Writing skills

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

Welcome!

Road Map

• Book of the week
• Writing - theory
• Writing - do

Lesson goal

At the end of this class you

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

Book of the Week

Maus

by 

Art Spiegelman

Book of the Week

1. What is Maus?

2. How did Maus originate?

3. Why was it important for Art Spiegelman to 'really know what street' his father was talking about?

Book of the Week

1. What is Maus?

2. How did Maus originate?

3. Why was it important for Art Spiegelman to 'really know what street' his father was talking about?

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!