SHORT COMMUNICATIVE MESSAGE

WRITING AN E-MAIL

1. WHAT ARE THE TASKS IN PART 1?

a. An email will be given as a form of question for you to reply.

b. An email template will be prepared for you to write in.

c. The email should be at about 80 words

d. It requires a personal and concrete response on general social and everyday matters

e. You MUST complete writing it.

2. AN EXAMPLE OF THE QUESTION:

Read the question carefully. Highlight the keywords.

Identify the receiver of the email.

Highlight the MAIN question(s) in the email

Memorise expressions to be used in an informal email.

  Dear James,
GREETING  Dearest James
Greet the person you are
 To James,
writing to.
 Hi/Hello/Hey James!
 How is it going?
 How have you been?
Friendly opening

 How are you (keeping)?

 How are things? I hope everything’s OK.
 I’m glad to hear from you.
RESPONSE  It’s good to hear from you.
Begin your email and say why  I’m so excited to hear that…….
you are writing.  I received your email yesterday
 It’s been ages since we last spoke.
 Sorry for not being in touch for so long, but…
 Thanks for writing to me
 Thank you for your email.
 Thank you for reminding me about…….
CONTENT
Highlight questions in the email that you need to answer. Answer C1 C2 C3
particularly to the questions asked and do not divert the focus of E1 E2 E3
questions
 Well, that’s all for now.
 Do keep in touch/Keep in touch.
 Write back soon.
 Write soon.
Friendly closing

CLOSING
State anything you want to
emphasis and end your letter.
 Bye!
 Bye for now.
 All the best.
 Speak to you later.
 I hope my suggestions are helpful.
 I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
 I’m looking forward to your next email.
 I hope to hear from you soon.
 Waiting for your email/reply.
 Give my love/regards to everyone.
 When writing an email based on prompt,

 Use the informal language and expressions (e.g well, of course, anyway, you know, you see,
actually, by the way)
 Use contractions (I’m , doesn’t, can’t)
 Use exclamations (That’s a great news!)
 Use direct questions (e.g What are you up to?)
 Use standard grammar and spelling conventions. Avoid forms such as wanna, cu l8r, etc.
 Read prompts carefully and include all the points in the notes in your answer.
 Don’t just copy the notes. Try to rephrase them and add any comments and / or information
that is relevant.
 Use appropriate expressions to give suggestions / opinions, express enthusiasm, accept / refuse
invitation or give news etc.

 Wow! That’s great / wonderful/ fantastic news!

 I couldn’t believe when I read that…
To Express  I am pleased to hear that….
Enthusiasm  Guess what. I’ve some good news.
 What a great news!
 I’m thrilled for you. Congrats.
 Why don’t you try…  I think it’s a good idea to..
 Have you ever thought  You simply have to …
about….  What about…
To Suggest
 I recommend that you..  I’d suggest that…
 I feel you should..  The best thing to do is….
 Perhaps you should..
 If I were you, I’d..
 I think it’d be better..
To Advise
 How about..
 It would be good if..
 It’s a good idea to… because…
To Give  I don’t think you should………
Opinion  I believe…… is the best.
 I don’t recommend that you..
 …..…due to..
To Justify  The reason is …...
 It’s a good idea because..
 Basic, high frequency connectors Cohesive device
Meaning Linking words / Simple connectors More sophisticated linking words and
phrases
Example and / but / because / first of all / furthermore / in other words / as a
finally result

To start First of all First and foremost,..

To begin,..
To start with,..
In a first place,..

Cause & Effect Because Consequently,..

So Therefore,..
For As a result,..
Thus

Comparison Like Similarly,..

Even though,..
In contrast,..
Despite,..

Contrast Yet However,..

Nevertheless,..
Although,..
In spite of..

Addition And In addition,..

Also Furthermore,..
Next Besides,..
Moreover,..

Illustration Such as For example,..

As an example,..
For instance,..
In the case of..

Emphasis Actually Significantly,..

In fact,..
Particularly,..

Conclusion Finally In conclusion,..

To conclude,..
To sum up,..

Opinion I think In my view/opinion,..

As for me, I think..
Personally, I think..
It seems likely..