WRITING 2
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EXERCISE 1. Formal email or letter asking for information
Fill in the gaps with the words in the box.
appreciate also finally reference
first of all forward further Grateful know mind
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing in (1)reference to the home exchange service that you offer on your website. We are a
family of four who have been considering the possibility of exchanging our main home for some
time and we would be (2)grateful if you could answer a few questions.
(3)First of all, I would like to (4)know if some kind of insurance is included in the fee that you
charge for your services. We have our own home insurer, but we are not sure if we should talk to
them before doing an exchange. I would (5)appreciate some information on this point.
I would (6)also like to know if pets can be included in the exchange. We have a cat and we do not
have anybody to look after him while we are away. Could you tell me if exchanging pets or leaving
a pet in the care of the people who are coming to your home is a common practice?
(7)Finally, I would be interested to receive (8)further information about the confirmation process.
Would you (9)mind telling me if there is an exchange contract that needs to be signed before your
exchange?
We would appreciate it if you could answer these questions. I look (10) forward to hearing
from you.
Yours faithfully,
Stephanie Clark.
EXERCISE 2. Match the underlined informal parts of sentences 1-8 with formal phrases a-h.
1 I am writing to give you my ideas on our project.->d
2 Our school recycling week is happening next month.->c
3 I want to tell you which topics should be covered.->f
4 My reason are these.->a
5 I hope you like my ideas.->b
6 I think a talk from you would be very motivating.->h
7 I’d like it if you would consider my request.->g
8 Please write back soon.->e
a as follows
b consider my recommendations favourably
c takes place
d put forward
e I look forward to hearing from you
f would like to suggest
g I would be grateful
h In my view,
WRITING 2
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EXERCISE 3. Read the task above and the letter below. Answer the questions below. Do you
agree with the student’s reaction?
Dear Sir or Madam
I am writing in response to the article about part-time work for teenagers. It stated that working
was having a negative effect on teenagers by providing them with too much money and reducing the
amount of time they spent studying.
I’d like to say that I cannot agree with the assumption that all teenagers who work are very
materialistic and are failing at school. I feel that the article is projecting an unbalanced view of
teenagers who work. Personally, I think that working teenagers gain experience of how to operate in
the real world. They learn to turn up on time, be responsible, and deal with people. They also learn
the value of money. To my mind, these are great benefits. Furthermore, many teenagers are saving
for worthwhile things like hobbies or university, rather than wasting their earnings.
However, I am sure it is true that those who work very long hours have less study time, which cannot
be good. So, I would like to suggest some ways that part-time work may benefit teenagers without
affecting their studies. Firstly, they need to limit the hours they work and not work on too many
school evenings. Secondly, they could look for casual jobs like babysitting or dog walking, which
can be turned down if schoolwork is pressing. Finally, teenagers could work in the holidays
rather than school time.
I believe that these suggestions would help teenagers retain the benefits of extra money from
working, without putting their studies at risk.
Your faithfully
Sophie Bennett
1 What is the student’s reaction to the article?
2 What positive reasons are given for part-time jobs?
3 How many suggestions are made for making part-time work beneficial?
Writing Strategy
Use synonyms and paraphrases to avoid repeating the same words too often, for example: very angry
= furious.
EXERCISE 4. Read the Writing Strategy. Then read the words and phrases below and match
them with the highlighted words with similar meanings in the letter.
1 arrive ………………………….
2 belief/view ………………………….
3 cut back ………………………….
4 claimed that ………………………….
5 presenting ………………………….
6 keep ………………………….
7 refused ………………………….
8 put forward ………………………….
9 function ………………………….
WRITING 2
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10 in answer to ………………………….
11 giving ………………………….
12 urgent ………………………….
EXERCISE 5. Writing Guide
A newspaper recently published an article about teenagers spending all their money on unnecessary
consumer goods, blaming their obsession with the latest technology. Write a letter to the editor
where you express your opinion about this, and suggest ways that teenagers can be helped to really
think about their needs and to buy wisely.
Read the task above. Make notes.
Your reaction …………………………………………
Your reasons …………………………………………
Your suggestions …………………………………………
EXERCISE 6. Write your letter to the newspapers using your notes from exercise 6.
Extra exercises
Strategy
When the task requires you to suggest solutions to a problem, do not only list your ideas or
suggestions, but explain how each of them can help solve the problem.
Match the sentence halves to complete the suggestions.
I would like to suggest some ways of encouraging people to buy eco-friendly products.
1 Firstly, green products should be cheaper. This way ……..
2 Secondly, they must be advertised on TV. Not only will it ……..
3 Finally, eco-friendly goods ought to be of very high quality. If they were, ……..
A their owners and users would recommend them to their friends and neighbours.
B people will buy more of them for less money.
C encourage people to get them, but having and using them will become fashionable.
EXERCISE 7. Read the task and the letter below. In which paragraph (A-D) does the writer
1 conclude the letter? ……
2 state the reason for writing? ……
3 make suggestions? ……
4 explain the reason for requesting the charity’s presence? ……
You are helping to organise a charity week for your school. You want to invite someone who will
give an inspiring talk to the students. Write a letter to the president of a local charity organisation,
and suggest what topics the talk should over.
Dear Sir or Madam
[A] I am writing to invite you or one of your members to speak to students during our school
charity week.
WRITING 2
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[B] Our school is organising a week next term when all the students will do something for charity.
We would like to raise as much money as possible. In wonder whether someone from your
organisation would 1 consider making a speech to the school on this topic? 2 In my view, it would
really 3 benefit us all to have someone inspire us before we take on this challenge.
[C] I am sure you have your own thoughts on what it would be useful to cover. However, in
addition to your own ideas, I would 4 recommend including some advice on how to organise
ourselves efficiently. In addition, it would be interesting to know which particular activities and
events might be the most successful for raising money. Furthermore, we would appreciate some
information on the best ways to advertise what we are doing. Finally, perhaps you could talk to us
about the work of your charity. It would be inspiring to hear about how your organisation has 5
contributed to society and made a difference to people’s lives.
[D] I hope you will consider my request to talk at our school about raising money for charity. 6 I
look forward to hearing from you 7 at your earliest convenience.
Yours faithfully
Chris Adams, Year 13
EXERCISE 8. Read the Writing Strategy. Match the underlined formal expressions in the letter
with the informal ones below.
as soon as possible be good for I can’t wait to hear
given suggest I think think about talking
