An Informal Letter
1.Layout

Greting
Hi ... , / Dear ... , Your adress
The date

Introduction
Ask your friend some introductory questions.
How are you? I hope the summer job is going well. Have you decided where to go on holiday?
Paragraph 1
Describe where you are (the place/the weather)
Anyway, we're camping in the Isle of Skye. We're staying on a campside... It rained every single day.
Paragraph 2
Say what you are doing.
Luckily, we didn't come here for the nightlife! Actually, there isn'y... We go walking walking every day and yesterday....
Paragraph 3
Mention the people in the group.
Here's some news for you about the group. Tom...
Ending
Make up an excuse to stop writing.
Well, I must finish - it's my turn to cook tonight. Write back soon.
Signing off
Say goodbye and sighn your name.
All the best, / Lots of love,
SpooXi

2. Useful Vocabulary
Weather: chngable, cloudy, cold, freezing, hot, rainy, sunny
Accommodation: cabin, campside, farm, hotel, tent
Locations: in a forest, in the middle of nowhere, in the mountains, on the coast, near a town
Activities: canoeing, driving, parachuting, rafting, sailing, skiing, snowboarding, treeking, windsurfing
3. Linking: Informal Expressions
Involve the reader with questions: How are you? / That skiing break sounds the best, doesn't it? / Can you belive it?
Refer to the reader: I hope the summer job is going well. / Here's some news for you... / So you can imagine what he's like! / You can tell me all your news !
Begin sentences with informal linkers: Anyway, we're ... / Luckily, we didn't ... / Actually, there isn't .../ But then we're ... / And Tom has ... / Well, I must finish ...
4. Checking
Style: Have you used informal linkers, words and expressions?
Grammar: Check your letter for verb tenses.


A Story
1.Layout
1 Introduction
Write a few sentences to set the scene and introduce the characters.
It was a beautiful day in spring and the sun was shining*. The night before, my cousin Sam, my girlfriend and I had decided** to go canoeing down the river. We had arranged** to meet at eight o'clock. When I arrived, Sam was waiting* and was looking at his watch....
* to set the scene or say what was happening at particular time, use the Past Continous.
** to say what had happend before, use Past Perfect.
2 Beginning of the Narrative
Describe the main actions. Include some dialogue.
Suddenly, it started to rain heavily. We kept on canoeing and twenty minutes later, we came to some rapids. For ten minutes I was absolutely terrified and then Sam shouted: 'Look over there!'
'What is it?' I screamed. 'It looks like ...'
3 Development of the Narrative.
Write what happend next.
We got out of our caones and started to look for Sam. There was no sighn of him anywhere so, we decided to get help. Luckily, I ...
4 Conclusion
Write a suitable ending to your story. Don't forget to finish it with the sentence from the task instruction.
At last, we saw a group of people coming towards us ... We all felt very happy to be back home.
Ending

Signing off


2. Useful Vocabulary
Weather: cloudy, foggy, freezing, rainy, sunny, wet
Places: castle, mountains, old house, park, river, valley, woods
Verbs: argue, crash, escape, fall, find, get back, get lost, hunt, hurt, meet, recognise
Adjectives: afraid, amazing, awful, beautiful, exciting, frighening, strange, terrifying
3. Linking: Sequence
It was a beautifull spring day when we decided to go canoeing.
During the day before, it had rained a lot.
First, we went to collect the canoes. As soon as we got there, we went down to the river.
After an hour, it became cloudy and, suddenly, it started to rain.
Twenty minutes later, we came to some rapids.
Just then, we realised Sam wasn't with us !
In the end, we got to calmer waters and I immediately rang the emergenticy services.
While we were waiting, we talked about how stupid we had been.
4. Checking
Grammar: Have you included examples of all he past tenses ou know?
Linking: Have you included a few linking words and expressions?
Spelling: Have you checked your work for spelling?


A Report
1.Layout
Heading
To:
From:
Date:
Subjct:
1 General Description
Introduce the report with your aim and general description of the place.
Beverley is a small town in the east of Englang. The aim of this report is....
2 List of good points
Give a list of things that are good about the place.
There are several good things about ...
a) It has got ...
b) It also has ...
3 List of bad points
Give a list of your criticisms ot the place.
On the other hand, I find these things disappointing:
a) There are not enough ...
b) Another thing is the ...
4 Conclusion
Finish the report by making suggestions.
The council need to do something to ... They should ...

2. Useful Vocabulary
Positive adjectives: cheap, alean, easy, free, frequent, good, punctual
Negative adjectives: dammaged, dangerous, dirty, expensive, inefficient, polluted
Nouns: accident, bicycle track, bus fares, bus service, bypass, car park, lorries, old buildings, pedestrian area, public transport, shopping centre, traffic jam, traffic lights, train service, zebra crossing
3. Linking
To list ideas:
The old buildings are dirty and dammaget.
The old buildings are dirty. Some of them are damaged too.
The old buildings are dirty. Some of them are also damaged.
The old buildings are dirty. In addition, some of them are damaged.
The old buildings suffer from dirt plus damage.
To contrast ideas:
The buses are cheap but not very frequent.
Although the buses are cheap, they are not very frequent.
The buses are cheap. However, they are not very frequent.
On the one hand, the buses are cheap. On the other hand, they are not very frequent.
4. Checking
Layout: Have you fallowed the layout above? Has your report got clear paragraphs?
Linking: Have you used linking words as listed above?
Spelling: Use a dictionary to check spelling of words you are not sure about.


A Formal Letter to a Newspaper
1.Layout

Newspaper's name
and adress Your adress
The date

Greeting
Dear Editor, (or Dear Sir / Madam)
Paragraph 1
Give your reason for writing.
I am writing to protest about the proposal for ...
Paragraph 2
Write about one part of the problem.
First, the goverment says that the new airport will bring us industry and jobs. However ...
Paragraph 3
Write about another part of the problem.
Despite what the goverment says, it is clear that the airport will also affect our health. Problems will increase ...
Paragraph 4
Write some suggestions for action.
I think other residents should ...
Formal ending
I look forward to reading more letters about this issue in your newspaper.
Yours faithfully,
Your signature
Print your name clearly

2. Useful Vocabulary
Environment: air pollution, noise pollution, river pollution, traffic pollution
Health: asthma suffers, effects on children's health, risk of diseases
Leisure: cinema, outdoor activities, sports centre, youth club
Unemployment: job opportunities, new jobs, training courses
Needs: hospital, new bus route, park, road, school
3. Linking: Contrast
Contrast of two sentences:
Many people have been against the idea from the start.
Nevertheless, the goverment is ...
... the new airport will bring us industry and jobs. However, in our opinion, it will ruin ...
... the goverment has promised more jobs. In spite of this, there are still ...
Contrast of clauses in the same sentence:
Although the airport would bring tourists, I am not sure ...
Despite what the goverment says, it is clear that ...
Problems will increase in spite of the new hospital ...
4. Checking
Style: Have you checked your letter for formal style? Make sure you do not:
- use contractions
- use colloquial vocabulary
- use colloquial expressions when giving opinions.
Grammar: Have you checked for grammar mistakes?


Describing a Person
1.Layout
Paragraph 1
Introduce the person and give a bit of backgroung, e.g. where he/she was born, where he/she lives now, his/her job, his/her likes and dislikes.
I'm going to write about my grandmother. She is called Alice and she lives with my grandfather in a little flat in ...
Paragraph 2
Describe the person's physical apperance (but not too many details), personality and character.
Alice has got short, white hair and clear, blue eyes. She is a verycheerful woman. In fact, she is always smiling!
Paragraph 3
Give some examples of the person's behaviour or relationships with other people.
She is very popular with her neighbours because she is so helpful. For example, she often baby-sits for people in her street.

2. Useful Vocabulary
Hair: long, short, shoulder-lenght, black, blond, dark, fair, grey, red, white, curly, straight, wavy
Age: in his/her (early/mid/late) teens/twenties, elderly, middle-aged, young
Special features: beard, moustache, ponytail, wrinkles
General physical appearance: good-looking, overweight, short, slim, tall, well-built
Personality: bad-tempered, cheerful, creative, disorganised, dynamic, generous, hard-working, helpful, honest, insensitive, kind, lazy, materialistic, mean, moody, nervoys, outgoing, relaxed, reliable, selfish, shy, sociable, strong, stubborn, sympathetic
Likes/Dislikes: animals, chess, computers, playing/listening to music, playing/watching sport, reading, watching videos
3. Linking: Giving Examples
She loves animals, especially dogs.
She hates junk food such as hamburgers.
She is helpful. For example, she often baby-sits fo people in her street.
They often argue, particularly about politics, but aster 35 years of marriage ...
4. Checking
Spelling: Use a dictionary to check your spelling (especialy adjectives)


A Personal Essay
1.Layout
Introduction
Introdece the essay. Begin either some personal information or some historical background related to the topic.
At the moment, I go to a large school in the centre of the city. It's quite ...
Location and Facilities
Say where the school is and describe any special buildings, rooms or other facilities.
My ideal school would be in the centre of the city near a ...
There would be a coffe bar and ...
Timetable
Talk about subjects on yhe timetable, including special ones, and any free students have.
Students would study all the usual subjects such as ... However, there would be some new optional subjects, for example, diving lessons ...
Extra-Curricular Activities
Mention the adjectives students can take part in outside the main timetable.
There would be many after-school clubs, such as ...
Conclusion
As a final comment, choose what you think is the best thing about your school.
To sum up, I think my school would have a good variety of activities - something for everyone.

2. Useful Vocabulary
Location: city centre, countryside, forest, park
Facilities: coffe bar, computer room, gymnasium, libray, music studio, swimming pool, theatre
Timetable: free time, optional subjects (cooking, do-it-yourself, self-defence), traditional subjects (foreign language, geography, history, literature, maths, science)
After-school activities: chess club, choir, school trips
3. Linking
Addition: also, another thing, as well as, in addition, too
Contrast: but, however
Example: for example, such as
Purpose: in order to, so that
Conclusion: to sum up
4. Checking
Introduction: Does this get the interest of the reader?
Layout: Have you organised paragraphs according to the plan?
Linking: Have you included linking words?
Punctuation: Check your writing for capital letters, commas and full stops.


A Letter of Application
1.Layout

Name and adress
of the company Your adress
The date

Greeting
Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms ... , (if you know their name)
Dear Sir/Madam, (if you do not know their name)
Paragraph 1
Simply state your reasons for writing.
I am writing to you with reference to ...
I am interested in applying for the job of ...
I enclose a copy of my CV.
Paragraph 2
Explain why you are interested in a job.
I would like to work for you because I am very interested in ...
I would also like to learn about ...
I feel that ... is extremely important.
Paragraph 3
Give examples to show your personal qualities.
I think I am a ... person. For example, I have ...
I also feel thet I can ... / Finally, I am familiar with ...
Paragraph 4
I think I would be a good primary teaher due to my teaching experience.
I am a competent ... as I have completed a course in ...
I am fluent in spoken and written ...
In addition, I hold a certificate in ...
Formal Ending
I look forward to hearin from you soon.
Yours sincerely, (when you know the person's name)
Yours faithfully, (when you don't)
Your signature
Print your name

2. Useful Vocabulary
Reasons: get experience, learn about, find out about, interested in
Personal qualities: commited, hard-working, reliable, determinated, creative
Experience: voluntary work, holiday jobs, participation in activities
Qualifications: hold a certificate in ... , passed exams in ... , completed a course in ...
Partical skills: fluent in (langeage), driving licence, cooking, first aid
3. Linking: Giving Reasons
I would like to work for you mainly because I am very interested in environment issuec, but also due to my interest in the problems caused by flooding.
I am familiar with problems of flood cotrol, since I have lived all my life in a farm in Holland below sea level. I have a clean driving licence and I am a competent mechanic as I have completed a three-year course of evening classes.
4. Checking
Style: Have you used formal words and expressions? Don't use contractions.
Grammar: Check your letter for grammar mistakes.


A Short Informal Letter
1.Layout

Greting
Hi ... , / Dear ... ,

Introduction
Say hello, ask a few personal questions and/or make a few chatty comments.
How are you? Did you pass the exam? I hope so. The weather here is really bad at the moment. Last week I went to ...
Paragraph 1
State your main reason for writing.
Anyway, I'm writing to ...
Paragraph 2
Finish the letter with an excuse to stop writing.
Well, I have to go now because ...
Signing off
Say goodbye and sign your name.
See you soon, / Write back soon, / Lots of love,
SpooXi

2. Useful Vocabulary
Presents: book about Britain, box of chocolates, cassette of traditional music, perfume
Music: classical, folk, heavy metal, jazz, rock, techno
Clothes: gloves, jeans, jumper, raincoat, shorts, suit, trainers
Places to go:art gallery, cinema, disco, gym, museum, park, party, restaurant
3. Linking
Addition: first, also, finally
Contrast: but, however
Purpose: so that
Example: such as, for example
Reason: as, because
Time: when, while
Beginning of a sentence: Anyway, Well, Right

4. Checking
Layout: Have you organised your letter correctly?
Punctuation: Check your letter for full stops, capital letters and apostrophes in cotractions.
Spelling: Use a dictionary to check your spelling.
Content: Have you answered the question?