Lesson 4: Report Writing

🟦 Introduction

Have you ever needed to describe an event clearly and accurately — maybe a meeting, a competition, or even a disciplinary issue? That’s where report writing comes in.

WASSCE tests your ability to:

• Report facts clearly, concisely, and logically

• Use appropriate format depending on the audience and purpose

• Organize events or ideas in chronological or thematic order

• Write in a formal, objective tone — no opinions or exaggerations

This lesson will guide you through the different types of reports, their features, and how to write one effectively.

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. What Is a Report?

A report is a formal account of something observed, heard, done, or investigated. It is written for a specific purpose and audience — often a teacher, principal, committee, or editor.

2. Types of Reports Common in WASSCE

3. General Report Format

4. Sample Report (Event Type)

5. Language and Style Tips

🟨 Practice Exercises

✏️ Exercise 1: Choose the Right Title

Which of the following is the best title for a school report?

A. A Day I Will Never Forget
B. Report on the Fire Outbreak in the Laboratory
C. My Fun Day at the Beach
D. How We Spent Our Holiday

✏️ Exercise 2: Fix the Errors

Correct the mistakes in this report extract:

“The debate was so cool and everybody was shouting. I think our school should have won, but the judges liked the other team more.”

✏️ Exercise 3: Write It Yourself

Write a report as the class prefect of your school’s Form Two students, reporting on a recent clean-up exercise to the Headmaster.
(Length: 150–200 words)

✅ Answers and Explanations

Exercise 1: Best Title

✅ B – It is specific, factual, and clearly labelled as a report.
❌ A, C, D – These sound like personal essays or narratives, not reports.

Exercise 2: Corrected Version

“The debate was intense and exciting. The audience was very responsive. Although our team performed well, the judges awarded victory to the opposing team.”

Exercise 3: (Student responses may vary. Check for correct format, past tense, logical order, and formal tone.)

🔁 Recap

You’ve learned:

• What a report is and when to write one

• The difference between event, news, and investigation reports

• How to structure a report clearly using title, introduction, body, and conclusion

• Formal writing tone and language tips for reporting events effectively

🪞 Reflection Prompt

Think of an event or activity your class recently took part in (real or imagined).
Write a brief outline (3 bullet points) of what you would include in a report about that event.