Janie,
You’re not going to believe this! Remember that
short story competition I entered? You know, the
one for
It’s a Wonderful Life
magazine? Well I won!
I’m so excited, I’m on cloud nine! Not only will my
story be coming out in next month’s magazine, but
I also get 100 euros! I even get my picture in the
paper. This could change my whole life. You know
how badly I wanted to become a writer. I’m so
happy! Talk to you soon.
Take care,
Pam
Always think about the situation in the
rubric
. This will
help you plan your writing. Read the rubric carefully and
underline the key words/phrases.
These indicate:
•
the imaginary situation
you will write about,
who you are and the reason you are writing.
•
the imaginary reader
who is going to read your
piece of writing. This will help you decide on the
writing style you should use; formal, semi-formal
or informal.
•
the type of writing task.
•
the specific topics
you should include
in your piece of writing.
Study the example below.
e.g.
1
You are working abroad as a tour guide
. Write a
2
letter
to your
3
English pen-friend
,
4
describing the
job saying what you like and what you don’t like
about it
.
1
situation
,
2
type of writing task
,
3
reader - style
,
4
specific topics
1
Read the rubrics below. Underline the key
words. Find the imaginary situation, the
imaginary reader, style, type of writing task
and the specific topic(s).
A
You recently bought a TV but you were given the
wrong model by mistake. When you complained,
the shop assistant was rude to you. Write a letter
to the company’s Complaints Department
expressing your dissatisfaction and saying what
action you expect to be taken (140‒190 words).
B
You have seen the following advertisement in an
international magazine. Write your email
applying for the job (140‒190 words).
C
You spent three weeks at your English pen‒friend’s
house. You are back now. Write a letter to your
friend’s parents thanking them for their hospitality
and explaining how your visit helped you improve
your English (140‒190 words).
D
You won first prize in a short story competition.
Send your English pen‒friend an email telling
him/her the news and how this could change
your life (140‒190 words).
2
Read the two models. Which is a(n) letter/
email? Which is formal/informal? Give reasons.
Which of the two models is an answer to one of
the rubrics in Ex. 1?
Dear Ms Smith,
I am writing to inform you that your entry for our short
story competition has been chosen by our judges as
the best submitted. As you are aware, being the winner
of our competition, your entry will appear in the next
issue of It’s a Wonderful Life.
In addition, you also win a €100 cash prize. We would
like you to come to our offices to claim your prize and
have your photograph taken for the local newspaper.
Please contact our offices to arrange for a suitable date
and time for the photography session. You can contact
us on 210 87655544 from 9 to 5, Monday to Friday.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Once again,
congratulations on your winning entry.
Yours sincerely,
Cindy Giasson
Cindy Giasson (Editor-in-Chief)
• Rubric analysis
To:
From:
Subject:
Janie
Pam
I WON!
A
B
We are looking for young energetic
people to work in our camp in July. There
are all kinds of jobs available from
cooking to entertaining campers.
WANTED
- SUN CAMPWALES
Contact:
Toby James at
yahoo.com
MODULE 1
24
