information report

Lesson 1: Introduction to Information Reports

Focus: Identify structure and features of an information report.

Learning Intention:
We are learning to identify the structure and language features of information reports.

Success Criteria:
✔ I can describe the structure of an information report.
✔ I can find key language features like headings, facts, and technical terms.

Activities:

• Read a sample report (e.g. on koalas or planets).

• Highlight title, introduction, body sections, subheadings, and conclusion.

• Discuss and label examples of formal language, present tense, and technical vocabulary.

• Group sort: Students sort a list of report features into categories (structure/language/purpose).

Victorian Curriculum Link:
VCELY337 – Analyse and explain how text structures and language features work together to meet the purpose of a text.

Lesson 2: Skimming and Scanning for Key Information

Focus: Develop efficient reading strategies to locate information.

Learning Intention:
We are learning to skim and scan texts to find key facts quickly.

Success Criteria:
✔ I can scan for key words in subheadings.
✔ I can skim to get the gist of a section.
✔ I can underline or highlight main facts.

Activities:

• Mini lesson on skimming vs scanning.

• Practice with a short information text (e.g. endangered species).

• Timed task: Find and highlight specific facts.

• Pair share: Compare highlighted information and discuss what was most important.

Victorian Curriculum Link:
VCELY336 – Use comprehension strategies to interpret and analyse information and ideas, comparing content from a variety of sources.

Lesson 3: Identifying Author's Purpose and Audience

Focus: Understand the purpose of an information report.

Learning Intention:
We are learning to identify the author’s purpose and intended audience in an information report.

Success Criteria:
✔ I can explain why the report was written.
✔ I can identify who the report is for.
✔ I can give evidence from the text to support my ideas.

Activities:

• Read two contrasting reports (e.g. a scientific one vs a children’s article on the same topic).

• Compare tone, vocabulary, and content.

• Use a graphic organizer to record purpose and audience.

• Class discussion on how the author’s choices suit the audience.

Victorian Curriculum Link:
VCELY335 – Analyse how text structures and language features influence interpretations of a text.

Lesson 4: Summarising Key Information

Focus: Summarising the main points from an information report.

Learning Intention:
We are learning to summarise the key points of an information report in our own words.

Success Criteria:
✔ I can identify the main idea of each paragraph.
✔ I can take notes using dot points.
✔ I can write a short summary of the report.

Activities:

• Read an information report as a class.

• Model how to take notes and pick out key ideas.

• Students write a summary using a scaffold (e.g. Introduction/Main Ideas/Interesting Fact).

• Peer feedback using a success criteria checklist.

Victorian Curriculum Link:
VCELY339 – Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content and multimodal elements.

Lesson 5: Comparing Two Information Reports

Focus: Compare texts on the same topic.

Learning Intention:
We are learning to compare how two information reports present the same topic differently.

Success Criteria:
✔ I can identify similarities and differences in structure and content.
✔ I can compare the author’s purpose and tone.
✔ I can explain which report was more effective and why.

Activities:

• Read two information texts on the same subject (e.g. volcanoes).

• Use a Venn diagram to compare.

• Class discussion on which one was more engaging or informative.

• Students write a short reflection comparing the reports.

Victorian Curriculum Link:
VCELY337 & VCELY336 – Analyse and explain how text structures and language features work together and compare content across texts.

"A 

The point of view, or POV, in a story is the narrator’s position in the description of events, and comes from the Latin word, punctum visus, which literally means point sight. The point of view is where a writer points the sight of the reader.

In a discussion, an argument, or nonfiction writing, a point of view is an opinion about a subject.

Throughout nonfiction texts, authors want their readers to see the topic from their point of view, or in other words how the author sees the world.

In nonfiction, point of view is the perspective the author is writing from.

Depending on the topic and purpose, nonfiction writers write using different points of view.

First Person - (I, we) 

Examples - autobiographies, memoirs, speeches

Second Person - (you, your)

Examples – instructions, recipes, advice

Third Person - (he, she, it, they)

Examples – news articles, informative texts, encyclopedias

Today you will choose a news article to read from the list below and analyse the clues in the text to determine the author’s point of view. While you read the text, consider the following information and record all information in your workbooks. Use the templates provided (below):

1. Think of both the positive and negative aspects of the subject

2. Reread and record the language used by the author (descriptive words, verbs/action words, phrases)

3. Use the clues in the text to decide which side of the debate the author is on (for or against)

4. In your reading book, record at least 3 clues from the text, which lead you to determine the author’s point of view.

5. Finally, decide if you agree or disagree with the author’s point of view by explaining your reasons.

• What does the author think is most important? How do you know?

• Which statements in the text would the author agree with? Disagree with?

• How does the author feel about the topic? How do you know?

Once you have answered all reflection questions, set yourself a reading goal for Tuesday.