Reports
AdvancedReports.
- Report structure: Introduction (purpose + method) → Findings → Conclusion → Recommendation
- Objective, passive style: A survey was carried out — no I in a report
- Findings in percentages: 60% tuck shop · 15% home-made · half never eat fruit
文體小知識：Formal structure: introduction, findings, conclusion, recommendation.
§Text Passage
1Report on the Eating Habits of S3 Students. Introduction: This report describes what S3 students in our school usually eat for lunch, and it suggests ways to improve their diets. A survey was carried out last Friday, and 120 students took part as respondents. The class committee also interviewed the tuck shop manager. Students were also asked how often they skip breakfast.
2Findings: Sixty per cent of the respondents buy lunch from the tuck shop at least three times a week. Fish balls, instant noodles and lemon tea are the most popular choices. Only fifteen per cent bring a home-made lunch, usually rice with vegetables. However, half of the students said they never eat fruit on school days, and one in four drinks sweetened drinks every day. Several students explained that they choose fast food because it is cheap and quick.
3Conclusion: Overall, the eating habits of most students are unhealthy, and action should be taken soon. Recommendation: It is recommended that the tuck shop should sell more fruit and salads at a lower price. Cooking demonstrations could also be held each term to teach simple healthy recipes. Finally, the school could display posters that compare the sugar content of popular drinks. With these measures, students' diets could improve within one school year.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Report on the Eating Habits of S3 Students.
中三學生飲食習慣報告。
Introduction: This report describes what S3 students in our school usually eat for lunch, and it suggests ways to improve their diets.
引言：本報告描述本校中三學生午餐通常吃些什麼，並提出改善飲食的建議。
A survey was carried out last Friday, and 120 students took part as respondents.
上周五進行了一項問卷調查，有一百二十名學生以受訪者身份參與。
The class committee also interviewed the tuck shop manager.
班會亦訪問了小食部經理。
Students were also asked how often they skip breakfast.
學生還被問到多常不吃早餐。
Findings: Sixty per cent of the respondents buy lunch from the tuck shop at least three times a week.
調查結果：六成受訪者每星期至少三次在小食部買午餐。
Fish balls, instant noodles and lemon tea are the most popular choices.
魚蛋、即食麵同檸檬茶是最受歡迎的選擇。
Only fifteen per cent bring a home-made lunch, usually rice with vegetables.
只有一成半人帶自家製午餐，通常是飯配蔬菜。
However, half of the students said they never eat fruit on school days, and one in four drinks sweetened drinks every day.
不過，一半學生說他們在上學日從來不吃水果，而四人之中有一人每日都喝含糖飲品。
Several students explained that they choose fast food because it is cheap and quick.
有幾位學生解釋，他們選快餐是因為又便宜又快捷。
Conclusion: Overall, the eating habits of most students are unhealthy, and action should be taken soon.
結論：整體而言，大部分學生的飲食習慣都不健康，應該盡快採取行動。
Recommendation: It is recommended that the tuck shop should sell more fruit and salads at a lower price.
建議：建議小食部以更低價錢售賣更多水果同沙律。
Cooking demonstrations could also be held each term to teach simple healthy recipes.
每學期亦可以舉辦烹飪示範，教簡單的健康食譜。
Finally, the school could display posters that compare the sugar content of popular drinks.
最後，學校可以張貼海報，比較受歡迎飲品的糖分含量。
With these measures, students' diets could improve within one school year.
有了這些措施，學生的飲食習慣可以在一個學年內改善。
1Summary 重點摘要
Reports.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Formal account.
Opening.
What you found.
Summary.
Suggestion.
Questionnaire.
Person surveyed.
Generally.
3Step by step Steps
- TitleReport titles follow a pattern: Report on [topic]. Example: Report on the Eating Habits of S3 Students — one line announces the whole subject.
- IntroductionThe introduction gives purpose plus method. Example: This report describes what S3 students usually eat for lunch… A survey was carried out last Friday, and 120 students took part as respondents — the passive keeps it objective.
- FindingsFindings contain facts only. Example: Sixty per cent buy lunch from the tuck shop at least three times a week; only fifteen per cent bring a home-made lunch — percentages are the language of reports.
- Conclusion + RecommendationConclusions follow the data: Overall, the eating habits of most students are unhealthy. Recommendations use should: the tuck shop should sell more fruit and salads at a lower price.
- Objective styleNo I think in a report — use the third person and the passive: A survey was carried out · Students were also asked… Opinions may appear only in the Recommendation.
- Contrasting dataData persuade when they contrast: 60% tuck shop versus 15% home-made; half never eat fruit on school days; one in four drinks sweetened drinks every day — contrasts make the problem visible.
- Three recommendation formsRecommendations come in three shapes: should (the tuck shop should sell…), could (Cooking demonstrations could also be held…) and It is recommended that… The model uses all three.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Task: write a report on the eating habits of S3 students based on the survey — Introduction (purpose + method), Findings (data), Conclusion, Recommendation.
- Step 1: The Introduction gives the objective and method — A survey was carried out last Friday, and 120 students took part as respondents.
- Step 2: The Findings use data — Sixty per cent buy lunch from the tuck shop at least three times a week.
- Step 3: Add contrasting data — Only fifteen per cent bring a home-made lunch; half never eat fruit on school days.
- Step 4: The Conclusion follows the data — Overall, the eating habits of most students are unhealthy.
- Step 5: The Recommendation uses should / recommend — The tuck shop should sell more fruit and salads at a lower price.
- Answer: Report on the Eating Habits of S3 Students
Introduction: This report describes what S3 students usually eat for lunch. A survey was carried out last Friday and 120 students took part.
Findings: Sixty per cent buy lunch from the tuck shop at least three times a week; only fifteen per cent bring a home-made lunch. Half of the students never eat fruit on school days, and one in four drinks sweetened drinks every day.
Conclusion: Overall, the eating habits of most students are unhealthy.
Recommendation: The tuck shop should sell more fruit and salads at a lower price, and cooking demonstrations could be held each term.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Four parts?
Q2What in intro?
Q3Tense for findings?
Q4Title?
Q5Tone for recommendations?
Q6First person?
8Recap Recap
- Report structure: Introduction (purpose + method) → Findings → Conclusion → Recommendation
- Objective, passive style: A survey was carried out — no I in a report
- Findings in percentages: 60% tuck shop · 15% home-made · half never eat fruit
- Conclusions follow the data: unhealthy, action should be taken soon
- Recommend with should / recommend: sell more fruit and salads at a lower price