A report is a presentation and analysis of findings and data from practical research, aimed at investigating, exploring and sharing specific information. Meanwhile, an essay seeks to answer a question based on research too, but through the writer's own point of view, to support his own conclusions.
Taking this into account, we may say that <em>annoying people on cell phones</em> is a topic more suitable for an essay.
Summer is a wonderful time to spend at West Beach. It is a beach with light- colored, soft sand. The coastline goes on for a long way and many people enjoy walking along it. Children like to play in the surf and walk along the rocks that are visible at low tide. This is a fun beach for people of all ages.
In this paragraph:
<span>the topic is West Beachthe main idea (what the writer is saying about the topic) is that summer is a wonderful time at West Beach</span>
Here is another example:
<span>The movie Apollo 13 was a blockbuster for the summer of 1995. It is an exciting story about space exploration. In the movie, the astronauts get in trouble while they are trying to return to Earth. People in the audience are on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens. What makes it even more exciting is that it is a true story. </span>
In this paragraph:
<span>the topic is the movie Apollo 13<span>the main idea is in the first sentence: <span>Apollo 13 was a blockbuster for the summer of 1995</span></span></span>
I cannot find my elephant.
He must have run away.
He isn’t on the sofa
where he promised he would stay.
I’ve looked around the living room,
the kitchen and the hall.
My elephant is missing
and I’m not sure who to call.
I’ll need to get a bloodhound
who can track him by his scent,
or hire a house detective
to discover where he went.
He isn’t in the basement
or the attic or the yard.
You’d think, to find an elephant
would not be quite so hard.
Perhaps I’ll make some posters,
and I’ll offer a reward.
I’d make it more, but fifty cents
is all I can afford.
If you should see my elephant,
he answers to “Jerome.”
Please tell him that I miss him
and I wish he’d come back home.
He knows the way. It’s up the street
and down our garden path.
And next time I won’t warn him
when it’s time to take his bath.
The four main purposes for writing is to Inform, Entertain, Persuade, and Convince. I would say C though it could be B