VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

LESSON 5 - WRITING PART 3 & PART 4 (INFORMAL EMAIL)

I. SAMPLE QUESTIONS

PART 3

You are a new member of Craball writing club. You are in the online chat room. Respond to the
messages using full sentences in 30-40 words per response.
You have 10 minutes to complete the task.

Hello! I see you’re new to the writing club. How did you hear about this club?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

What genres do you usually write? Short stories, novels or blogs?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Who is your favorite author?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

1
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

PART 4

You are a member of Craball writing club and you received this message from the club.

Dear members,
We are writing this email to inform you that the talk show “Love in Words” planned for next
week will be cancelled because Mr. Paul William, the guest author is not able to attend our talk
show due to his personal schedule. Instead, we will turn the talk show into a meeting for
members to share your own works on the topic “Love in Words”.
All members are encouraged to participate. If there are any problems, please contact the club
secretary.
Best regards,
Craball writing club

Part 1. INFORMAL

Write an email to your friend. Write about your feelings and the work that you choose to share in
the club meeting. Write about 50 words. You have 10 minutes.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

(When you finish, see the sample answer at the end of Writing Lesson 5)

2
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

II. INTRODUCTION TO INFORMAL EMAILS

1. Format

To: [email protected]

Subject: Invitation to a birthday party

Hi Jessica,

Hope this mail finds you in the best of your time. I am very happy to invite you to my
birthday party on Nov 03 at ABC Hotel from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The theme of the
birthday party is ‘Pirate of the Caribbean”.

It would be great if you come and join us at the party. We will have a great time and
fun together.

See you soon,

Jenny

2. Language use

2.1. Salutation

Start with Dear followed by the first name of the person to whom you are writing or you can
also start with Hi (and the person's name).

Dear John,

Hi Mary,

3
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

2.2. Introduction

Start with a greeting: How are you? | How have the family been? | I hope you are well.

Acknowledge the original letter: Thank you for the letter and parcel which arrived this
morning. | It was great to hear from you again after such a long time. | I was so surprised to
hear that you are going to university in America!

- Make a comment on your reply: I have so much to tell you. | I'm sorry I haven't written for so
long.

2.3. Covering all the issues

When you have finished your opening comments, begin a new paragraph and cover all the
information that you want to mention.

Make sure that your reply answers any questions that you were asked in the original email and
takes into account any additional information that you have been told to mention.

*** Using informal language.

An informal letter or email is an opportunity to demonstrate informal language skills. There are a
number of ways to make your language informal:

Use intensifying adjectives and adverbs to show enthusiasm: I've got a fantastic new job. | My
new boss is an absolute nightmare.

Use idiomatic language: Things have been getting on top of me at work lately. | It's been ages
since we last managed to meet up. | What have you been up to lately? | Let me know what you
think.

Use question forms to make the letter read more like a conversation: How are your studies
going? | How does that sound to you?

Use informal vocabulary: use get instead of receive, I guess instead of I think

Use phrasal verbs and phrases: we get on well, write back soon, get in touch.

- Use contractions: I can't help thinking I should've told you sooner.

4
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

2.4. Endings

Give my love/regards to … Say hello to … Hope to hear from you soon.

See you soon! Write soon. Once again, thank you for all your help.

2.5. Signing off

Love,

Lots of love,

All the best,

Best wishes,

Task 1: Choose the correct answer for the questions below

1. Which of the following greetings could be used in an informal email?

a. Hi Adam,

b. Dear Sir or Madam,

c. To whom it may concern:

d. Hello Sam,

e. Dear Mr Jones,

f. Hi there Ann,

g. Dear Dr Smith,

h. Dear Ms Fletcher,

i. Dear Mum,

2. Which of the following closing lines could be used in an informal e-mail?

a. See you soon,

b. Yours sincerely,

c. Regards,

5
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

d. Bye for now,

e. Yours faithfully,

f. Love,

g. Yours truly,

h. All the best,

i. Cheers,

Task 2: Informal email asking for advice. Fill in the gaps with the words in the box:

best ‘d like doing know my regards to

hear reason should touch treating wondering if
Hi there Tom,

Sorry that I haven't been in (1) for a while, but we have been really busy. As you
probably (2) , we are moving into the new apartment, and we have been packing
everything up. In a week or so, we'll probably be living in our new place. We're so excited! I
hope you can visit next year.

How's life (3) you? Hope you and Sarah are (4) well. I was really glad
(5) that David could get into Oxford. He's always been such a brilliant student. You
must be a very proud dad right now!

Anyway, the (6) I'm writing is because I want to take Susan on a trip to the north of
Spain next month and, as I know you and Sarah went to Cantabria last summer, I was
(7) you could give me some advice. Can you tell me about a nice place to stay? Do
you think I (8) rent an apartment or book a room in a hotel? Also, I
(9) some information about restaurants and places to visit.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you can visit us soon. We want to show you our new home. Give
(10) to Sarah and David.

Best,

Tony.

PS Susan doesn't know anything about the trip. It's going to be a surprise.

6
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

III. PRACTICE

PRACTICE 1

PART 3

You are a member of the food club. You are talking to some other members in the chat room.
Talk to them using sentences. Use 30 – 40 words per answer. You have 10 minutes in total.

A: The photo you posted on Facebook last night is so great. Did you go out for dinner with
someone? Where is that beautiful restaurant?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

B: If you were invited to dinner, would you choose to eat out or eat at your friend’s home?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

C: Do you think taxes should be imposed on food that harms our health?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

7
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

PART 4

You are a member of the food club. You have just received the following email from the club’s
president.

Dear Members,

I am writing this email to announce that our club will organize a cooking workshop. Especially,
there will be the presence of Mr. Alex Robinson, a worldwide famous chef. In this upcoming
event, all members are encouraged to attend, so participants of all ages are kindly invited.

Therefore, I would like to hear your recommendations on what kind of dishes that you expect to
know more about.

We look forward to your responses.

Regards,

The Club President

EatAll Food Club

Write an email to your friend. Write about your feelings and what you would like to do. Write
about 50 words. You have 10 minutes.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

8
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

PRACTICE 2

PART 3

You are a member of the hiking club. Answer our questions using sentences. Use 30 – 40 words
per answer. You have 10 minutes in total.

Describe a time when you were outdoor and the weather was bad.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Offer advice for people who are beginners in hiking.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

What kind of outdoor activities do you enjoy?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

9
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

PART 4

You received this email from the club.

Dear Members,

We are writing this email to inform you that our club will organize a summer camping trip. We
would like to hear some suggestions from you about places that are suitable for many people
(e.g mountains or coasts), as the participants will include both children and the elderly.

If you have any further recommendations, please let us know.

Regards,

ReJoy

Camping club

Write an email to your friend. Write about your feelings and what you would like to do. Write
about 50 words. You have 10 minutes.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

10
 VNU-IS - Aptis supplementary materials Writing | Level 4

SUGGESTED ANSWERS FOR SAMPLE QUESTIONS

PART 3

Hello! I see you’re new to the writing club. How did you hear about this club?

I was recommended by my close friend, who has already been a club member for some time. I
heard people talking a lot about the benefits of attending here so I want to give it a try and see if
it works for me.

What genres do you usually write? Short stories, novels or blogs?

I normally write short stories. Last year, I participated in a writing contest and won the first
prize by a short story about environment. I realized that I am quite good at writing and started to
love it.
Who is your favorite author?
I am all about Nguyen Nhat Anh and his short stories. His stories are normally about children,
old villages and childhood stories. It immerses readers in the world of their childhood.

PART 4:

Part 1: Informal

Hi Jane,

Have you got the news that our club talk show will be cancelled and it is a pity that Mr. Paul
William won’t attend? I feel a little bit down. However, the sharing meeting for members is also
great. I think I will share my latest story about love in family. How about you? Tell me your
thought.

Love,

Minh

11