Unit 2.

Factual Report

Report writing belongs to non-fiction genre. Report writing aims to classifyand describe the natural,
cultural, scientific and technological phenomenaof our world (e.g. computers, earthquakes, floods,
animals, habitats etc.) incontrast to a description, which focuses on one specific thing. When youwrite
a descriptive text, you focus on describing one particular thing, forexample, “my computer”, but when
you write a report text, you write aboutcomputers in general, not only yours. Report texts are most
common formof writing faced by students especially in science. The purpose of reportwriting is to
give relevant and accurate information (Anderson, 1998).
An information report is a factual text that provides information aboutdifferent phenomena in our life.
It is used as a way to gain betterunderstanding of different phenomena.
Examples of topics for Structure of an Information report:
Information report: Formal written reports usually follow a specific structure.
- Natural disaster Introductory paragraph also known as general classification—it
- Ocean animals introduces
- Computer the topic/subject.
- Pollution Body Paragraphs----- A series of paragraphs that provide detailed
- Wild animals information on the topic.
- Human beings - Paragraph 1 (description).
- Paragraph 2 (description).
- Paragraph 3 (description).
Information reports do not have an ending or a conclusion but rounds off
with a statement that summarizes the contents of the report.
Glossary: it is placed at the end of the information report. It defines all
the
technical terms or words used in the report. It is optional.
Bibliography: It is a list of books, journals, magazines or websites used
in
the report. It is optional.
Features of an Sentence Structure:
information report:
Text structure: - Use of present tense such as live, is, are, etc.
- General classification - Use of passive voice such as is eaten, are grown, was written etc.
- Technical classification - Use of words which generalize…all, many, none, most, etc.
- Qualities/description of - Use of relational verbs such as have, consists of, is made up of, creates,
phenomenon indicates etc.
- Closing statement - Use of technical vocabulary relevant to the subject
- Glossary (optional) - Use of descriptive but factual language such as color, shape, size,
- Bibliography (optional) habits,
behaviors etc.

Example of Factual/information report

Cheetahs
 Structure Sentence structure

Introduction Cheetahs are considered as the world'sfastest land

General animals. The word cheetahcomes from Sanskrit
Classification word “Citrakayah”which means spotted or Present tense
variegated body.
Cheetahs can be found in most parts ofAfrica,
Southern Asia and Middle East.
Paragraph 1 Cheetahs have lean and tall body unlikeleopards.
Description Even though cheetahs are oftenmistaken as
leopards but their featuresare totally different. One Passive voice
of thedistinguishing marks of cheetahs is
theirteardrop shaped line on each side of theirnose
that extends from corner of its eyes
to its mouth.
Paragraph 2 Their muscular and powerful bodies areideal for Descriptive
Description fast and short runs. They havebendy flexible backs Butfactual language
that aid them inrunning. Cheetahs are designed for
speedand can run up to 45 miles/hour.Cheetahs'
feet are like running shoes andhave grips and
spikes to dig into the
ground. During the sprint only one foottouches the
ground.
Paragraph 3 Even though cheetahs belong to the catfamily but RelationalVerbs
Description their claws are semiretractableunlike any one of
the cats.
Cheetahs are carnivores and eat animalslike TechnicalLanguage
gazelle, small antelopes, hares etc.They use their
long and heavy tails as astabilizer and single-
mindedly pursue
their intended prey. Once the cheetahhas pounced,
It knocks its victim off balance and grips it by the Descriptive
throat as itfalls. However, due to their weak jaws butfactuallanguage
andsmall teeth, cheetahs are not as effectivein
killing their preys as quickly as lions
andleopards.Female cheetahs give birth to an Technicallanguage
averageof three young ones that they rear by B
themselves. Once fully grown, theanimals usually
live alone, though malessometimes form small
groups. Mostcheetahs live about twelve to
fifteenyears.
Closing Cheetahs are now an endangered speciesand many Words which generalize
statement conservationists are trying tohelp protect the
habitats of theseinteresting creatures.
Glossary Conservationist
Endangered
Semi-retractable
Carnivores
Rear
References Smith, Roff (2012) Cheetahs on edge,
National Geographic, November 2012
www. Cheetah.org
Locomotion dynamics of hunting in wild
cheetahs 2013, www.nature.com
Task 1.Repeat after me these words below then find out the meaning !
Words Pronunciation Meaning
hazard \ˈhazəd\ Danger or risk.
catastrophe \kəˈtastrəfi\ An event causing sudden damage and suffering.
trigger \ˈtrɪgə\ An event that is cause of particular action or situation.
rapid \ˈrapɪd\ Something happening in a short time or at a great speed.
damage \ˈdamɪdʒ\ Physical harm that impairs the value or usefulness of something.
incur \ɪnˈkəː\ Bring down upon yourself.
casuality \ˈka-zhəl-tē\ A person hurt or killed in war, natural disaster, or an accident.
destructive \di-ˈstrək-tiv\ Causing a lot of damage.
deadly \ˈded-lē\ Causing or able to cause death.
predict \pri-ˈdikt\ To say something that will happen in future.

Task 2.. The information in the following report got mixed up. Can you please rearrange the
text to create a meaningful report?

- Tsunamis can cause death of many people. They cause destruction of theenvironment and damage
cities and towns.
- Tsunami is a Japanese word that means 'harbor wave'. These waves arecaused by an earthquake in
the sea. They move towards the cities and townson the coastal area. They come with full force and
destroy anything thatcomes in their way.
- The sea floor moves when there is an earthquake and makes the water rise upto the surface. The
water travels in form of huge waves towards the land. Asthe waves approach the land, they crash into
the coast destroying everythingin its way.
- Tsunamis are known to cause extreme damage often wiping out the wholearea where they occur.
- Tsunamis are known to happen around Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.

Task 3. Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box:
1. My brother claims that he can ________________ the future.
2. The trash dump outside the housing complex is a health ________________.
3. Snake bites can be very ________________.
4. The tsunami was a major ________________ event in the lives of people livingin north Sumatra.
5. Chocolates are a known ________________ of migraine headaches.
6. We went canoeing through ________________ waters. It was such a thrill.
7. Cigarette smoking causes ________________ to lungs.
8. I am responsible for all the extra charges ________________ during the trip.
9. The Indian Ocean tsunami caused heavy ________________ in the coastalareas.
10. Earthquakes are ________________ in nature.

catastrophic, deadly, damage, trigger, hazard, rapid, incurred, casualties, destructive, predict

Task 4. Arrange the jumbled paragraph into good order.

1. The camel carries its own built-in food supply on its back in the form of a hump. The hump is
a large lump of fat providing energy if food is hard to find.
2. The camel is a large, strong desert animal. Camels can travel great distances across hot, dry
deserts withlittle food or water.
3. There are two chief kinds of camels: (1) the Arabian camel also called dromedary, which has
one hump, and (2) Bactrian camel, which has two humps.
4. They walk easily on soft sand and carry people and heavy loads to places that have no roads.
Camels also serve the people of the desert in many other ways.
Task 5.Complete the table below with the correct words. Number one has been done for you.

Country Indigenous Animal

1. Indonesia 1. Orangutan
2. ________ 2. Panda
3. Australia 3. ________
4. ________ 4. White elephant
5. ________ 5. Camel

Task 6.State whether the following statements belong to ″definition″ (def) or ″description″ (des) by
filling the boxes provided.
1. Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia.
2. A tiger is an animal.
3. Snakes are reptiles.
4. Vitamins are chemical compounds that the human body needs.
5. We can find kangaroos easily in Australia.

Task 7. Read the test and answer the questions

What Is Thunder and Lightning?
Lightning is a sudden, violentflash of electricity between a cloud andthe ground, or from
cloud to cloud. Alightning flash, or bolt, can be severalmiles long. It is so hot, with an
averagetemperature of 34,000° Centigrade, thatthe air around it suddenly expandswith a loud blast.
This is the thunderwe hear.Lightning occurs in hot, wet storms.Moist air is driven up to a great
height.It forms a type of cloud called cumulonimbus.When the cloud rises highenough, the moisture
freezes and icecrystals and snowflakes are formed.These begin to fall, turning to rain on theway
down. This rain meets more moistair rising, and it is the friction betweenthem which produces static
electricity.When a cloud is fully charged with thiselectricity, it discharges it as a lightningflash.
Taken from Peter Haddock Ltd., Ref.083
Source: www.astrosurf.com
1. What is meant by lightning?
2. When does lightning usually happen?
3. What does the word "this" in the last sentence ofparagraph 1 refer to?
4. What does the word "it" in paragraph 2 refer to?
Right order.
The camel is a large, strong desert animal. Camels can travel great distances across hot, dry deserts
with
little food or water.
They walk easily on soft sand and carry people and heavy loads to places that have no roads. Camels
also serve the people of the desert in many other ways.
The camel carries its own built-in food supply on its back in the form of a hump. The hump is a large
lump of fat providing energy if food is hard to find.
There are two chief kinds of camels: (1) the Arabian camel also called dromedary, which has one
hump, and (2) Bactrian camel, which has two humps.