STUDY AND WRITING SKILLS
15
1.5
11
Complete the table with expressions from the emails.
Formal/Neutral
Informal
Greeting
Request
Mention of
attachment
Additional
information
Future contact
Ending
12
The replies to the two emails are below, but they
are jumbled. Decide which sentences go with which
email and put them in the correct order.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Email 1
(formal)
a
g
Email 2
(informal)
h
n
a
Dear Ms Al Bitar,
b
Sorry, but I won’t be able to make it this year as I’ve
already got something on.
c
Once again I would like to apologise for not attending
this year and for any inconvenience caused.
d
I am afraid that I will be unable to attend the
conference this year due to a prior engagement.
e
If you want, I can see if I can find someone to step in.
f
Anyway, sorry again for not coming and I hope it
doesn’t put you out too much.
g
Yours sincerely, James Hammond
h
Hi Nader,
i
Thank you for your email of 5 February inviting me
to speak at the conference in Manama, Bahrain.
j
Please let me know about any other stuff you are
doing in the future.
k
If you wish, I could recommend one of my
colleagues to speak in my place.
l
Thanks for the invite to talk at the conference in
Bahrain.
m
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you
organise another conference in the future.
n
Best, James
13
Complete the table with expressions from the two
replies in Exercise 12.
Formal/Neutral
Informal
Thanking
Giving bad news
Offering help
Apologising
Future contact
14
From your analysis of the four emails, list the
general features of formal and informal language.
In informal language: missing out words, …
15
a
Work with a partner. Choose one situation each
and write an email.
1
Your college or workplace is opening a new building.
Last week, you saw a television news item about
the project. There was an interview with a former
employee who worked in the old building for fifty
years. Write an email inviting him/her to make a
speech as part of the opening ceremony.
2
A friend is returning soon from a study trip abroad.
Write an email inviting him/her to give a talk to a
group who will go on the same study trip this year.
The talk should be about his/her experiences, and
give some ‘survival’ tips.
15
b
Peer-checking
Exchange your email with your
partner. Check your partner’s email for mistakes, using
the system below.
Unlike notes which are only for you to understand,
writing needs to be accurate to communicate
effectively. People will also judge you on the accuracy
of your writing, whereas they may judge speaking on
communicative ability alone. Readers need to GRASP
your message:
G
– Grammar: check it!
R
– Register: is the level of formality correct and
consistent?
A
– Appropriacy of vocabulary: is it the right meaning
and register?
S
– Spelling
P
– Punctuation (commas, full stops, capital letters, etc.)
15
c
Write a suitable reply to your partner’s email.
