Writing Tasks

+ Task 1

You have received a letter from your English pen friend Dan who writes:

...I know that the climate is not the same in different parts of your big country. As we have agreed I'll be visiting you at the end of May. 

& What is the weather like in May in the place you live? 

& I'd like to know what clothes to bring with me. 

& By the way, what season do you like best and why?...

Write a letter to Dan and answer his questions. 

+ Task 2

You have received a letter from your English-speaking pen friend Colin who writes:

... We are doing a project on Christmas celebrations in different countries, so I'd like to ask you some questions about this holiday. 

& Do you usually have a Christmas tree at home and how do you decorate it? 

& What presents are the most popular with teenagers? Where are Christmas presents put?

& Do children write letters to Santa Claus? 

Write a letter to Colin. In your letter  answer his questions  ask 3 questions about his orchestra tour

+ Task 3

You have received a letter from your English pen friend Jane who writes:

...So you see that I enjoy films based on true historic facts.

& What kinds of films do you like watching? 

& Do you prefer watching films in the cinema or at home? Why? 

& Do you agree that it is better to read a book before watching the film based on it? Why or why not?

Write a letter to Jane and answer her questions. 

+ Task 4

You have received a letter from your English pen friend Alan who writes:

... Our school orchestra gave a concert to parents last week and was a success. I took part in it too as I play the drum, you know. 

& Do you play any musical instruments? 

& What kind of music do you like and why? 

&  What is your favourite group or singer? Why do you like them?..

Write a letter to Alan and answer his questions. 

Argumentative writing

One type of argumentative essay is that which gives advantages and disadvantages (For and Against). It is a formal piece of writing in which a topic is considered from opposing points of view.

Структура:

* Paragraph 1. An introductory paragraph in which you state the topic. This means that you talk generally about the topic without giving your opinion;

Ú Useful phrases to introduce points: one major advantage/disadvantage of, a further advantage, one point of view in favour of/against

% Note 1: In this type of essay writing, you must not include opinion words (I believe, I think, etc.) in the introduction or the main body. Opinion words can only be used in the final paragraph, where you may state your opinion on the topic.

The first paragraph may:

? make reference to a strange scene or situation, e.g. Some scientists believe that in the future everyone will be genetically perfect.

? address the reader directly, e.g. Are you aware of any characteristics which you may have inherited from your parents? 
? or ask a rhetorical question (question to which no answer is expected), e.g. Isn’t it amazing how some children look so much like their parents?

start with a quotation, e.g. “Genetics holds the key to the future"

* Paragraphs 2-4. A main body in which the points for and the points against, along with your justification, appear in two separate paragraphs;

% Note 2: In paragraph 2  give the  points which are opposite to yours.  In paragraphs 3-4  give  the points of view which  you support. All the points should be supported by a justification or illustration.

Do the  exercises  in order to understand it better. 
1. For and against
2. Quotations

Ú To list points: in the first place, first of all, to start with, secondly, thirdly, finally, last but not least

Ú To add more points to the same topic: what is more, furthermore, also, in addition to this/that, besides, apart from this/that, not to mention the fact that 

Ú To make contrasting points: on the other hand, however, in spite of, while, nevertheless, despite, even though, although, it can be argued that 
Ú To introduce examples: for example, for instance, like, especially, such as, in particular

* Paragraph 5. A closing paragraph in which you give either your opinion or a balanced consideration of the topic.

Ú To conclude: to sum up, all in all, all things considered, in conclusion, on the whole, taking everything into account, as was previously stated.

The last paragraph may:

? state a personal opinion, e.g. In my opinion, I believe, In my view, It seems to me, The way I see it, I think, etc.

? give the reader something to consider, e.g. Perhaps the world would be a safer and more efficient place if everyone was genetically perfect. 

? end with a quotation, e.g. “Genetics holds the key to the future", 

? or a rhetorical question, e.g. What will they think of next?

A proper "For and Against  Essay"

An improper "For and Against  Essay"

Task 1. 

Your teacher has asked you to write a composition giving arguments for and against owning a mobile phone.

Task 2.

You have been asked to write a composition on the advantages and disadvantages of living in the country.

Writing an e-mail

Let's watch a video first

To learn how to write a business email, remember the following: Business emails are generally less formal than business letters. Business emails written to colleagues are generally direct and ask for specific actions to be taken. It's important to keep your business emails short, as the easier it is to reply to an email the more likely it is that a business contact will reply quickly. 

Here are some tips:

+ Use a neutral Email address. Your Email address should be a variation of your real name, not a username or nickname. Use periods, hyphens, or underscores to secure an e-mail address that's just your name, without extra numbers or letters, if you can. Never use an unprofessional email address. No one will take you seriously if your reply-to is joke name or inappropriate name.

+ Use a short and accurate subject header. Avoid saying too much in the subject header, but make sure it reflects the content of your Email to a person unfamiliar with you. If possible, include a keyword that will make the Email content easier to remember and/or search for in a crowded inbox. For example, “Meeting on March 12th” is specific enough that the email topic won’t be mistaken for anything else but not so specific as to be distracting (ex. “Schedule, Guest List, Lunch Requests, and Meeting Overview for March 12th").

+ Use a proper salutation. Addressing the recipient by name is preferred. Use the person's title (Mr. Mrs. Ms. or Dr.) with their last name, followed by a comma or a colon. Optionally, you can precede the salutation with "Dear..." (but "Hello..." is acceptable as well). Using a last name is more formal and should be used unless you are on first-name terms with the recipient. If you don't know the name of the person you're writing to (but you really should try to find one) use "Dear Sir/Madam" or "Dear Sir or Madam" followed by a colon.

+ Introduce yourself in the first paragraph (if necessary). Also include why you're writing, and how you found that person's Email address, or the opportunity you're writing about. For example: 

• My name is Earl Rivers. I'm contacting you to apply for the administrative assistant position listed on CareerXYZ.com.
• My name is Arlene Rivers. I am writing about the traffic citation I received on December 31, 2009. I obtained your Email address from the Westchester County Clerk website.

+ Write the actual message. Be sure to get your point across without rambling; if it's fluffed up, the reader may glance over the important details. Try to break up the message into paragraphs by topic to make your message more logical and digestible.

• The email should be no more than 5 paragraphs long and each paragraph should be no more than 5 sentences long.
• Insert a line break between each paragraph; indenting isn't necessary and will likely be lost during the email transfer anyway.
• Be sure to avoid informal writing.

+ Use the correct form of leave-taking. This will depend on your level of intimacy with the recipient. Examples include:

• Yours sincerely,
• Yours cordially,
• Respectfully,
• Best,
• Your student,

+ Sign with your full name. If you have a job title, include that in the line after your name, and write the company name or website in the line after that. If you do not have a job title but you have your own blog or website related to the content of the e-mail, include a link to that below your name. If the e-mail is about a job, only include a career-related website or blog, not hobbies or interests.

+ Proofread your message for content. Make sure you haven’t omitted any important details (or repeated yourself). Reading your email aloud or asking someone to proofread it is a great way to get a different perspective on what you’ve written.

+ Proofread your message for spelling and grammar. If your email provider doesn’t already provide spelling and grammar options for you, copy and paste your email into a word processor, revise it if necessary, and copy and paste it back into your email.

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Formal-Email

An Example of a Formal E-mail

Task 1.

You are supposed to hand in a project for your biology class by the end of the week. However, your brother is getting married in Kyiv at the same time and the entire family is travelling there fore the occasion. Write an e-mail to your teacher. In your letter:

— explain the situation;

— remind the teacher of your fine academic record;

— ask for an extension of the due date.

A Letter of Application

A letter of application may be written when we apply for a permanent/temporary job or educational course. It is usually formal; therefore, the appropriate language and expressions should be used.

Лист-заявка може бути написаний, коли ми подаємо заяву щодо постійної або тимчасової роботи або навчального курсу. Він зазвичай офіційний, тому потрібно використовувати відповідний стиль мовлення та вирази.

Структура:

1. Reason for writing. Причина написання листа.

I am writing with regard to your advertisement

I am writing to apply for the post / job / position of/which I saw advertised in ..., etc. 

2. Qualifications and training. Кваліфікація та пройдене/завершене навчання.

3. Previous experience. Досвід у даній сфері

for the last/past year I have been working as ... since / for... 

I have had experience of... 

Two years ago I was employed as ... 

I worked as ... before ..., etc.

4. Qualities and skills. Особистісні характеристики та навички

patient 

alert

skilful

open-minded

dedicated

organised

approachable

understanding

calm

imaginative

logical

creative

knowledgeable

kind

confident

able to cope in a crisis

good communication skills

able to work under pressure

sense of humour

polite

conscientious

tolerant

5. Closing remarks. Завершення листа

I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience 

Please contact me regarding any queries you may have 

I enclose my CV and I would be glad to attend an interview at any time convenient to you 

I look forward to hearing from you in due course, etc.

6. Name and Surname. Ім‘я та прізвище

A Letter of Application

A letter of Application

Task 1.

You have decided to spend some time working this summer. You have seen an advertisement in the paper for lifeguards to work for a month on one of the most popular beaches in Sussex. Write a letter asking to be considered for one of the positions.

Task 2.

You have decided to spend some time working this summer. You have seen the following advertisement in the paper. Write a letter asking to be considered the position.

Task 3.

You have decided to spend some time working this summer. You have seen the following advertisement in the paper. Write a letter asking to be considered for the position.

Accepting / Refusing an Invitation

Letters accepting/refusing an invitation can be formal or informal. 

Лист прийняття або відхилення запрошення може бути офіційний або неофіційний. 

In letters accepting an invitation, we begin by expressing thanks for the invitation. Further comments can be included such as asking the person whether there is anything we can do, or asking for more information concerning the invitation.

У листі прийняття запрошення, ми починаємо з подяки за запрошення. Потім, зазвичай задають запитання, чи ми можемо у чомусь допомогти у підготовці, або запитання щодо більш докладної інформації.

Структура:

1. Thanks for the invitation. Подяка за запрошення

Formal

I am writing to thank you for the kind invitation

Thank you for the kind invitation which I would be honoured to accept, etc.

Informal

Thanks for the invitation to ...,... sounds lovely ..., etc. 

2. Acceptance of the invitation. Прийняття запрошення

3. Further comments. Подальші коментарі
4. Probable Questions. Запитання, що виникли

5. Closing remarks. Завершення листа

Formal

I look forward to seeing you

We await the event with great anticipation, etc.

Informal

See you then

We're really looking forward to it, etc.

6. Name / Full Name

In letters refusing an invitation, we begin by expressing thanks for the invitation, and we go on to give reasons why we are unable to accept it.

У листі відхилення запрошення, ми спочатку висловлюємо подяку за запрошення, а потім пояснюємо причини, чому ми не можемо прийняти його.

Структура:

1. Thanks for the invitation. Подяка за запрошення

Formal

We thank you for your recent invitation to ... but etc.            

Informal

Thanks for the invitation, but

Thanks for inviting me to ..., but

I'm afraid I can't come, etc.

2. Refusal of the invitation. Відхилення запрошення

3. Giving reasons Пояснення причин

4. Feelings about refusal. Почуття з приводу відхилення запрошення
5. Closing remarks. Завершення листа

Formal

I am sorry to miss the opportunity of

Thank you again for the invitation

I hope we will have the opportunity to meet, etc.

Informal

I hope we can get together some other time

I'm really sorry we'll have to miss it, etc.

6. Name / Full Name

Informal Letter

Formal Letter

1. Differentiate the style. Choose formal or informal. 

Do exercise 1.

2. Match the beginnings and the endings of the letters

Do exercise 2.

Task 1.

You have received an invitation to a birthday party. Write a letter accepting the invitation and suggesting that you organise the music.

Task 2.

The head of your firm and his wife are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and have invited you to the event. Write a letter thanking them for the invitation and saying why you will be unable to attend.

                                                                                                      Source: Successful Writing

Linking Words for any Type of Writing

Source: Mission 1

A Letter of Invitation

Letters of invitation can be formal or informal depending on the situation and who we are writing to. They usually contain some additional information, for example: latest news, description of the event (party, wedding, etc.) place (hotel, house, etc.) and/or directions to the place.

Лист-запрошення може бути офіційним і неофіційним, залежно від  ситуації і адресанта. У зазначеному типі листів зазвичай міститься додаткова інформація: останні новини, опис події (вечірки, весілля тощо), місця (готель, будинок тощо) та опис шляху до цього місця.

Структура:
1. Introduction: Reasons for writing the letter. Причина написання листа. 
Formal:
We would be honoured if you
I cordially invite you to
Your presence would be appreciated at
You are invited to attend, etc.
Informal:
I'm writing to invite you to ...
I'd love it if you could come to
We're organising a ... and would love it if you could come, etc.
2. Details of the event: what is it devoted to. Деталі заходу: чому він присвячений. 
3. Description of the place. Опис місця проведення.
4. Directions to the place. Опис, як туди дістатись
In case you don't know the way,
I'll give you some directions
I have included some directions
Here are a few directions so you don't get lost
In case you do not know the exact location of the ..., etc.
5. Closing Remarks. Завершення листа
Formal:
We would be grateful if you could
Please indicate whether you will be able to attend, etc.
Informal:
I hope you'll be able to make it
Hope you can come
Looking forward to seeing you then
Please let me know as soon as possible, etc.
6. Full Name / Name

SInformal Letter of Invitation

Source: Successful Writing

Task 1.
You are going to celebrate your 18-th birthday at Feride Plaza next Friday. Invite your friend to the party. Don't forget to  explain how to get there from his or her house.

Task 2.
Your class is going to celebrate the 10th anniversary of your graduation at the "Velur". Invite your class mistress. Give her the directions how to get there.