18
Writing:
Letters/Emails (1)
REASON FOR WRITING
Letters/Emails are written for a variety
of reasons. These include:
giving information requesting
information making complaints
making corrections making
suggestions asking for permission
giving advice, etc.
Two or more of these reasons for writing
could appear in the same letter/emails.
(e.g. Write a letter thanking someone …
explaining that you have decided to … and
asking for their advice on ...)
STYLE
The style of writing in your letter/emails
can be formal, semi-formal or informal,
depending on the rubric and the target
reader. You should make sure that you
keep the same style throughout your
letter/emails.
LAYOUT
All letters/emails should include the
following:
An appropriate greeting
(e.g. Dear
John, Dear Sir, etc)
, followed by an
introduction with your opening
remarks
(e.g. How are you, etc)
and your
reason for writing
(e.g. I thought I
would write and tell you about my
holidays, etc)
.
A main body which contains the
information requested by the rubric.
A conclusion where you can
summarise the main points and/or
make reference to future action. You
should include your closing remarks
(e.g. Write back soon, etc)
, followed by
an appropriate ending
(e.g. Yours
faithfully, John Smith, etc)
Understanding the Rubric
‹
Analysing an Informal Email
‹
1
What do you have to write?
2
Who is the target reader?
3
Does the style need to be formal or informal?
4
What is your reason for writing?
5
Which of the following could you include in the email? Tick (
✓
).
read books and magazines in English
write letters/emails in English
travel to an English-speaking country
watch films in English without subtitles
practise conversation with a friend
have private lessons
register in a language school
6
Can you think of other ways to improve your English?
7
For the points you ticked, suggest how you could arrange them
into paragraphs. How many main body paragraphs will you need?
8
How could you end your letter?
1
Read the rubric below and underline the key information. Then
answer the questions that follow.
This is part of a letter you have received from your English-
speaking friend Dan.
Write your
email
(140-190 words).
We usually write informal letters/emails to friends and relatives we
know well, or to people of our own age. Characteristics of informal
style include:
Short forms
(e.g. I’m, you’re, it’s, we’ll, etc)
Simple/colloquial vocabulary
(e.g. really great, fun, you’d better, etc)
Use of the active, rather than the passive voice
(e.g. ‘we should do
something’ instead of ‘something should be done’, etc)
Informal beginnings and endings
(e.g. Hi, how are you doing?, I’d better
run, I’ll see you on Saturday, etc)
2
a. Work in pairs. Read models A and B opposite, and say which
one is appropriate. Think about whether:
the paragraphs are clearly organised
the writer follows the instructions in the rubric
the style is appropriate for the target reader
... and I know that I really need to speak English
better. The problem is, I haven
’
t got time for extra
lessons or regular study sessions. What else can I
do to improve my English? Please write and tell me
what you suggest.
Thanks, Dan
Informal Style
‹
“What do you
call a letter
when it has
dropped down
the chimney?”
“Blackmail.”
