Even in an informal email clear paragraphing is important (especially for the FCE exam as it is worth 5 points out of a possible 20 points - look at page 14 for the scoring rubric).
Getting back to Claudia and Rafael, find the key points required for Claudia's reply).
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Organisation:
3. Always make a plan before you start writing: Can you answer Claudia's questions in exercise 3 on page 12
4. Read Claudia's reply in exercise 4, what do you think of it?
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5. Claudia has forgotten to write about something, what is it?
6. Which of the opening or closing phrases are appropriate for an informal email
7. Can you tell which of these phrases are informal/friendly or formal?
8. Sumarise the contents or each of Claudia's paragraphs.
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Skill
Start a new paragraph when you change topic or want to make a completely fresh point.
9. Topic sentences summarise the content of a paragraph and make the text easier to follow. Can you find the topic sentence in the second and third paragraphs of Claudia's email?
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Connectors
The use of connectors (linking words) will help link your ideas together so that your text flows well.
10. Find examples of
connectors in Claudia's email
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Linking words help you to connect ideas and sentences, so that people can follow your ideas.
Giving examples
For example
For instance
Namely
The most common way of giving examples is by using for example or for instance.
Namely refers to something by name.
“There are two problems: namely, the expense and the time.”
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Adding information
And
In addition
As well as
Also
Too
Furthermore
Moreover
Apart from
In addition to
Besides
Ideas are often linked by and.
In a list, you put a comma between each item, but not before and.
“We discussed training, education and the budget.”
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Ex 15: Now write your email
You have received this email from your English-speaking friend, Jean.
I hear you organised a surprise birthday party for your mother. I'd love to hear about it. What kind of party did you organise? Who did you invite? How did it go? Do tell me.
Love,
Jean
Use 140-190 words. Use the correct grammar.
Start your sentences with capital letters and end with a full stop.
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Make a plan
12. Note down ideas for each key area in the form of notes or a spidergram . Group your ideas in to paragraphs and choose the best order.
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Make a plan
13. Which tense do you need for writing about recent activities?
14. Write down some adjectives which could be used to describe a good party.
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Writing Assignment 1
In the FCE exam you have 40 minutes to write a letter or an email. You have to write 140 - 190 words.
REMEMBER TO MAKE A PLAN
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Extra help
The exercises in the following slides can be used for extra practice