Sanjida Sultana Rika

Lecturer, Department of English

Varendra University

What is a report?
A report is a written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated. It
is a systematic and well organised presentation of facts and findings of an event that has already
taken place somewhere. Reports are used as a form of written assessment to find out what you
have learned from your reading, research or experience and to give you experience of an
important skill that is widely used in the work place.

Generally, two types of reports are asked in the exam, namely, newspaper report or a magazine
report. Newspaper report is the one which is published in a newspaper and magazine report is
generally written for a school magazine.
A well written report will must possess the following traits:
 Adherence to the specifications of report brief;
 Analysis of relevant information;
 Structuring material in a logical and coherent order;
 Presentation in a consistent manner according to the instructions of the report brief;
 Making appropriate conclusions that are supported by the evidence and analysis of the
report;
Now, it is very important to follow a proper format. Not to forget that format carries marks.

FORMAT OF A MAGAZINE REPORT

1. Heading– A descriptive title which is expressive of the contents of the report.
2. By line– Name of the person writing the report. It is generally given in the
question. Remember, you are not supposed to mention your personal details in
your answer.
3. Opening paragraph (introduction) – It may include the ‘5 Ws’ namely, WHAT,
WHY, WHEN and WHERE along with WHO was invited as the chief guest.
 4. Account of the event in detail– The proper sequence of events that occurred
along with their description. It is the main paragraph and can be split into two
short paragraphs if required.
 Conclusion- This will include the description of how the event ended. It may include
quote excerpts from the Chief Guest’s speech or how did the event wind up.

FORMAT OF A NEWSPAPER REPORT

 Headline- A descriptive title which is expressive of the contents of the report.
 By line- Name of the person writing the report along with the designation. It is generally
given in the question. Remember, you are not supposed to mention your personal details
in your answer.
 Place and date of reporting- It is generally not mentioned in a magazine report
separately, but here, it is.
1.
1. Opening paragraph- It includes expansion of the headline. It needs to be short
as it is a general overview of the report.
2. Account of the event in detail– It is generally written in two parts: First,
complete account of what happened in it’s chronological sequence (preferably)
and second, the witness remarks.
 Concluding paragraph- This will include the action that has been taken so far or that
will be taken. It is the last paragraph.

MAGAZINE NEWSPAPER
REPORT REPORT

Heading Headline

By line (along with the

By line
designation)
 Opening
Date and place
paragraph

Account of the
Opening paragraph
event

Account of the event and

Conclusion
witness remarks

Conclusion

POINTS TO REMEMBER-
1. Make sure you use language which is suitable for the audience you are addressing to.
Usage of complex vocabulary for addressing children is not advisable.
2. Make sure you write in paragraphs.
3. Read as many samples as you can. It will give you an idea as to how they are actually
written.
1. Plan before you pen. Just make a list of all your important points on the rough sheet (last
sheet of your answer booklet) so that you do not forget relevant points while writing. This
also helps you in maintaining a sequence, which is very important.
2. Make sure you double check for grammatical accuracy and spellings. They carry marks.
3. Make small sentences. It restricts the scope of grammatical inaccuracies.

A Report should answer the questions:

 What – name of event and occasion, by whom conducted
 Where
 When -date and time Activities (Teaching & Social Work) held
 A comment on the quality of the activities organized
Report Writing Examples

Q1. MMD School, Nashik, recently organised a science symposium on the topic: ‘Effect of
pollution on quality of life’. You are Amit/Amita Raazdan, editor of the school magazine.
Write a report on the event for your school magazine. (120 – 150 words)
(SOURCE- CBSE 2018)
Answer:
Report on Science Symposium held at MMD School, Nashik
-By Amit/ Amita Raazdan, Editor of the school magazine
A symposium was organised on 1 March 2022 in the school on the topic “Effect of Pollution on
Quality of Life”. All the science students were a part of the elucidative programme.
The event stared with the felicitation of the guest speakers. Thereafter, the participants were
espoused by Sh. Suraj Prakash. He acquainted them with the objectives and goals of the
workshop. The resource person Dr. Hari Om Gupta reflected his profound knowledge on the
topic and highlighted how important it is to curb the menace of pollution.
An exalting demonstration of effects of pollution on our lives galvanized the engrossed
participants. After the lunch break Dr. K.K. Arora, Resource Person, exhibited the possible steps
that can be undertaken at the personal level to reduce pollution. It was followed by another
session on the basic concept behind pollution reduction which triggered the young minds into
thinking innovative ways.
An interactive concourse ignited the inquisitiveness of participants. They have committed
themselves completely to bring about a change in the situation. The informative workshop
culminated with a vote of thanks proposed by the head of the science department.

Q3. Cultural Society Sunshine Public School, Nellore organised an adult literacy camp in
its neighbourhood. Write a report in 120 – 150 words on the camp for your school
newsletter. You are P.V. Sunitha, Secretary. Use the following clues: no. of volunteers –
hours spent in teaching – location of the class – chairs, blackboards – no. of people
attending the camp – benefit.
(SOURCE- CBSE 2017)
Answer:
ADULT LITERACY CAMP
-BY P. V. SUNITHA, SECRETARY
An adult literacy camp was organised by Cultural Society Sunshine Public School, Nellore in the
school neighbourhood yesterday extending educational options to those adults, who have lost the
opportunity and have crossed the age of formal education. The activities of the camp were
carried out by the cultural society of the school and there were a total of 25 volunteers.
The camp began with the welcome speech for the chief guest, Mrs. Kavita Naik, a renowned
social worker. 400 people were a part of the camp. They were divided into different groups in
accordance with their competencies. They were taught the basics for being able to read and
write. Free books and stationery is being provided for quality education. All the arrangements
including desks and blackboard were done in advance. Apart from the educational needs, special
care was devoted to hygiene and sanitation. They were taught basics of cleanliness like types of
wastes and their management. Refreshments were also provided to the participants. The immense
enthusiasm and zeal in the people to learn iwas the main driving factor.
The chief guest distributed the certificates of participation among the volunteers. The camp
ended on a positive note. There was an atmosphere of learning and growing together.

Q5. Independence Day was celebrated in your school. District Magistrate, Ms. Indu Bala
Sharma was the Chief Guest. Write a report on the function in 120 – 150 words describing
all the activities that took place. You are Head boy/Head girl.
(SOURCE- 2017 COMPARTMENT)
Answer: GD Goenka School celebrated the Independence Day with great enthusiasm and
patriotic fervour. On the morning of August 14, 2021, our students presented hand-made greeting
cards and tri-colour flag badges to the senior management functionaries of the school.
The cultural programme at school commenced with everyone singing ‘Vande Mataram’ followed
by flag hoisting by the chief guest, Ms. Indu Bala Sharma, the District Magistrate. The spirit of
freedom and nationalism was well exhibited by the students as well as the teachers through a
spectrum of patriotic poems, speeches, quiz on freedom fighter, songs and dance. Committed to
the task of nation building, both faculty and student teachers pledged to serve their motherland
through spreading education and serving the community. A presentation on the historical
evolution of the national flag of India was shown. A documentary on the contribution of unsung
heroes of Indian freedom struggle like Tirupur Kumaran, Kamla Devi Chattopadhayay and
Khudiram Bose enlightened the audience. A few of them spoke on the history and significance of
the Independence Day and shed light on the special highlight of celebrations this year
It ended with a speech by the principal on the topic, “What does freedom mean to me?” The
celebration concluded with the inspiring words of the principal madam, followed by the National
Anthem and the distribution of refreshments.

1. Trade through Benapole to be suspended for 5 days for Durga Puja

However, passengers with passports will travel through the land port as usual.

Staff correspondent: Import and export between Bangladesh and India through the Benapole port
will be suspended for five consecutive days from Wednesday on the occasion of Durga Puja, the
biggest annual festival for the Hindu community.

However, passengers with passports will travel through the land port as usual.

Deputy Director of Benapole Port, Sajib Nazir, confirmed the suspension today, citing an official
letter they received from India, reports our Benapole correspondent.

According to the letter, import-export will be halted from Wednesday (October 9) to Monday
(October 13) via the Petrapole-Benapole port and will resume on Tuesday (October 14).

Benapole Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge Imtiaz Bhuiyan and Md Sajib Nazir, deputy
director of Benapole Land Port, also confirmed the closure due to Durga Puja and said
movement of passport- holding passengers will remain unaffected during the period.
2. 3 to die for 2014 Faridpur Murder
A Faridpur court has sentenced three men to death and a woman to life imprisonment for the
murder of a man on September 16, 2014.

Staff correspondent: The convicts facing the death penalty are Shaon Bepari of Luxmipur
village, and Md Shamim Mollah and Md Akmal Mollah of Karimpur Uttarpara village under
Sadar upazila in Faridpur. Rasida Begum of Luxmipur village has been sentenced to life
imprisonment.

Nowab Ali, the public prosecutor of Faridpur Additional District and Sessions Court, confirmed
the verdict, stating that Judge Ashok Kumar Dutta delivered the judgment in the presence of the
convicts, except for Shaon.

The court also fined each convict Tk 20,000, with an additional three months of imprisonment in
default of payment.

Shaon Bepari is the son of the victim, while Rasida Begum is his wife. According to the case
statement, the victim, 55-year-old Shahjahan Bepari, was an expatriate in Malaysia for 17 years.
He had returned to Bangladesh three years prior to his death and was preparing to go abroad
again.

Shahjahan was found murdered in his room on September 16, 2014, with sharp weapon injuries
to the back of his head, left eye, chest, and elbow. His brother, Dulal Bepari, filed a case against
unidentified persons with Faridpur Kotwali Police Station the following day.

Munir Hossain, a sub-inspector at the time, submitted the charge sheet on November 20, 2014,
implicating eight individuals, including Shahjahan's son and wife.

After examining the evidence and witness testimonies, the judge convicted the four and handed
down the sentences.

3. Toddler drowns after falling into bucket of water in Dhaka

A one-year-old child drowned in a bucket of water in the bathroom, after crawling in while other
family members were busy with their work in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area this afternoon.

Staff correspondent: A one-year-old child drowned in a bucket of water in the bathroom, after
crawling in while other family members were busy with their work in Dhaka's Mohammadpur
area this afternoon.

The deceased was identified as Humaisha Akter Fatema, daughter of Ratan Mia and Asma Islam
Shimu.

The incident happened around 4:30pm at their Katasur residence when Shimu was cooking and
her 9-year-old son was in another room. Ratan was at his shop.

Humaisha had just recently learned how to crawl and managed to get into the bathroom without
other family members noticing, the baby's grandmother Yeasmin Begum said.

After a while, the family members noticed the baby fell in the bucket and rushed her to a nearby
hospital. She was later taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the on-duty doctors
declared her dead around 7:00pm.

According to experts, children aged between eight and 18 months are often the victims of such
incidents when left out of sight.

They recommended always shutting the bathroom door, emptying or covering buckets and tubs
as key measures to prevent such infant deaths.

1.
BBA student gets married, calls it the best networking experience of his life
Nothing is impossible – if you believe in your ability to make the right connections, that is.

Staff correspondent: If there's anything that makes a BBA student in Dhaka happier than doing
their assignments in overpriced coffee shops, it's a good networking opportunity. After all,
nothing is impossible - if you believe in your ability to make the right connections, that is.

While swapping out most definitions of interpersonal relationships for the umbrella term
"networking" is not uncommon amidst students of this cutthroat stream, Sakeeb Hossain took it
to a whole new level when he dubbed his own matrimonial proceedings as such.

"I have always looked down on my classmates who settled down before me, and thought that
they were unambitious and too emotionally driven. But really, they were two steps ahead of me
the whole time. If you take a moment to think about it, a wedding reception is nothing but a
large-scale networking event where people actually want to network with you," Sakeeb said.

Rafiq Ahmed, Sakeeb's friend and classmate, is less enthusiastic about the groom's business-
minded outlook. He lamented, "Look, I'm a BBA student too and I appreciate the lucrative
opportunity of chatting up that one gullible uncle with money to waste on whatever tired startup
vision we have, but Sakeeb takes it way too far. I helped the decorators set up the stage for his
holud and he's been introducing me as his Chief Logistics Officer ever since."

When asked if his attempts have borne fruit, Sakeeb enthusiastically explains that he has not only
been able to foster meaningful potential professional relationships, but the reception has also
been an incredible success in crowdfunding. "My rich uncle laughed at me when I pitched my
startup, but he didn't hesitate to drop generous amounts on my wedding gift. And really, what is
marriage but starting up your lives together?"
When asked about the bride's opinion on him treating their marriage like a professional
partnership, he explained, "I think any young woman with an entrepreneurial mindset would be
able to appreciate this as a smart ROI (return on investment) for all the wedding expenses."
Upon taking a moment to think about it, he adds, "Besides, it's really no big loss if she chooses to
divorce me over this. A second wedding means a fresh batch of connections waiting to be made,
and money to be raised for a brand-new startup."