5 vwo letter writing

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Start Part  2

Lesson series on letter writing.

 Goals:

• You will learn the difference between formal and informal letters
• You will learn what the structure is of a formal letter
• You will learn what type of language to use in a letter
• You will learn what type of information you could include in a letter

What could be reasons for writing a letter/email to someone?

Start Part  1

Letter writing

Watch the video on the next slide on basic letter writing, and answer the questions on the following slides.

Name an example of someone you would write an informal letter/email to

1. Your teacher
2. Your friend
3. The mayor
4. Someone you've never met

Who could you write a formal letter to?

1. Your grandmother
2. Your neighbour
3. Your boss
4. A close friend

Where should you include the date of writing?

1. In the bottom left corner
2. At the top and at the bottom on the right
3. It does not need to be included
4. In the top right corner

How should you start your letter, after you've filled in the date?

What do you think could be the difference between formal and informal language in a letter?

Formal language

Informal language

Hey dude, how's it going?

I am writing this email to file a complaint

Dear Mr Burnsley,

Dear James,

He's always doing so much stuff.

Your book sucks.

I do not think the novel is suitable for young adults.

Start Part  2

So what about your letter?

The letter you're going to write for the PART test  is going to be a letter of opinion about Shakespeare and hist plays.

Now.......

Now watch the film clip and then answer the questions on the following slides.

You are writing a letter to a publisher or editor. Do you think it is it formal or informal?

1. More formal
2. More informal

Now that you know it's a formal letter to the author of your book, how do you think you should end?

What kind of structure do you think you should use in your letter?

Your opinion of the subject + explanation of why you think this.

How could you start your introduction?

Grading criteria

1. The correct use of English

2. Content of your letter including points in assignment and knowledge of Shakespeare, his life and work

3. Your writing skill in structuring and communicating your message 

1. The format of your letter

Salutation

Structure of your letter

Paragraphs

Appropriate ending

Date/names

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Date

Dear Mr / Ms. .... ,

Intro

Body

Conclusion

Yours sincerely,

First + last name

Your English skills 

Grammar

Vocabulary / register

Sentence construction

Spelling

Punctuation

Paragraphs

Content of your letter 

You follow the assignment.

Make clear links to the information in the assignments of the project.

 Give examples and explanations. 

Meet the word count (about 200 words)

Follow the rules of correctly addressing your audience.

Present a clear personal opinion.

Test prep.

Write down the sections of the project and short notes on what you learned about each:

example: Shakespeare's plays and the Globe - women were not allowed in plays, young boys played their parts; Globe was a new type of theater different than medieval

 

Don't forget to find support for your opinions, give examples, explain them.

How prepared do you feel for the test now?

What test?

Not very prepared

A little prepared

Somewhat prepared

Very prepared

Start Part  3

Today's lesson

We will recap what we need to do in the test week

We will look at some useful vocabulary for our letter

We will look at essential layout

We will practice a letter.

Layout

Look at the template

Do you think you can use this for your practice letter on page 49 and 50 in your Reader? 

The introduction: 

Tell the editor

Why are you writing? 

What did you think of Katherine's opinion?

 Points she mentions.

What is your opinion of the authorship debate (opinion)

Useful language for your introduction:

I am writing to you because... 

I have read the letter by .......... and ..........

I have recently been studying Macbeth.....................

Students at school recently gave a presentation about ....... . 

I read that Mr Kathman and Mr Ross ....... and I am of exactly the same mind.  

I am afraid I must disagree with.......

While the writers have a point, I still believe..........

2 or 3 Main paragraphs (body)  

Your opinion authorship question

Who are possible writers, and who are not likely

examples from the Shakespeare project to support your opinion

Why do you have this opinion

Why was Shakespeare so important then and now?

Is this debate still relevant? Why (not)?

Useful language for the body paragraph:

a) I am writing to express my opinion about ….

b)There are several other possible authors, such as (name of the people). 

c) It is very possible that (name) was the true writer, mainly because of .... (facts about person and the works). 

d) For example ....... (find something to support your opinion)

e) On the other hand, it is unlikely.....

Conclusion/Final paragraph 

Your opinion of whether students should learn about Shakespeare

would you want to see a play or learn about another one? 

The things that you found important in the project

 summary of what the good/bad points were

Conclusion

Useful language for the conclusion:

Finally, I think that if ...... (play / project) had been  ...... (your own idea) then this would have made the classes more educational/interesting/exciting. 

In summary, I want to say how much I liked/disliked this project and that 

a) I definitely want to read/see more Shakespeare in the future.

b) I am unlikely to enjoy or seek out Shakespeare in the future.

How prepared do you feel for the test now?

What test?

Not very prepared

A little prepared

Somewhat prepared

Very prepared