Reading and Writing Session

Hello my beloved students. You have already worked on listening and speaking on the previous meetings. Now, its time for you to learn more about reading and writing because today you will learn about Report text and constructing one of your original work about it! Yeah!!

Before we are going further, I’d like to start by giving you explanation about report text.

Report text is a text which presents information about something, as it is. It is as a result of systematic observation and analysis.

Generic Structure of Report Text

1. General classification: Stating classification of general aspect of thing; animal, public place, plant, etc which will be discussed in general

2. Description: Describing the thing which will be discussed in detail; part per part , customs or deed for living creature and usage for materials

Language Features of Report Text

• Introducing group or general aspect

• Using conditional logical connection; when, so, etc

• Using simple present tense

This is the example of report text:

Platypus

Many people call platypus duckbill because this animal has a bill like duckbill. Platypus is a native Tasmania and southern and eastern Australia.

Platypus has a flat tail and webbed feet. Its body length is 30 to 45 cm and covered with a thick, and woolly layer of fur. Its bill is detecting prey and stirring up mud. Platypus' eyes and head are small. It has no ears but has ability to sense sound and light.

Platypus lives in streams, rivers, and lakes. Female platypus usually dig burrows in the streams or river banks. The burrows are blocked with soil to protect it from intruders and flooding. In the other hand, male platypus does not need any burrow to stay.

taken from:understandingtext.blogspot.com

Analysis of the Text

Generic Structure analysis:

General classification; stating general classification, the animal of platypus.

Description; describing in detail characterization of platypus' body and habitual life

Language Features analysis:

Focusing in group; the animal of platypus

conditional, logical connective; but, in the other hand

Simple present tense pattern; Platypus lives in streams, male platypus does not need any burrow, etc

Grammar used: Simple present tense.


Simple present tense is used to express habitual activity, facts and something that only happening now. The structur of simple present tense is:

Subject+auxiliary verb+main verb (verb I)

For example: I eat my breakfast on the morning, I live in Semarang, The moon goes round the earth, etc

For further explanation about simple present tense, you can visit this website.

I hope that my explanation about report text is clear enough for you my students. Now it’s time for you to do your reading. Read this report passage carefully.

Tyrannosaurus Rex 

Tyrannosaurus rex, sometimes just called T-rex, is believed to be the largest and most fearsome predator on Earth's land ever to have existed. 

This dinosaur once lived in the Creataceous period approximately 68 to 65 million years ago. The T-rex lived in a humid, semi-tropical environment, in open forests with nearby rivers and in coastal forested swamps. The seasons were mild. 

Tyrannosaurus rex was up to 40 feet (12.4 m) long, about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 m) tall. The arms were only about 3 feet (1 m) long. Tyrannosaurus rex was roughly 5 to 7 tons in weight. 

As a carnivorous dinosaur, this giant predator most likely ambushed their prey, and devoured them with jaws full of white sharp teeth. With it's fast ability to run at an astonishing speed of 32 mph (50 kmh), a perfect slim and stiff tail that gave it an excellent balance and allowed it to make quick turns, equipped this gigantic predator and made it even more deadly, like a killing machine. 

Taken from understandingtext.blogspot.com

After you have done your reading, please do your individual comprehension about the passage here.
Great job students :D

As you have completed your reading task, now it's time for me to give you fun activity as writing task. 

Imagine that you have been choosen as one of the astronout by NASA to fly to the outer space. It's a great step for you to explore the enormous planets there. Pack your bags and get ready to the adventure out there!

When you are in space (Internet), you are observing planets. You have to observe at least three among alot of planets in detail as a task for you. In writing your observation about the planets, you will write three report texts.

As you are an astronout, you have to start your exploration. You should "visit" and "get the data" about the planets from Mercury to Pluto, the furthest planet from earth. Gather the information and take some pictures by using your "device" as a proof. Use all the data that you have gathered to make three excelent and reliable reports. Please don't modify any data in your reports. The data on your reports must be authentic. You may not also write your personal judgement or opinion towards planets that you observed on your reports. Your finished work must be submitted in  form of PDF files.

Your work will be evaluated based on its creativity, authenticity, content, and how well you package the reports. The purpose of this project is to learn more about Planets, to learn in constructing report text, and to enhance your internet exploration ability. There will be one grade for each student. Creativity will be 20% of the grade, content will be 50%, authenticity will be 30%.

Remember to include a bibliography that lists all of your sources. Be original! Please submit your works this Friday on my desk. Happy working my dear students :D