Ideas on School Reports

Interviews can make reports more interesting.

After many years in school, report-writing can get stale. To make your reports more fun and to let your teachers know that you are engaged and interested in the project, add extra depth. In doing so, you can enhance the learning experience and add an element of entertainment for both you and your teacher.

Interviews

When you are writing a report, interviews can add an extra dimension; by talking to someone with direct experience or expertise, you can get a first-hand perspective that is more personal and dynamic than information out of a book. Choose interview subjects who will be able to speak fluently about your topic. If you are writing about World War II, for example, you might find a veteran or a history professor at a local university who specializes in military history. Come to the interview prepared with a list of questions that relate directly to your report, and be ready to give the subject a summary of your thesis so they can better tailor their answers.

Slide Presentation

If you have freedom with the format of your report, turn it into a slide presentation. Start with an outline of your paper and make one slide for each top-level item and one for each sub-heading. Fill in the slides with the text of your report, adding images, graphs or video clips to illustrate your points. This is particularly helpful if you are writing about a subject that deals in visuals, like art history or geography. Choose images carefully, making sure that they appear on the slide with relevant text for ease of understanding.

Compare Perspectives

To make your report more comprehensive, compare different perspectives on your topic. If you are writing about the history of the United States, for example, you might give examples from the point of view of the European settlers and some from the viewpoint of the American Indians who were displaced. In doing so, you can present a well-rounded viewpoint, giving the reader a chance to see all sides. You can do the same for almost any topic, from scientific theories to current events.

Scientific Method

If you are writing a report about a topic that required you to do an experiment, use the scientific method as the format. Start the report by explaining the question or topic you plan to explore, and give a hypothesis as to the outcome, based on your initial research. Then, explain your experiments and observational methods and why you chose them. Finish the report by stating the data you collected and presenting your analysis in relation to the hypothesis.

References

• Education World: Better Book Reports
• Science Buddies: Steps of the Scientific Method