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Lesson 4
Write it formally and informally
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• read two letters of invitation
• discussed some dos and don'ts in formal and informal letters
• answered comprehension questions on two letters
• written a formal letter
A Look at the two letters of invitation. One is formal and the other is informal. Can you identify which one is formal? Give reasons for your answer.
Hi Shirin!
Come and join us at our party for the New Year on 31st Dec., 1999 at 7:30 p.m. Bring everybody.
Rupa
To celebrate the new year, Mr and Mrs Jones have the pleasure of inviting you to a party on the 31st December, 1999 at 7:30 p.m.
B Now read the following dos and don'ts for letter-writing. Which types of letters are they applicable to?
Do
- write briefly
- make your message clear
- write dates instead of today
- tomorrow, or yesterday. Don't
- use contractions such as arent', can't etc.
- use expressions such as hello, sorry, oh,by the way
- finish by saying with love
- go into unnecessary discussion
C Read the following letters. Letter A is from Tuhin who lives in New York to her cousin in Bangladesh who has decided to visit her.
Dear Ruma
What an unexpected pleasure to hear from you after all this time! We'd thought you had forgotten us. We were very happy to hear that you would finally he able to visit us next summer. We have a nice little room all ready for you. Don't even think about being a burden on us. We would love to have you with us. Please let us know as soon as you fix the date.
We are all waiting eagerly for the day when we really meet. Bring us lots of recent photos of everybody at home. lit been a long time since we last met.
Lots of love.
Tuhin
Letter B was sent to a Bangladeshi student from a Canadian University confirming his admission and a place in the university hostel.
DearMr Fahim
We are pleased to leam that you will be able to start the course in Business Studies from September this year. In reply to your request we have allotted you room no. 105 in Gardenia Hall. You must complete your registration by September 5. Classes will start on September 15, 2001.
We look forward to meeting you and hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours sincerely
(Patricia Sloan)
D Both the letters are informing the reader about the allotment of a room, but in different ways. Answer the following questions to identify how they are different.
1 How does each letter say that the addresser is happy to hear the news?
2 How does each say that s/he wants to meet the addressee?
3 How do they end the letters?
4 Which letter expresses more personal feelings? How?
5 Is there any unnecessary information in letter B that could have been omitted?
6 Is there any unnecessary information in letter A that could have been omitted?
7 If you were asked to rewrite letter A formally, how would you write it?
E Read the following advertisement for admission to an Australian University. Write a letter to them requesting them to send you admission forms.
Interested in studies abroad?
We offer Bachelor degree courses in Business Studies, Marketing, Computing, Social and Environmental Studies, Economics, Biological sciences, Physics and Chemistry.
Write to following address:
The Graduate Admissions
International service:
353 South Road, Portico
Sydney 2067, Australia
Focus:
Skills
Intensive reading, writing
Functions
Identifying formal/informal language, writing formal/ informal letters
Grammar/Structure
Expressions/conventions used in letter-writing
Vocabulary
nurture, misgiving, burden.
This text will be replaced
Lesson 4
Write it formally and informally
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• read two letters of invitation
• discussed some dos and don'ts in formal and informal letters
• answered comprehension questions on two letters
• written a formal letter
A Look at the two letters of invitation. One is formal and the other is informal. Can you identify which one is formal? Give reasons for your answer.
Hi Shirin!
Come and join us at our party for the New Year on 31st Dec., 1999 at 7:30 p.m. Bring everybody.
Rupa
To celebrate the new year, Mr and Mrs Jones have the pleasure of inviting you to a party on the 31st December, 1999 at 7:30 p.m.
B Now read the following dos and don'ts for letter-writing. Which types of letters are they applicable to?
Do
- write briefly
- make your message clear
- write dates instead of today
- tomorrow, or yesterday. Don't
- use contractions such as arent', can't etc.
- use expressions such as hello, sorry, oh,by the way
- finish by saying with love
- go into unnecessary discussion
C Read the following letters. Letter A is from Tuhin who lives in New York to her cousin in Bangladesh who has decided to visit her.
Dear Ruma
What an unexpected pleasure to hear from you after all this time! We'd thought you had forgotten us. We were very happy to hear that you would finally he able to visit us next summer. We have a nice little room all ready for you. Don't even think about being a burden on us. We would love to have you with us. Please let us know as soon as you fix the date.
We are all waiting eagerly for the day when we really meet. Bring us lots of recent photos of everybody at home. lit been a long time since we last met.
Lots of love.
Tuhin
Letter B was sent to a Bangladeshi student from a Canadian University confirming his admission and a place in the university hostel.
DearMr Fahim
We are pleased to leam that you will be able to start the course in Business Studies from September this year. In reply to your request we have allotted you room no. 105 in Gardenia Hall. You must complete your registration by September 5. Classes will start on September 15, 2001.
We look forward to meeting you and hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours sincerely
(Patricia Sloan)
D Both the letters are informing the reader about the allotment of a room, but in different ways. Answer the following questions to identify how they are different.
1 How does each letter say that the addresser is happy to hear the news?
2 How does each say that s/he wants to meet the addressee?
3 How do they end the letters?
4 Which letter expresses more personal feelings? How?
5 Is there any unnecessary information in letter B that could have been omitted?
6 Is there any unnecessary information in letter A that could have been omitted?
7 If you were asked to rewrite letter A formally, how would you write it?
E Read the following advertisement for admission to an Australian University. Write a letter to them requesting them to send you admission forms.
Interested in studies abroad?
We offer Bachelor degree courses in Business Studies, Marketing, Computing, Social and Environmental Studies, Economics, Biological sciences, Physics and Chemistry.
Write to following address:
The Graduate Admissions
International service:
353 South Road, Portico
Sydney 2067, Australia
Focus:
Skills
Intensive reading, writing
Functions
Identifying formal/informal language, writing formal/ informal letters
Grammar/Structure
Expressions/conventions used in letter-writing
Vocabulary
nurture, misgiving, burden.