MUET [800/4 WRITING][QUESTION1][REPORT WRITING][2016]

Evaluation Criteria

The assessment criteria for Question 1 are based on:

a. Task Fulfillment (20 marks)
b. Language and Organization (20 marks)

Structuring the Report

Title:___________________________
Paragraph 1 Introduction
Overview / Overall Trend
Paragraph 2 Interpretation of data: Analysis / Synthesis
Paragraph 3 Conclusion

Writing the Report

1 Title  Provide information to the reader and indicate what the report is about
 Can be extracted from the rubrics/instructions of the question
 Not included in the word count

Example:
Study the following charts. Using the information given, write about
Lemo’s annual car sales. You should write 150-200 words.

Title: Lemo’s Annual Car Sales

2 Introduction  Introduces the report

 Answers the questions ‘what’, ‘when’ or/and ‘where’
 Can be extracted from the title(s) of the visual(s) given

Example:

Figure 1 shows the choice of venue where shoppers bought their groceries
in 2000 and 2005 while Table 1 shows the features of the shopping venues
in 2005.

3 Overview / Overall  Gives the overall pattern / movement of the visuals

trend  Should not include any specific data
 Shows a link between visuals
 Answers the questions ‘what’, ‘when’ or/and ‘where’

Example:

◊ Generally, there is a difference in the interest among youths

between 1994 and 2014.
◊ Generally, the students’ weekend activities are influenced by their
involvement in tuition classes in August 2010.
◊ Generally, there is a decrease in discipline cases in SMK Mangga
from 2010 to 2014

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4 * Interpretation of The interpretation of the visuals for analysis should include:

data: Analysis /
Synthesis o Key feature (KF) – item discussed
o Trend (T) – movement or change in the data
o Data (D) – items that are quantified in %, frequency of events, ranking,
etc.
o Duration / Time Frame (TF) – week, month, year, etc.
o Comparison (C) – differences or similarities of information of KF

Example:

◊ Tourists’ arrival to Malaysia increased from 985000 (2007) to

1.1 million (2010).
◊ Female executives preferred shopping on weekends to
weekdays with 58% and 42% in 2011 respectively.
***************************************************************
i) A synthesis can be identified when a candidate compares 2 key features with
2 sets of data. Comparison of items can be done within the same stimulus
(intra-stimulus).

Example:

◊ Urban consumers spent most of their monthly salary on dining

(32%) whereas rural consumers indulged the least on shopping
(24%) in January and March 2011.

ii) A synthesis can also be written by making links between the given visuals.

Example:

◊ Tourism collected the most revenue from the development of

island resorts (46%) in 2010 and this could be because of the
highest percentage of tourist arrival
◊ In the 1st quarter of 2009, McChicken was the most visited fast
food outlet (5000 visitors) while McBest was the least visited
outlet (15000 visitors) in the City Distirct because of their
location.

5 Conclusion A rewording of the overview / overall trend

Example:

In conclusion, the number of students visiting the website is influenced by the

promotional activities.

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Language Lookout
Useful phrases / words to describe chart
movements
◊ increase(s) / increased
◊ rise(s) / rose
◊ climb(s) / climbed
◊ grow(s) / grew
◊ decrease(s) / decreased
◊ drop(s) / dropped
◊ decline(s) / declined
◊ fall(s) / fell
◊ an increase of…
◊ a rise of
◊ a decrease of…
◊ a drop of…
◊ an upward trend
◊ a downward trend
◊ remain(s) / remained the same
◊ maintain(s) / maintained
◊ slump(s) / slumped
◊ boom(s) / boomed
◊ a dramatic rise
◊ a sudden decrease
◊ unstable
◊ fluctuate(s) / fluctuated
◊ peak(s) / peaked at
Describing rank/ranking or rate/rating
◊ the most/least important
◊ the most/least priority
◊ …pay the most/least attention to…
◊ …rank/rate…as their first choice
◊ The second/third/fourth in importance is…
◊ …rank/rate higher/lower than
◊ …rank/rate at the bottom
from…to ◊ The least /most (popular / favourite / preferred)
◊ …less / more (popular / favourite / preferred) than…
◊ has good / average / poor rating(s)
◊ ranked first / second etc.
Linking words / phrases
◊ but
◊ however
at ◊ whereas
◊ as compared to
◊ while
◊ in contrast
from…to
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*Writing the Analysis / Synthesis

Example
Table 1: Employers’ Expectation and Applicants Perceptions of Qualities
Required at the Workplace

Qualities Ranking of qualities employers look for in job Ranking of qualities applicants
opportunities believe employers look for
Diligence 1 3
Personality 2 4
Motivation 3 2
Experience 4 1

Candidates who only list the data in Table 1 without a description, analysis or synthesis will not well. Similarly,
candidates who describe the data without using the appropriate trend word will not score well either. Proficient
candidates are those who are able to analyse the data and show the synthesis of the data in their answer.

Data Interpretation Sample answer and Elements contained in Comments

sentence structure sample answer

Listing: There were four qualities, KF — This answer addresses the

Merely listing key
features out the 'trend
word' and without
‘comparing the key
features'
namely diligence, task in a very limited
personality, motivation way. Mere listing of
and experience points or key features.
This reflects a very
limited user.

Description: Employers ranked KF — This answer addresses the

Only comparing the
ranking of the key
features without using
the appropriate 'trend
word'
Analysis:
Able to compare the
ranking of the key
features and state the
'trend word'
diligence at 1 while
applicants ranked it at 3
Employers ranked
personality higher at 2
than applicants who
ranked it lower at 4
Comparison — task in a limited way.
Data - Neither an analysis nor a
synthesis. This reflects a
limited user.
KF — This answer fulfils the
Comparison — task in a satisfactory way.
Trend word — Analyses information
Data - with reasonable success.
This reflects a
satisfactory user.

Synthesis: Employers ranked KF — This answer fulfils the

Able to compare 2 key
features with 2 sets of
data while stating the
'trend word'
diligence and personality Comparison — task. Able to synthesize
higher at the top and 2 Trend word — information effectively.
respectively but Data — This reflects a proficient
applicants ranked them user.
lower at 3 and 4
respectively