WRITING A REVISION OF (most) FORMATS

NI 2

By Pili A.M.

INFORMAL LETTERS
your address the date Dear (a first name), Start: say something friendly (e.g. How are you? Im fine although I have far too much work to do OR Great to hear from you. Im so excited about your visit to see me.) Body: say what you have to say. Finish: Looking forward to seeing you/ hearing from you. Best wishes or Love, your name

INFORMAL EMAILS
From: you@mail.com To: yourfriend@mail.com Subject: something relevant Hi John, Start: say something friendly, refer back to a previous email... Body: say what you have to say. Deal with all the points & organise similar information together; use linkers and structures of the level Finish: Looking forward to seeing you/ hearing from you. Best wishes or Love, your name

FORMAL LETTERS
your address The company's address date Dear Sir / Madam, INTRODUCTION: Give your reason for enquire about.../ express my (if you're applying for a job or complaining, the advertisement or Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Smith, writing: I am writing to complain about.../ opinion about.../ apply for.../ request... remember to say when & where you saw bought the product) The company's address date your address

BODY: Give details, reasons, examples ... AND ask for what you want FINISH: I look forward to hearing from you / meeting you / seeing you... Yours faithfully, (signature) Your name and surname Yours sincerely, (signature) Your name and surname

Remember not to use contractions or colloquial expressions. And, please, be polite!

FORMAL EMAILS
From: you@mail.com To: yourfriend@mail.com Subject: be brief and to the point Dear Mr/Ms Jones OR Dear Sir/Madam, Start: give your reason for writing, refer back to a previous email... Body: State your point clearly, be factual. Organise information into paragraphs (topic sentence + reasons, examples...); use linkers and structures of the level. Be polite (i.e. indirect questions, passives)! Finish: I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely OR Yours faithfully, Formal or semi-formal style your name AND surname

DESCRIPTIONS

INTRODUCTION: general information, reasons for describing this person/place/event... BODY: characteristics, parts and history (if it's a place or an object), appropriate tenses (some passives), specific vocabulary CONCLUSION: comments or feelings Use varied adjectives, a semi-formal style, varied linkers/structures/vocabulary

OPINION

vs.

FOR/AGAINST
INTRODUCTION: general remarks, NOT your opinion BODY: (topic sentence with reasons & examples), well linked; - points for - points against

INTRODUCTION: your opinion BODY: different viewpoints (topic sentence with reasons & examples), well linked; To my mind...It seems to me that...As far as I am concerned...The way I see it.. CONCLUSION: restate your opinion Formal style (no personal examples, no contractions, no colloquial expressions). Use passives...

CONCLUSION: your opinion OR a balanced summary Formal style: no strong language (I know...), no contractions, no colloquial expressions, or short sentences. Use passives...

NEWS REPORTS

HEADLINE: short & catchy INTRODUCTION: summarises the event: When? Where? Who? BODY: 2 or more paragraphs describing the event (details, accurate facts...) CONCLUSION: comments on the event, actions to be taken, future developments... Formal, objective & impersonal (no feelings) Past tenses, passives, reported speech...

NOTES

&

NOTICES
Be brief and clear Use bullets or new paragraphs for each point You can omit pronouns, auxiliares Use abbreviations (a.s.a.p. Tel. no.)

Greet the person Make your point (thank, explain, apologise, inform, suggest...). Be polite, direct and clear. Use abbreviations & contractions Regards (With love / See you soon/) Sign

REVIEWS

INTRODUCTION: background information (title, author, type, setting...) BODY: - Main points of the plot (chronologically) - General comments on plot / characters/ acting...

CONCLUSION: recommendation (explain your reasons) Formal or semiformal style Use varied adjectives, (normally) present tenses, passives, reported speech, relative clauses...