing will be at its best if you stay focused on your purpose. There are
only four main types of writing, namely:

• Expository
• Descriptive
• Persuasive
• Narrative

Each of these four writing genres has a distinct aim, and they all require different
types of writing skills.

3.3.1 Expository writing

Expository writing’s main purpose is to explain. It is a subject-oriented writing style,

in which authors focus on telling you about a given topic or subject without voicing
their personal opinions. These types of essays or articles furnish you with relevant
facts and figures but do not include their opinions. This is one of the most common
types of writing. You always see it in textbooks and how-to articles. The author just
tells you about a given subject, such as how to do something.

Key point:

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• Usually explains something in a process

• Is often equipped with facts and figures
• Is usually in a logical order and sequence

Example
Many people associate taste of This writing is expository because it is
pumpkins with fall. In October, explaining. In this case, you can already
companies from Starbucks to tell that the piece will be about how to
McDonalds roll out their pumpkin- make a pumpkin pie.
flavoured lattes and desserts. Here is
how is to make an easy pumpkin pie
using only five ingredients. First,
make sure you have all of the
ingredients.
Non-example
Everyone knows that the best part This is not expository because several
about fall is all of the pumpkin- opinions are stated, such as “pumpkin pie
flavoured desserts. Pumpkin pie is the is the best fall treat…” Although this
best fall treat because it is only excerpt contains a fact about pumpkin
delicious but also nutritious. Pumpkin containing vitamin A, that fact is used as
is filled with vitamin A, which is evidence to support the opinion. These
essential for a healthy immune system opinions make this example of persuasive
and good vision. writing.

3.3.2 Descriptive writing

The aim of descriptive writing is to help the reader visualise, in detail, a character,
event, place, or all of these things at once. It is a style of writing that focuses on
describing a character, an event, or a place in great detail. It can be poetic when the
author takes the time to be very specific in his or her descriptions.

Key points:

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• It describes places, people, events, situations, or locations in highly-detailed

manner.
• The author visualises what he or she sees, hears, tastes, smells, and feels.

Example
The iPhone 6 is unexpectedly light. This is an example because it describes
While size of its screen is bigger than aspects of the phone. It includes details
those of the iPhones that came before, such as the size, weight, and material.
it is thinner, and its smooth, rounded
body is made of aluminum, stainless
steel, and glass. The casing comes in a
whitish silver, gold, or a colour the
company calls “space gray”, the
colour of the lead of a pencil, with
darker gray accents.
Non-example
So you just brought home a shiny new Even though this example uses adjectives,
smartphone with a smooth glass you can tell that this is not an example of
screen the size of your palm. The first descriptive writing because the purpose is
thing you will want to do when not to describe the phone – it’s to
purchasing a new cell is buy a case. persuade you to buy a case.
Cracking your screen is an awful
feeling, and protection is inexpensive
when you compare it to the costs of a
new phone.

3.3.3 Persuasive writing

The aim of persuasive writing, or argumentation, is to influence the reader to assume

the author’s point of view. The author will express personal opinions in the piece and
arm him- or herself with evidence so that the reader will agree with him or her. To
convince others to agree with the author’s point of view, persuasive writing contains

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justifications and reasons. It is often used in letters of complaint, advertisements or

commercials, affiliate marketing pitches, cover letters, and newspaper opinion and
editorial pieces.

Key points:

• Persuasive writing is equipped with reasons, arguments, and justifications

• In persuasive writing, the author takes a stand and asks you to agree with his
or her point of view
• It often asks for readers to do something about the situation (this is called a
call-to-action)

Example
Following the 2012 Olympic Games This is persuasive writing because the
hosted in London, the UK Trade and author has a belief – that “this city should
investment department reported a £9.9 consider placing a bid to host the
billion boost to the economy. Olympics” – and is trying to convince
Although it is expensive to host the others to agree.
Olympics, if done right, they can
provide real jobs and economic
growth. This city should consider
placing a bid to host the Olympics.
Non-example
According to legend, the Olympics All of these statements are facts.
were founded by Hercules. Now Therefore, it’s expository. To be
almost 100 countries participate in the persuasive writing, you must have an
Games, with over two million people opinion that you’re trying to persuade
attending. So cities from Boston to people of – then, of course, you will
Hamburgh begin considering their bid support that opinion with evidence.
to be a host city more than 10 years in
advance.

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3.3.4 Narrative writing

The purpose of narrative writing is to tell a story, whether that story is real or
imaginary. The author will create different characters and tell you what happens to
them (sometimes the author writes from the point of view of one of the characters –
this is known as first person narration). Narrative writing can also include dialogue.

Key points:

• A person tells a story or event

• Has characters and dialogue
• Has definite and logical beginnings, intervals, and endings
• Often has situations like actions, motivational events, and disputes or conflicts
with their eventual solutions

Example
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said This is a narrative because it’s telling a
Jaelyn. story. There are different characters
“You never used to be such a girl!” conversing, and a plot is unravelling.
retorted Orin, pushing open the door.
Reluctantly, Jaelyn followed.
Non-example
Cutting Edge Haunted House holds While this would serve as a worthy setting
the Guinness World Record for the for a story, it would need a plot before it
largest haunted house on earth. It’s could be called a narrative.
located in a district in Forth Worth,
Texas known as “Hell’s Hald Acre” in
a century-old abandoned meat-packing
plant. The haunted house takes an

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hour to complete, winding through

horrific scenes incorporating the
factory’s original meat-packing
equipment.

3.4 Conclusion

The purpose of a conclusion is to summarise the information presented. A conclusion

should:

1. describe in general terms the most important points made or the most important
linkage of ideas,
2. do not include new information, therefore it does not usually contain references,
and
3. end with a comment, a resolution, or a suggestion for issues that may be
addressed in future research on the topic.

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