Fiona:

Wing Jan, 2009 Chapter 8

TEACHING FOCUSES FOR INFORMATION REPORTS

Purpose & structure of info reports: demo general opening statement or classification of subject matter;
proceed on to descriptive writing, organised into interrelated sections / series of paragraphs. Help students
idtify opening general statements in example reports, and class of things referred to. Have them write sample
opening statements for various topics.

Identify the paragraphs & their content: use TEXT MAPPING (p.115); help students identify paragraphs and
their content in reports; demo paragraph writing; guide them toward using this writing in own reports; use
BUNDLING (p.131) to assist them to write paragraphs.

Discuss use of headings and /or topic sentences: which signal content of paragraphs. Help them write topic
sentences that intro a paragraph; Mask topic sentences in existing reports and have students suggest other
ones; Provide topic sentences and have students identify the type of info that would appear in the paragraph.

Help students identify type of info that would appear in Info Reports: brainstorm possible content for specific
reports (e.g. a country, animal, machine); provide guiding questions or headings to assist students to write
appropriate reports (e.g. a country might have the headings: location, landforms, climate, people, language).

THE LANGUAGE IN REPORTS

use of economical speech that does not include unnecessary descriptive devices
(e.g. irregular adjectives, adverbs, similes, metaphors)
limited use of personal pronouns
objective, formal manner
intro relative pronouns
list personal pronouns NOT usually found in reports
present tense, refers to ongoing action/states
locate & discuss use of verbs in reports
specialised vocab intro, locate, check meanings
encourage use of topic-specific terms in reports

THE USE OF FACTS & NEED FOR ACCURATE INFO
help students locate and classify facts in reports
explore difference between fact and opinion
researching carefully
various procedures for checking reliability of info
(e.g. read several sources, re-interview interviewees or interview others to check facts)


THE USE OF VISUAL TEXT
discuss types and purposes of visual text
look at examples
explore what author needed to consider (e.g. selection for special purpose)
ways of linking visual text to written/audio text
ways of drawing readers attention to specific parts of visual
use of colour, line, texture, space or perspective
use of symbols, icons, images
use Read and Represent (p.131) to read and interpret visual texts
PLANNING FOR REPORT WRITING
emphasise importance of knowing what they want to write about
make plan of info to be included
students suggest headings or labels for the types of info theyd like to include
write these on a What I want to write about ... chart (p. 114 data charts, also p.129 example)
help children identify prior knowledge on a What I know about ... charts (or data chart)
help students to focus their research
charts provide a framework for guiding questions for purposeful research
questions can be written on a What I need to know ... chart
(or write questions under each heading on a data chart)
demo how to plan to find required info
compile class list of possible sources of info (research guide chart) show range of possibilities
help children develop effective note-taking skills
demo how to read for specific info and write brief notes
alternatively Fact Trees (p.130)
after completing notes, help them determine relevance of each piece of info
how to organise info into cohesive report
use planning templates to provide scaffolding
students use the following to organise their writing:
- guiding questions
- content prompts
- modeled examples to refer back to
QUESTIONS TO HELP ORGANISE INFORMATION
What is it about? What is the title?
What is it? Which group does it belong to?
Where does it live? Where is it found? What is its home like?
What does it look like? What parts do you need to describe?
How does it move? What helps it move?
What and how does it eat?
How does it protect itself? What are its enemies?
What else would you like to include?
Reference
Wing Jan, L. (2009). Write ways: Modelling writing forms (3
rd
edition). South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia:
Oxford University Press.