For your last piece of homework of the term, I would like you to write one more formal letter. It's a kind of letter we haven't looked at in lessons, so this will be a test of how well you can come up with ideas of your own, as well as a test of how well you can remember how to lay out a formal letter and how well you can use formal language.
The letter I would like you to write is to the manager of a hotel you recently stayed in complimenting her on the excellent experience you had. Things you could mention include:
* The comfortable beds
* The great restaurant
* The politeness of the staff
There might be other things you can think of as well.
The address you should use is:
Sunny View Hotel
Sunshine Avenue
Perranporth
PE4 8UH
The letter should be around 200 words long.
Good luck, merry Christmas and see you soon!
Mr Q Year 8 English
Friday, 8 December 2017
Friday, 1 December 2017
Homework, 1st December, 2017
Have a look at the sentences below and, for each one, decide whether it belongs in a formal or informal letter, or is just too informal.
If you decide that the sentence belongs in a formal letter, you then need to decide whether it goes best in a job application letter or a complaint letter.
The first one has been done for you as an example.
1. I am writing to apply for the position of teacher at the Moat School. This goes best in a formal job application letter.
2. Wassup bruv?
3. I can't wait to see you next week.
4. I am writing to express my disappointment at the pair of shoes I bought from you last week.
5. How are Mike and Julie?
6. She's bare peng innit.
7. I feel I would be the ideal candidate for the reasons listed below.
8. In addition to this, I have three years' experience working in retail.
9. I hope you will make this up to me by giving me a full refund.
10. I recently started taking swimming lessons.
11. I was, quite frankly appalled at the service.
12. Fam, it was bangin', you feel me?
If you decide that the sentence belongs in a formal letter, you then need to decide whether it goes best in a job application letter or a complaint letter.
The first one has been done for you as an example.
1. I am writing to apply for the position of teacher at the Moat School. This goes best in a formal job application letter.
2. Wassup bruv?
3. I can't wait to see you next week.
4. I am writing to express my disappointment at the pair of shoes I bought from you last week.
5. How are Mike and Julie?
6. She's bare peng innit.
7. I feel I would be the ideal candidate for the reasons listed below.
8. In addition to this, I have three years' experience working in retail.
9. I hope you will make this up to me by giving me a full refund.
10. I recently started taking swimming lessons.
11. I was, quite frankly appalled at the service.
12. Fam, it was bangin', you feel me?
Friday, 24 November 2017
Homework, 24th November, 2017
You recently read an article in a magazine which argued that school uniform should be scrapped in schools in the UK.
Decide whether or not you agree with this point of view, then write a letter to the editor (the person in charge) of the magazine giving your view. Use the guidelines below to help you.
It should be around 250 words long.
Decide whether or not you agree with this point of view, then write a letter to the editor (the person in charge) of the magazine giving your view. Use the guidelines below to help you.
It should be around 250 words long.
Generic
letter to the editor structure
Your address, e.g.:
Mr
Quillfeldt
12
Bishop’s Avenue
London
SW6 6EG
|
The date in long form, e.g.:
15th
September, 2015
|
The address of the person you are writing to,
e.g.:
The Editor
Education Today Magazine
567 Brooke
Avenue
Barnsley
BR4 8YG
|
If you don’t know the name of the person you are
writing to, start Dear
Sir/Madam.
If you do know the name of the person you are
writing to, start Dear
Mr if it is male, or Ms if it is a female.
|
In the first paragraph, explain why you are
writing the letter, e.g.:
I am
writing to you to express my views on …
Give the opposite view first:
Some
people believe that …
|
Then give your view:
My own
view on this topic is that …
|
Sum up everything you have said:
For all of
these reasons, I believe …
|
Sign off. If you know the name of the person you
are writing to, use Yours sincerely. If
you don’t know the name of the person, use Yours faithfully.
|
Write your name
|
Friday, 17 November 2017
Homework, Friday, 17th November, 2017
Read the following letter of complaint and answer the questions that go with it.
This is due on Monday, 20th November, 2017
Barnabus
A. Walpole-Mountbatten
123
Honeysuckle Lane
Harrogate
HA3
7YG
21st
November, 2016
Tyler
Durden
Customer
Relations Manager
Easyjet
Headquarters
Apollo
House
Chiswick
CH87
8FC
Dear
Mr Durden
I
am writing to you because I had an absolutely terrible experience on one of
your Aeroplanes recently. I mean, it was shocking. Absolutely shocking.
Firstly,
the staff, both on the ground and on the plane, were all rude and unpleasant to
me, not to mention smelly and, in some cases, unbearably ugly. I don’t think
it’s fair that a paying customer should have to endure such horror.
Secondly,
once we were in the air, I found the noise of the engines quite distressing. If
you could turn it down next time I fly with you, it would be greatly
appreciated as, at times, I thought my eardrums were going to literally
explode.
Thirdly,
the food was absolutely revolting. As someone who is used to the finer things
in life (a typical meal for me might include fois gras, caviar and quale’s eggs), a simple meal of goat’s cheese
salad, followed by roast suckling pig, finished with Black Forest Gateaux will
simply not suffice. Please see to it that, on future flights, my tastes are
catered for.
Lastly,
the turbulence I experienced was unacceptable. Turbulence may be okay for the
plebs in Economy, but if I am paying top dollar for a First Class ticket, I
expect a First Class flying experience.
For
these reasons, I am sure that you will cover the cost of my next booking as
compensation for my horrendous experience.
Yours
sincerely,
Barnabus
A. Walpole-Mountbatten
Questions
1.
In what town does Mr. Walpole-Mountbatten live?
2.
What is the name of the airline he is complaining to?
3.
What word does he use to describe the experience he had on the plane?
4.
Write down one issue he had with the ground staff.
5.
What does he suggest Easyjet does to fix the problem of noisy engines?
6.
What did he have for dessert on the flight?
7.
What does he think should be catered for on future flights?
8.
For whom does he think turbulence might be okay?
9.
Why does he think it is not okay for him?
10.
Overall, do you think Mr. Walpole-Mountabtten has a good reason to complain?
Why/why not?
Extension questions
11.
Write down two examples of hyperbole you can find in the letter.
12.
What evidence do we have that Mr. Walpole-Mountabatten might be something of a
prude? (If you are not sure what the word ‘prude’ means, look it up).
13.
What derogatory word does he use to describe people who fly economy class? (If
you are not sure what the word ‘derogatory’ means, look it up).
14.
Write down, in order of when they appear in the letter, the four main
complaints he has.
Friday, 10 November 2017
Homework, Friday, November 10th, 2017
Read the letter from Nat's dad to Nat and answer the questions that follow. This is due on Monday, November 13th.
Dear Nat,
I hope you’re okay. I’m doing well … I mean, I
know I’m in prison, but I’m doing as well as can be expected. The other lads in
here are treating me well and, believe it or not, the food is not actually that
bad. I’m sharing a room with a bloke called Rob. I haven’t asked him what he’s
in for; to be honest, I’d rather not know, but whatever it is, he’s been nice
to me, so whatever.
I’m sorry I couldn’t give you more information
before those Secret Service goons turned up and whisked me away. I thought I had
more time. Oh well, you’re smart, so I know you’ll figure out the trail. Just
trust your instincts. I’m really sorry I’ve put you in this horrible position
and, believe me, I wouldn’t ask you to do what you’re doing if it wasn’t
really, really important, and I know it’s especially difficult as you have to
sneak around the house without your mum and Hannah knowing what you’re up to,
but it will all be worth it in the end, I promise.
Anyway, I have to go; it’s almost time for me to
go back to my cell. I know this is all really difficult to deal with, but it
will all be fine soon, I promise. Just keep following those clues, and soon
we’ll be together again, kicking a football around in the garden just like old
times.
Love,
Dad
Questions
1. What three things are missing from the top of
the letter?
2. What word does Nat’s dad use to refer to the
other men in the prison?
3. What do you think he wants us to think about
his relationship with them by using this word?
4. Why do you think he would rather not know why
Rob is in prison?
5. What word does he use to refer to the men from
the Secret Service who arrested him?
6. What does the use of this word tell us about
his attitude towards them?
7. What makes the position dad has put Nat in especially
difficult?
8. Why does he have to go?
9. What, according to dad, will he and Nat soon be
doing again?
Extension
activity
Explain in around 100 words how we can tell that
this is an informal letter. Make sure you copy specific parts of the text
(although not more than one line at a time) to provide evidence.
Example: We can tell that this is an informal letter because Nat’s dad
uses the informal greeting ‘Dear Nat’, as opposed to ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, which is
more formal.
Dear Nat,
I hope you’re okay. I’m doing well … I mean, I
know I’m in prison, but I’m doing as well as can be expected. The other lads in
here are treating me well and, believe it or not, the food is not actually that
bad. I’m sharing a room with a bloke called Rob. I haven’t asked him what he’s
in for; to be honest, I’d rather not know, but whatever it is, he’s been nice
to me, so whatever.
I’m sorry I couldn’t give you more information
before those Secret Service goons turned up and whisked me away. I thought I had
more time. Oh well, you’re smart, so I know you’ll figure out the trail. Just
trust your instincts. I’m really sorry I’ve put you in this horrible position
and, believe me, I wouldn’t ask you to do what you’re doing if it wasn’t
really, really important, and I know it’s especially difficult as you have to
sneak around the house without your mum and Hannah knowing what you’re up to,
but it will all be worth it in the end, I promise.
Anyway, I have to go; it’s almost time for me to
go back to my cell. I know this is all really difficult to deal with, but it
will all be fine soon, I promise. Just keep following those clues, and soon
we’ll be together again, kicking a football around in the garden just like old
times.
Love,
Dad
Questions
1. What three things are missing from the top of
the letter?
2. What word does Nat’s dad use to refer to the
other men in the prison?
3. What do you think he wants us to think about
his relationship with them by using this word?
4. Why do you think he would rather not know why
Rob is in prison?
5. What word does he use to refer to the men from
the Secret Service who arrested him?
6. What does the use of this word tell us about
his attitude towards them?
7. What makes the position dad has put Nat in especially
difficult?
8. Why does he have to go?
9. What, according to dad, will he and Nat soon be
doing again?
Extension
activity
Explain in around 100 words how we can tell that
this is an informal letter. Make sure you copy specific parts of the text
(although not more than one line at a time) to provide evidence.
Example: We can tell that this is an informal letter because Nat’s dad
uses the informal greeting ‘Dear Nat’, as opposed to ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, which is
more formal.
Friday, 3 November 2017
Homework, Friday, November 3rd, 2017
Read the following letter and answer the questions underneath. The letter is from the protagonist of The Messenger Bird, Nat, to his dad, who is in prison.
This is due on Monday, November 6th.
13th November, 2012
Dear Dad,
How are you? I mean, I know you’re in prison, so
you’re obviously not doing that well, but are you as okay as you can be? Are
they treating you well? What’s the food like?
I’ve been following Lily’s trail, but it’s hard
trying to piece everything together. You didn’t give me enough information! I
found some stuff in the loft: a picture of an eye, but I don’t get what it
means. And I found some words scratched into a bucket, but I don’t understand
what they mean either. I have a feeling the answers I need are at Bletchley
Park, but I’ve no idea how I’m going to get in there. The security around that
place must be water tight. If only you could give me more help, but I completely
understand that you can’t.
Mum is doing okay … well, she acts like she is but
I kind of get the sense that she’s just holding it together for me and Hannah.
Hannah is still just being Hannah: moody, not saying much, spending a lot of
time in her room.
I’ll keep trying dad, I will, I promise, and I
also promise that I will find the evidence we need to prove your innocence and get
you out of prison. I worry about you, but I know that if I stay positive we can
do this.
Lots of love,
Nat
Questions
1. What is missing from the top of the letter?
2. Why is Nat’s dad obviously not doing very well?
3. Whose trail has Nat been following?
4. Why is it hard following this trail?
5. Where did he find some scratched words?
6. Why is it probably going to be difficult to get
into Bletchley Park?
7. Based on what is written in the letter, what
kind of person is Hannah?
8. What does Nat promise to keep doing?
9. What does he need to find to prove his dad’s
innocence?
10. How does he sign the letter off?
Extension
questions
11. How can we tell from the first paragraph that
Nat is very worried about his dad?
12. How can we tell from the first few lines of
the second paragraph that Nat might be slightly frustrated with his dad?
13. Why might it be difficult to tell if Hannah is
really upset about the whole thing?
Friday, 6 October 2017
Homework, Friday, October 6th, 2017
This week I would like you to read the extract from The Messenger Bird and answer the questions that go with it. As always, everything you need is in your homework folder.
This is due on Monday, October 9th.
This is due on Monday, October 9th.
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