Julie Bogart <[email protected]>

I have a few thoughts on this.


> Hello My name is Donna -our family has been homeschooling
for 5 yrs.
> My 7th grader has been hearing her friends in PS Taking about
writing
> reports and would love to write one her self. We think this is a
> great idea. However I can not find anything on how to write one
with
> all the steps. research, ect.... What should be in it that kind of
> thing.

Hi Donna.

One thing I like to tell moms about report writing is that the work
ought to be in this ratio: 90% research and 10% writing. The only
reason schools ask kids to write reports is to teach them library
and reasearch skills. Really. If they were interested in the kids
learning content, then they would assign the content (in junior
high, they sometimes do, but in elementary school they almost
never do). But usually the elementary school report is about a
favorite planet, state, historical figure or movie star. <g> The
content isn't the primary focus. It's an opportunity to learn how to
use a card catalog, find books, read and summarize info and put
it together in an attractive format.

When kids or moms want to do school-style reports, I suggest
focusing on the fun aspects of research. Call places for
brochures or flyers or books. Use email and the Internet top
collect data. Keep notes on file cards and sort them by topic.

Organize your report by identifying the four or five main areas to
research and report. Give the report a voice/focus. Will she write
from the biographical perspective or from the perspective of how
the historical peson fit into a historical time period? Will she
write about a state as a travel advisor or as someone interested
in buisness and commerce?

In the end, the writing of the report ought to be the least
emphasized aspect of the experience. And here's one very good
reason why (one that is overlooked in schools). Report writing is
notoriously bad writing. Oh, it may be grammatically correct and
organized well, but it is usually as dull as a doormat to read. We
don't want to train our children to think that writing is meant to put
people to sleep. Writing is meant to enliven the reader! Reports
almost never do.

In keeping with the goal of lots of research and minimal writing, I
suggest a couple ways to spruce up the writing side of report
writing. Start with an anecdote, if at all possible. If your child is
writing about the state of Michigan and has a grandparent there,
share a brief memory of visiting the state. If the child is writing
about Pluto, start the report with the most mysterious, surprising
facts he or she uncovered. If writing about a historical figure, start
with a little known story that leads the reader to discover (to her
surprise) that this report is about ________.

Work on an opening hook to relieve the report of the dull tone it
will inevitably take. Use subheads so that you can organize the
material. And only ask your child to write about the aspects of the
topic that keenly interest her. (No need to include the
precipitation measurements if weather doesn't impress her.) But
be sure to include which famous musicians or movie stars live
in Michigan or what cartoon characters were named after that
planet and why!

Bottom line: I think the school report is totally unnecessary for
kids who spend a load of time at the library placing books on
hold, who can locate whatever they need in an encyclopedia or
magazine and who read voraciously on any topic of interest. I'd
rather put my "teachihng writing" efforts toward writing that zings!
Writing that speaks and lives and enhances the reader's
experience.

:)

Julie Bogart (Shall I go by Julie B?)

I've included my business website below.

---

http://www.bravewriter.com
(If you are interested in some free writing exercises and articles
that help you think through writing from a natural perspective)

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/7/03 12:06:58 PM, julie@... writes:

<< The only
reason schools ask kids to write reports is to teach them library
and reasearch skills. >>

I think that's not the only reason. They want kids to organize thoughts and
to write exposition. They want kids to learn the difference between
paraphrase and plagiarism. And they want "work" to show the parents.

<<Bottom line: I think the school report is totally unnecessary>>

Unless one is writing for others (or for a journal entry or diary) there is
NO reason in the whole world to write a report. To "practice" writing when
real writing is immediately useful and ... real!





Sandra, former English teacher,
shuddering

Julie Bogart <[email protected]>

--- In [email protected],
SandraDodd@a... wrote:

>
> I think that's not the only reason. They want kids to organize
thoughts and
> to write exposition. They want kids to learn the difference
between
> paraphrase and plagiarism. And they want "work" to show the
parents.

I'll agree about work to show their parents. But I have to say that
they do a lousy job of teaching paraphrasing. And plagiarism is
about all you'll find in most school reports.

The concept of oral and written narration as explained by
Charlotte Mason is more on track with teaching children how to
summarize and express in their own words what they are
learning. Sending kids to non-fiction books and telling them to
take notes is almost a guarantee they'll plagiarise and who can
blame them? What's a teacher to do with thirty boring essays to
grade? :)
>
> <<Bottom line: I think the school report is totally
unnecessary>>
>
> Unless one is writing for others (or for a journal entry or diary)
there is
> NO reason in the whole world to write a report. To "practice"
writing when
> real writing is immediately useful and ... real!

Agreed!

Julie, a real, paid-for-my-writing writer in the real world.

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/8/03 1:55:36 AM !!!First Boot!!!, julie@...
writes:


> What's a teacher to do with thirty boring essays to
> grade? :)
>

And that's assuming, of course, that the teacher actually grades the essay.

Beth


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