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Basic 6 · Ghanaian Language · Narrative Writing

Writing a Brief Report on an Event

In this topic you will write a brief report on an event or activity you have witnessed.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Explain the features of a report
  • Answer the 5W and H questions in a report
  • Write a short report in your Ghanaian language

What you already know

  • Narrative writing (Basic 5)

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Composition Writing
Sub-strand
Narrative Writing
Indicator
B6.4.1.1.1-3 – Write a brief report on an event or activity they have witnessed

Introduction

When something important happens, such as a sports day or a festival, people want to know what happened. A report tells the facts clearly and briefly.

1. Features of a Report

Features
FeatureExplanation
titletells what the report is about
factstrue information, not imagination
5W and Hwho, what, when, where, why and how
orderevents in the order they happened
past tensethe event has already happened
formal languageclear and serious, no slang
conclusionthe result or what will happen next

2. Planning with 5W and H

Report planning (Inter-House Sports)
QuestionAnswer
What?inter-house sports competition
When?Friday, 16th October 2026
Where?the school field
Who?pupils of Basic 4 to 6, teachers and parents
Why?to promote fitness and unity
How?races, relays and tug-of-war; Blue House won
Pupils running a relay race during inter-house sports
Figure 1: Inter-house sports day Write the 5W and H answers for an event you attended.Illustration: Sirbus

3. Sample Report (English Version)

"INTER-HOUSE SPORTS AT ODUMASE BASIC SCHOOL. The annual inter-house sports competition of Odumase Basic School took place on Friday, 16th October 2026, on the school field. Pupils from Basic 4 to 6 competed in races, relays and tug-of-war while teachers and parents cheered. The event aimed to promote fitness and unity among pupils. After a close contest, Blue House won with 86 points, followed by Red House with 79 points. The headteacher congratulated all the houses and urged pupils to keep exercising. — Reported by Kofi Asare, Basic 6."

4. Steps in Writing a Report

  1. Choose an event you witnessed.
  2. Answer the 5W and H questions.
  3. Write a clear title.
  4. Write the opening sentence with what, when and where.
  5. Add details in order.
  6. End with the result and your name as reporter.

Write your report in your Ghanaian language, keeping it to one or two short paragraphs.

New words

report
A factual account of an event.
witness
To see something happen.
5W and H
Who, what, when, where, why and how.
fact
Something true.
formal
Serious and correct in style.
reporter
A person who writes a report.

Summary

  • A report gives facts about an event briefly and clearly.
  • It answers who, what, when, where, why and how.
  • Use past tense, formal language and the correct order.
  • End with the result and the reporter's name.

Class activity: Class Reporters

  1. Choose a school or community event you witnessed.
  2. Plan it with the 5W and H table.
  3. Write a report in your Ghanaian language and read it to the class.

You need: Printed photographs of a local market or festival, Locally made story-planning cards, Exercise books, Pencils

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. A report contains…

    • A. facts
    • B. imaginary events
    • C. jokes only
    • D. songs
    Show answer
    Answer: factsTrue information.

  2. 2. Reports are usually written in the…

    • A. past tense
    • B. future tense
    • C. present tense only
    • D. command form
    Show answer
    Answer: past tenseEvent has happened.

  3. 3. Which question tells the place of the event?

    • A. Where?
    • B. Who?
    • C. Why?
    • D. How?
    Show answer
    Answer: Where?Location.

  4. 4. A report should have a title.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueTells the subject.

  5. 5. Slang is suitable for a formal report.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseUse formal language.

  6. 6. Who, what, when, where, why and how are the 5W and ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: HHow.

  7. 7. Answer the 5W and H for the sample report.

    Show answer
    Answer: What: sports; when: 16 Oct; where: school field; who: pupils, teachers, parents; why: fitness and unity; how: races, relays, tug-of-war.All six.

  8. 8. Why should a report contain only facts?

    Show answer
    Answer: Readers rely on it for true information, so opinions or imagined events would mislead them.Accuracy.

Homework

  1. Write a report on a family or community event you attended.