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. 

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

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

21^st 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. 

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.

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. 

13^th 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?