Starter quiz
- Which part of a journalistic report will contain a summary of the event and a brief description of what happened?
- introduction ✓
- main paragraphs
- conclusion
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- Which of these might be the theme of a main paragraph of our report?
- a summary of what happened
- a protestor's perspective ✓
- a police spokesperson's perspective ✓
- a look towards the future
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- Match the subject-specific vocabulary to its meaning.
- sustainable⇔good for the environment ✓
- contribute to⇔add to ✓
- greenhouse gas emissions⇔gases that contribute to climate change ✓
- slogans⇔words shouted or written at a protest ✓
- Which reported speech below best matches this direct speech best? "We attended the protest to maintain order," explained Inspector Braddock.
- Inspector Braddock said that "We attended to maintain order."
- Inspector Braddock explained that the police had attended to maintain order. ✓
- Inspector Braddock said that the police needed things to be calm and sensible.
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- Which words best complete this reported speech? 'Professor Li __________ the council should invest in public transport instead of road-building.'
- knew that
- thought that
- argued that ✓
- hoped that
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- Which sentence below summarises the arguments in the report best?
- Because the council believes the road will be helpful, the protestors disagree.
- While the council believes the road will be helpful, the protestors disagree. ✓
- The council believes the road will be helpful and the protestors disagree.
- The council believes the road will be helpful; also, the protestors disagree
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Exit quiz
- Which of the following should we avoid when writing a journalistic report?
- using formal language
- giving our own opinion as a journalist ✓
- using chatty or imaginative language ✓
- using contractions when stating facts ✓
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- Which version of the sentence has the most appropriate tone and vocabulary for a journalistic report?
- The council says it's gonna do it anyway.
- The council says that it will continue with plans for the bypass. ✓
- The council - ridiculously - plans to continue!
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- Which sentence includes who, what, where, when and why information?
- Today, Oakville residents held a protest at Great Oak Wood against a new road. ✓
- Oakville residents held a protest against a new road at Great Oak Wood.
- Today, Oakville residents held a protest at Great Oak Wood.
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- Which version of the sentence uses a compound sentence as a cohesive device?
- The council says the road will help; the protestors disagree.
- While the council says the road will help, the protestors disagree.
- The council says the road will help, but the protestors disagree. ✓
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- Which of the following will we include in each main paragraph of our report?
- introducing the person whose perspective we're reporting ✓
- a summary of the event
- reported speech ✓
- direct speech ✓
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- Which sentences combine these two pieces of information correctly? 'Anna Samsonova was present at the protest. She is a climate activist.'
- Anna Samsonova, who is a climate activist, was present at the protest. ✓
- Anna Samsonova, a climate activist, was present at the protest. ✓
- Anna Samsonova (a climate activist) was present at the protest. ✓
- Anna Samsonova was present at the protest, who is a climate activist.
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A journalistic report has a formal tone and it combines factual statements with different perspectives on an event.
- The introduction gives a summary of the event and the arguments and gives a description of the event.
- The main paragraphs give different perspectives using both direct and reported speech.
- Throughout, a range of cohesive devices can be used to connect ideas together.
Common misconception
Pupils may find it difficult to choose appropriate cohesive devices to connect ideas.
Emphasise that often, we can choose from a wide range of cohesive devices that serve the same purpose; it is simply the writer's choice. Allow plenty of time for oral rehearsal before writing and give access to the bank of cohesive devices.
Keywords
Formal tone - the effect created by using serious, factual language
Subject-specific vocabulary - vocabulary we use when writing about a particular subject
Direct speech - when the exact words spoken by someone are written down, usually enclosed in inverted commas to indicate speech
Reported speech - when we write what someone said without using the exact words they spoke and without using inverted commas
Cohesive devices - language structures that contribute to text cohesion
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