ORAL REPORTS

Oral reports make use of spoken words. To be

effective as a reporter, the speaker should bear in
mind that spoken words differ from written words in
two respects. The first is that oral language is more
personal and direct than the written one; the
second is that oral language requires instant
comprehension of meaning. The speaker personally
and directly communicates with a live audience;
the writer uses an impersonal medium, for example,
a letter, a report, or a book, in communicating with
his audience.
 ORAL REPORTS
Eugene White (1982) offers several tips in using the
language effectively, these tips are as follows:

1. Language should be chosen for its oral qualities

for it is primarily meant to be heard, not read.
2. Language should be adapted to the speaker’s
personality, the audience, and the occasion.
3. Language should be clear.
4. Language should be sufficiently objective.
 ORAL REPORTS
5. Language should be vivid and impressive.
6. Language should include an abundant
stock of connective and transitional words
and phrases.
7. Language should be arranged into clear
and varied sentences.
8. Language should be chosen from a
constantly increasing speaking vocabulary.
 ORAL REPORTS
Oral reports are grouped in various
ways. Their classification is based on:
1. Mode of Delivery
2. Duration or Time Limit
3. Topic
4. Purpose
5. Occasion
 ORAL REPORTS
1. According to mode of delivery:
a. Read from manuscript (read/manuscript
speech)
b. Presented from rote memory (memorized
speech)
c. Presented without preparation or rehearsal
(impromptu speech)
d. Done extemporaneously with or without notes
(extemporaneous speech)
 ORAL REPORTS
2. Based on duration or time limit:
a. Short - if they last for three minutes up to half an
hour
b. Long - if they last for an hour or more
3. According to topic:
a. Biological
b. Sociological
c. Psychological
d. Political, etc.
 ORAL REPORTS
4. Based on purpose:
a. Informative (giving information)
b. Demonstrative (showing a process and the like)
c. Instructive (giving orders)
d. Persuasive (letting the audience to take an
action).
5. Based on occasion:
a. Formal (as in a lecture in the classroom setting)
b. Informal (as in an unstructured discussion in a
round-table meeting).
 ORAL REPORTS
For oral reports to be effective, this writer gives the
following suggestions:
O - Open your mouth and breathe properly to
allow for proper respiration.
R - Relax to avoid tenseness and to look confident.
A - Avoid a monotone so as not to cause boredom.
L - Let your resonators (buccal and nasal cavities,
etc.) and articulators (lips, tongue, teeth,
palate, velum, alveolar ridge, etc.) serve your
purpose.
 ORAL REPORTS
R - Refrain from slurring, mannerisms, and other things that
can cause distractions.
E - Elicit the attention of the listeners.
P - Prepare physically, psychologically, and intellectually.
O - Observe moderation in speed (not too fast and not
too slow).
R - Respond to questions intelligently and directly when
asked during and after reporting.
T - Try to talk along smoothly with fairly simple sentence
structures.
S - Speak loud enough for everyone to hear.
 GRAPHIC AIDS
In doing oral and written reports, graphic and other visual
aids are important. They not only help the listeners or
readers understand the materials, but also make them
retain these materials. Therefore, reporters must remember
this principle: What is seen is better remembered than
what is heard.

Graphic aids serve a variety of functions. The function

varies from one graphic aid to another. A table of graphic
aids with their corresponding functions and classifications
is presented on the next page.