Learning about setting in a story
Discover the skills you need to write a clear and informative report.
In this article you can find out:
- What a report is
- How to research for a report
- How to structure a report
This resource is suitable for informative writing for P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 (First and Second Level Curriculum for Excellence).
Video - Story structure
Watch this video to learn how to write a report.
What is a report?
A report is a well-organised fact file.
Reports present the facts on a subject in a clear, informative and interesting way for the reader.
Where do facts come from?
Facts come from research. You can gather the relevant information you need from many places. For example:
- choosing books from a library about your report鈥檚 subject
- checking encyclopaedias
- researching and cross-checking your sources on the internet
It is important to stay safe and secure when you're online. Be careful what you search for.
Once you have all the information, it is time to write the report. You can write a report in whatever way you like: on paper, in a jotter or on a computer.
The important thing is that you present the information clearly.
How to structure information in a report
1 of 3
Title
Begin the report with a proper title so your reader knows what you are writing about.
Introduction
Now you need an introduction. This is a sentence or two that summarises what your report is about.
Sub-headings and paragraphs
- Break up your information with sub-headings.
- If you organise your notes this will be an easy task. Using your research to help you write clear, detailed paragraphs, in your own words under each heading.
- Remember this is factual writing, so do not include your opinion and the language should be formal A way of speaking or writing. In formal writing you should avoid using any words or phrases that seem casual or chatty. .
Illustrations
Think about your layout. Could you add some pictures to help illustrate the points in each part of your report? These could be:
- maps
- graphs
- diagrams
- drawings
- photographs
Remember:
The report should inform the reader in a clear and effective way.
Key words about structuring a story
- Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. 鈥 For example: 'We learned all about the seaside from the informative talk and slide show.'
- Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. 鈥 For example: 'I was trying to find a book in the library that was relevant to the seaside.'
- Sorry, something went wrongCheck your connection, refresh the page and try again. 鈥 For example: 'They were asked to remember the factual piece of information.'
Test your knowledge
Challenge
Write your own report.
- Choose a subject you鈥檇 like to find out about and prepare to research about it.
- Gather your facts and decide on a title. Now you can begin to create your report.
- Make it interesting by adding illustrations and use sub-headings to help with the layout.
There's more to learn...
How do I record and display data? videoHow do I record and display data?
Learn more about using graphs and charts to display information.
More on Factual writing
Find out more by working through a topic
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