New
New
Year 4

Generating vocabulary for a journalistic report

I can generate vocabulary to write a journalistic report.

New
New
Year 4

Generating vocabulary for a journalistic report

I can generate vocabulary to write a journalistic report.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Journalistic reports are written using formal and factual language to create a serious and objective tone.
  2. The use of subject-specific vocabulary is crucial in journalistic reports and varies depending on the news event.
  3. Appropriate synonyms are used in journalistic reports to create a formal tone and to avoid repetition.
  4. Formal language involves the use of sophisticated vocabulary without the use of contractions.

Keywords

  • Formal language - language used in certain non-fiction texts involving sophisticated and objective vocabulary without the use of contractions

  • Subject-specific vocabulary - vocabulary used when writing about a particular subject

  • Objective - not influenced by personal feelings or opinions when representing facts

  • Synonyms - a word that has the same or similar meaning to another word

Common misconception

Children may struggle to create a formal tone without knowledge or exposure to formal vocabulary.

Offer opportunities for children to self-correct with the use of a thesaurus for more formal synonyms.

Provide an alternative example of a journalistic report on a crime and ask the children to identify subject-specific vocabulary that would be relevant for their report.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What are the linguistic features of a journalistic report?
Correct answer: formal journalistic language
storytelling language
simple sentences
Correct answer: subject-specific vocabulary
Correct answer: complex sentences
Q2.
Match the people and place from 'Little Red Riding Hood' to their connection to the crime.
Correct Answer:Mr Wolf,the person who committed the crime

the person who committed the crime

Correct Answer:Mrs Puckett and Red,the people who suffered the crime

the people who suffered the crime

Correct Answer:property on Cherry Pot Lane,where the crime took place

where the crime took place

Correct Answer:neighbours, local residents,people who saw or heard information linked to the crime

people who saw or heard information linked to the crime

Q3.
Which type of fronted adverbials are most commonly used when reporting on a crime?
viewpoint fronted adverbials
Correct answer: fronted adverbials of time
fronted adverbial of cause
fronted adverbial of place
Q4.
What kind of subject-specific vocabulary will you need to use in a journalistic report about a crime?
vocabulary linked to science
Correct answer: vocabulary linked to crime
vocabulary linked to food
Q5.
Which crimes did the Wolf commit?
burglary
Correct answer: breaking and entering
littering
Correct answer: assault
Q6.
Which of the following are examples of formal journalistic writing?
They told us...
Correct answer: Witnesses have reported...
We think that...
Correct answer: It is believed that...

6 Questions

Q1.
Which subject-specific vocabulary do you need to use when writing a journalistic report about 'Little Red Riding Hood'?
vocabulary specific to cooking
vocabulary specific to education
Correct answer: vocabulary specific to crime
vocabulary specific to the environment
Q2.
Match the vocabulary to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:suspect,a person thought to be guilty of a crime or offence

a person thought to be guilty of a crime or offence

Correct Answer:victim,a person harmed or injured as a result of a crime/accident

a person harmed or injured as a result of a crime/accident

Correct Answer:residence,a person's home

a person's home

Correct Answer:witness,a person who sees an event/crime take place

a person who sees an event/crime take place

Q3.
Which of the following are synonyms for suspect?
Correct answer: assailant
Correct answer: offender
injured party
Correct answer: perpetrator
onlooker
Q4.
Which of the following are synonyms for victim?
defendent
Correct answer: target
Correct answer: innocent citizen
Correct answer: sufferer
observer
Q5.
Which of the following are synonyms for residence?
Correct answer: property
criminal
bystander
Correct answer: scene of the crime
Correct answer: residential property
Q6.
Which of the following are synonyms for witness?
target
defendant
Correct answer: bystander
Correct answer: passer-by
Correct answer: observer