Report Text

PURPOSE
to provide information about natural and non-natural phenomena, to document, to organize and store factual information on a topic, to classify and describe the phenomena about a whole class of things –living and non living, to describe the way things are.

Reports can be used in textbooks, encyclopedias, scientific magazines, historical texts, factual reading books, reference books, classroom lesson, environment program, TV documentaries, magazines etc.

GENERIC STRUCTURE
1.General Classification : tells what the phenomenon under discussion is
2.Descriptions : tells what the phenomenon under discussion is like in terms of: Parts (and their function), Qualities and Habits or behaviour

NOTES

1. Difference between reports and descriptions: Repots classify and describe a whole class of things e.g. “Houses”. By contrast, descriptive texts talk about on specific person, place or thing e.g. “My houses”. In short, reports deal with general classification and description of a thing while descriptions describe a particular thing.

2. The description can cover the facts about various aspects of the object (colour, shape, habits, behaviour etc), giving examples, comparing and contrasting, describing components and their functions.

LANGUAGE FEATURES

• Generalized participants: a whole class of things (volcanoes, newspapers, the royal family)
• Action verbs/material processes
• Simple present tense. It states general thing, like: comodo dragon usually weight more tha 160 kg.
• Language for defining, classifying, comparing, contrasting (are called, belong to, can be classified as, are similar to, are more powerful than)
• May contain technical vocabulary e.g. water contains oxygen and hydrogen
• Is written in a formal and objective style

Example of Report Text / Contoh Report Text

Volcanoes

General Classification

A volcano is a mountain which is formed by the eruption of material from the earth’s interior through a central opening or groups of openings. Volcanoes are scattered over the world. Volcanoes can be divided into three categories based on volcano forms and type of volcanic activities. They are Shield, Composite and Explosion volcanoes

Description

A shield volcano is formed chiefly of layers of basalt (a dark, heavy lava). A few shield volcanoes are composed of andesite ( a related, less dense type of lava).

A composite volcano has more frequent and violent explosive eruptions than shield volcanoes do. Lava may be extruded from either central crater or fissures on a volcano’s sides.

Explosion volcanoes are composed of inclined layers of pyroclastic debris and contain no lava. During the eruption, debris is ejected from the crater. Most explosion volcanoes are formed during one period of eruption.

*resource

Example/Contoh Report Text lainnya:

Genre of Text

GENRE	PURPOSE	INFO
Narrative	To entertain/amuse the reader.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Orientation: sets the scene and introduces the participants. Evaluation: a stepping back to evaluate the plight. Complication: a crisis arises. Resolution: the crisis is resolved, for better or for worse. Re-orientation: optional. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using Past Tense 2. Using action verb 3. Chronologically arranged
Recount	To retell events for the purpose of informing or entertaining.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Orientation: provides the setting and introduces participants Events: tell what happened, in what sequence. Re-orientation: optional-closure of events. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using Past Tense 2. Using action verb 3. Using adjective
Spoof	To retell something funny for the purpose of entertaining.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Orientation: provides the setting and introduces participants Events: tell what happened, in what sequence. Twist: the funniest part of the text. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using Past Tense 2. Using action verb 3. Using adverb 4. Chronologically arranged
Anecdote	To share with others an account of an unusual or amusing incident.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Abstract: signals the retelling of an unusual incident. Orientation: sets the scene. Crisis: provides details of the unusual incident Reaction: reaction to crises Coda: optional – reflection on or evaluation of the incident. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using exclamations, rhetorical question or intensifiers 2. Using material process 3. Using temporal conjunctions
News Item	To inform readers, listeners or viewers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Newsworthy Event(s): recounts the event in summary form Background Events: elaborate what happened, to whom, in what circumstances. Sources: comments by participants in, witnesses to and authorizes expert on the event. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Short, telegraphic information about story captured in headline 2. Using action verbs 3. Using saying verbs 4. Using adverbs : time, place and manner.
Description	To describe a particular person, place or thing.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Identification: Identifies phenomenon to be described. Description: describes parts, qualities, characteristics. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using Simple Present Tense 2. Using action verb 3. Using adverb 4. Using special technical terms
Report	To describe the way things are, with reference to a range of natural, man-made and social phenomena in our environment.	GENERIC STRUCTURE General classification: tells what the phenomenon under discussion is. Description: tells what the phenomenon under discussion is like in terms of (l) parts, (2) qualities, (3) habits or behaviors, if living; uses, if non-natural LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Introducing group or general aspect 2. Using conditional logical connection 3. Using Simple Present Tense
Explanation	To explain the processes involved in the formation or workings of natural or socio-cultural phenomena.	GENERIC STRUCTURE A general statement to position the reader. A sequenced explanation of why or how something occurs. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using Simple Present Tense 2. Using action verbs 3. Using passive voice 4. Using noun phrase 5. Using adverbial phrase 6. Using technical terms 7. Using general and abstract noun 8. Using conjunction of time and cause-effect.
Discussion	To present (at least) two points of view about an issue.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Issue Arguments for and against or Statement of differing points of view. Conclusion or Recommendation LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using Simple Present Tense 2. Use of relating verb/to be 3. Using thinking verb 4. Using general and abstract noun 5. Using conjunction/transition 6. Using modality 7. Using adverb of manner
Hortatory Exposition	To persuade the reader or listener that something should or should not be the case or be done.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Thesis: announcement of issue concern. Arguments: reasons for concern, leading to recommendation. Recommendation: statement of what ought or ought not to happen. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using Simple Present Tense 2. Using modals 3. Using action verbs 4. Using thinking verbs 5. Using adverbs 6. Using adjective 7. Using technical terms 8. Using general and abstract noun 9. Using connectives/transition
Analytical Exposition	To reveal the readers that something is the important case.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Thesis: Position: Introduces topic and indicates writer’s position. Preview: Outlines the main arguments to be presented. Arguments: Point: restates main arguments outlined in Preview. Elaboration: develops and supports each Point/argument Reiteration: restates writer’s position. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Using modals 2. Using action verbs 3. Using thinking verbs 4. Using adverbs 5. Using adjective 6. Using technical terms 7. Using general and abstract noun 8. Using connectives/transition
Review	To critique an art work, event for a public audience. Such works of art include movies, TV shows, books, plays, operas, recordings, exhibitions, concerts and ballets.	GENERIC STRUCTURE Orientation: places the work in its general and particular context, often by comparing it with others of its kind or through analogue with a non-art object or event. Interpretive Recount: summaries the plot and/or provides an account of how the reviewed rendition of the work came into being; is optional, but if present, often recursive. Evaluation: provides an evaluation of the work and/or its performance or production; is usually recursive. Evaluative Summation: provides a kind of punchline which sums up the reviewer’s opinion of the art event as a whole; is optional. LANGUAGE FEATURES: 1. Focus on specific participants 2. Using adjectives 3. Using long and complex clauses 4. Using metaphor