Writing skills

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo lwoo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Welcome!

Road Map

• Writing - theory
• Writing - do

Lesson goal

At the end of this class you

• can indicate the characteristics of formal and informal writing

Writing (p. 42)

Formal  vs. Informal 

What?

• audience
• purpose 

Informal

• contractions (I'm, aren't, don't etc.) 
• active sentences 
• informal expressions
• Dear/ Hi Kim, /James, 
• Best wishes, /All best, / Cheers!
• never: swear, use slang, be rude!

Formal

• no contractions
• passive 
• no abbreviations
• never: swear, use slang, be rude!
• Be firm but polite.
• Dear Sir/Madam, 
• Dear Mr Johnson, 
• Yours faithfully/sincerely, 

Letter/Email Writing

• Introduction: state why you are writing the letter
• Body: elaborate on why you're writing the letter.
• Conclusion/closing lines: I hope that .../ I look forward to ...

Letter/Email Writing

• one topic per paragraph;
• use signal words/linking words (conjunctions!);
  
• Skip a line between paragraphs.

Topic: New Year's resolutions

1. Choose audience and tone  =  friend - informal

2. Decide what you want to include: think of 3 resolutions

3. Start writing

4. Introduction = first paragraph: why are you writing your letter

5. Body: three paragraphs, one resolution per paragraph. Be specific!

6. Conclusion: what do you expect from your reader, any hopes you wish to express?

7. Reread your letter: have you used the correct address and such?

Lesson goal

At the end of this class you

• have practised your WL-skills
• can indicate the characteristics of formal and informal writing

Look ahead

Tuesday: Mission 5

Wednesday: Watching and listening skills 

Friday: Christmas activities!