Writing/ Curious Incident/ Start Unit 2A

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Monday, September 30th

Programme

- Writing formal letters and emails

- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

- SB Unit 2A: Landscapes

Today's goals

1. You know how to write a formal letter and email.

2. You understand what the novel is about up until now.

3. You can describe landscapes.

Formal vs Informal writing

Formal vs Informal writing

When you write a piece, you have to start by choosing between using formal or informal language.

 

Formal and informal language are different. They have different tones, word choices, and ways of putting words together. 

Formal vs Informal writing

Formal language is not very personal. People use it for professional or school work, like university essays. You would also use it for a letter of application, a letter of complaint, etc. In formal language, we don't use colloquialisms or short forms like 'can't'.

Informal language is more relaxed and natural. We use it when talking to friends or family, in texts, emails, and sometimes in less formal business writing. Informal language feels friendlier than formal language. 

Formal vs Informal writing

Examples:

Formal: I requested a map because I was lost.

Informal: I asked for a map because I was lost.

Formal: Can I borrow some bucks?

Informal: Could I borrow some money?

Formal: I cannot find the answer.

Informal: I can’t find the answer. 

Exercise 1: Is it formal or informal English?

1. Let's have lunch at this Chinese restaurant!
2. Good morning! How are you?
3. Hey, how's it going?
4. They will be attending the meeting tomorrow.
5. Sorry!
6. It was raining cats and dogs!
7. May I suggest you try this drink?

Exercise 2: Would you use formal or informal English?

1. a WhatsApp message to a friend
2. an essay about the importance of a mobile phone ban in school
   
3. an e-mail to a co-worker you have a good relationship with
   
4. an e-mail to your boss in which you ask for a raise
   
5. an e-mail to a company to complain about a product you bought
   
6. a letter of application
   
7. a post for a holiday blog
   
8. a letter to a teacher, asking them to postpone a test 
   

wouldn't

lucky

to try

kids

so

haven't

to ask for

wrong

have not

children

fortunate

incorrect

therefore

to attempt

to request

would not

Exercise 4: rewrite these formal parts of a letter to informal.
Dear Mr. Aarons,

Exercise 4: rewrite these formal parts of a letter to informal.
I am writing you to inform you about…

Exercise 4: rewrite these formal parts of a letter to informal.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Exercise 4: rewrite these formal parts of a letter to informal.
Yours sincerely, Julia

Exercise 4: rewrite these formal parts of a letter to informal.
Please do not hesitate to contact me!

In pairs, work on exercises 5, 6 and 7

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

- Students have read up until chapter 127.

* Why was father angry at Christopher in chapter 127?

-> He had found the book Christopher was writing.

* Any questions on the chapters you've read?

-> 10 minutes of silent reading

SB Unit 2A: Landscapes               page 18/19

Do exercises 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7

Have you reached today's goals?

1. I know how to write a formal letter and email.

2. I understand what the novel is about up until now.

3. I can describe landscapes.

Time left?

Let's test your knowledge of the Unit 1 vocabulary!

Thursday

- Study vocabulary unit 1 (1.1 - 1.4)

- WB p. 12: do exercises 1 - 3

- Read your novel up until chapter 149