REPORT WRITING

Chapter 10

1. Visual Reports

Used when information can be presented more effectively through a diagram than a traditional report.

Seven Visual Report Formats

Clusters Diagrams Flowcharts Data charts Maps

Time lines Cubes/Cubing

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Cubing

1. Choose a topic.

2. Examine the topic from each perspective.

3. Draft a paragraph.

4. Share drafts with the class.

5. Revise and edit the paragraphs.

6. Construct the cube.

Things to consider for visual reports

Layout Integration of illustration and

text Typography

2. All About . . . Books

Provide information about familiar topics

Provide directions for familiar activities

Dictated or independently written

3. Collaborative or Individual Reports

Written to engage students in authentic research

Useful in content area study

Collaboration Report Written by groups of children

Choose a question Teacher models how to write a section Students work in small groups to gather and

organize information for their questions Students write/refine sections Students compile their sections Teacher duplicates/provide copies to

students

Individual Reports

Follows same procedure as collaborative reports, but are completed individually by students

Formats for Collaborative and Individual Reports Question/Answer Alphabet Book Topic/Subtopics

4. Multigenre Reports

Reports in which students write in a variety of genres to explore a topic

Steps in Multigenre Writing

Collect a variety of informational materials to study

Write several pieces such as essays, letters, poems, journal entries, stories

Collect photos, charts, other visual representations

Compile work in poster display or book

5. Teaching Report Writing

Choose and narrow a topic Design research questions Gather and organize

information Draft, revise, and edit report Publish report

Teach the Inquiry Process Questioning Planning Collecting Synthesizing Evaluating Reporting

Research Workshop

Conduct minilessons to teach children how to prepare for the report writingHow to make visual reportsHow to pose research questionsHow to search for answers

6. Assessing Reports Develop checklist/rubric of

pertinent elements to be considered in report

Include GPS standards in checklist/rubric

Provide checklist/rubric prior to work