INFORMAL LETTERS

Sample  –  Alerting  a  Friend  to  a  Scam  (Adapted  from  200  Model  Essays  PT3  by  Audrey  Lynn  Raj)  
You  recently  became  the  victim  of  a  con  man  after  shopping  at  a  popular  hypermarket.  Write  to  your  
friend,  who  also  patronises  the  same  hypermarket,  warning  her  to  be  careful.  Your  letter  should  
contain  details  of  what  happened  and  a  description  of  the  con  man  and  his  accomplice.  Use  the  
following  notes  to  help  you  write  the  letter.  Your  letter  should  not  be  less  than  150  words.  
 
• State  where  and  when  the  incident  took  place  (1)  
• Describe  the  people  involved  (2)  
• Describe  what  happened  and  when  you  realised  that  you  
had  been  conned  (3)  
• Describe  what  you  did  after  that  (4)  
• Tell  your  friend  to  be  cautious  and  to  alert  her  friends  
and  family  (5)  
• Advise  your  friend  on  how  to  be  safe  from  scams  (6)  
 
 
Lot  1827  Jalan  Landak,  
Taman  Ungu  Pelangi,  
17000  Pasir  Mas,  
Kelantan.  
 
10  April  2015  
• To  avoid  spelling  errors,  
 
use  ‘April’  as  your  month  
Dear  Sarah,  
because  it  is  spelled  the  
         How  have  you  been?  I  hope  you  and  your  family  are  in  the  best  of  health.  As  for  
same  in  many  languages.  
me,  an  unfortunate  incident  happened  to  me  yesterday.  I  became  the  victim  of  a    
trickster  at  the  Pantai  Timur  Hyermarket.  (1)   • Keep  your  salutation  
             I   thought   I   am   well-­‐equipped   with   knowledge   about   scams,     so   when   it   simple.  No  need  for  “Dear  
happened   to   me,   I   almost   could   not   believe   it.   Yesterday,   after   shopping   at   the   my  darling  friend  Sarah”.  
hypermarket,  I  went  to  the  car  park  to  load  my  grocery  into  my  car.  Then,  a  car    
pulled   up   nearby.   A   man   stepped   out   and   asked   me   if   I   could   direct   him   to   the   • Read  the  question  as  
nearest   toilet.   There   was   an   old   lady   inside   the   car   and   I   believed   the   man.   The   thoroughly  as  possible  and  
lady  looked  kind  and  motherly  so  I  did  not  suspect  anything.  (2)       put  a  tick  to  points  that  
         Just  as  I  began  to  direct  the  man  to  the  nearest  toilet,  he  suddenly  lunged  for   you  have  already  covered.  
my  handbag  and  snatched  it,  throwing  me  off-­‐balance.  (3)  However,  I  managed  to    
use   my   pepper   spray   and   recovered   my   handbag   from   the   unsuspecting   man.   I   • Try  not  to  exceed  6  
locked  my  car  and  drove  off  as  fast  as  I  could.  (4)   sentences  per  paragrapgh  
             I   lodged   a   police   report   and   was   told   that   many   other   similar   cases   were   to  avoid  making  too  many  
reported  before.  Do  warn  your  family  members  about  this  so  that  the  same  would   grammatical  mistakes.  
not  happen  to  them.  (5)  I  think,  we  should  not  be  too  quick  to  trust  other  people    
in  order  to  be  safe  from  scams.  We  must  also  read  the  newspaper  and  watch  the   • Use  idioms  
news  to  be  up-­‐to-­‐date  with  current  issues  especially    if  it  involves  scams.  (6)   whenever/wherever  
             That  is  all  from  my  for  now.  I  have  to  pen  off  and  finish  my  homework  before   possible  but  not  
bedtime.  I  look  forward  to  your  reply.   excessively  
 
Yours  sincerely,  
Senah
     
 
 
 

Adlina  @  http://www.carameltoffee.net  
 INFORMAL LETTERS
Question  
You  are  an  avid  reader  of  novels,  magazines  and  newspapers.  Your  little  sister  who  is  studying  in  a  
hostel  sent  you  a  letter  asking  you  about  the  benefits  of  reading  newspapers.  Write  a  reply  to  your  
little  sister  and  include  the  following  details:  
 
• State  three  benefits  of  reading  newspapers  
• Describe  the  effects  of  not  reading  newspapers  
• Describe  an  interesting  news  article  that  you  had  read  
recently  
• Describe  a  boring  news  article  that  you  had  read  
recently  
• Advise  your  sister  on  how  to  be  an  good  reader  
 
Use  the  8-­‐fork  mind  maps  we  did  in  class  last  Sunday  as  a  guide  ;)  
Try  your  best  and  good  luck!  
 

 
 
Adlina  @  http://www.carameltoffee.net