UNIT 14 teters tothe Editor 1 Look at the pictures and answer the questions. a) What's the oldest/most beautiful b ing in your town/city? b) How would you fee! if it was tor down to have a modern block of offices builtin its place? ©) Ifyou wanted other residents to know what your views are, would you write: a narrative? a news report? a letter to the editor of a local newspaper? Letters to the editor of a newspaper or magazine are written when you want to express your opinion about atopic that is of interest to the general public, to show your agreement or disagreement or to discuss a problem and suggest solutions. Letters tothe editor should consist of: {) an introduction in which you clearly give the reason for writing and your opinion about the topic; Note:_If your letter is written in reply to another letter or article you should also mention where and when you read it, as well as the name of the person who wrote it b) a main body in which you present the problems and thelr consequences or suggestions and results in separate paragraphs ; ©) aconclusion in which you summarise your opinion or restate it using different words. © Letters to the editor are usually written in a formal or semi-formal style. Paragraph 1 reason for writing and your opinion Main Body Paragraphs 2-3* 2. Read the rubric and underline the key words, then answer the questions. ‘The local council of the town you live in has decided to build a large shopping | centre. Write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper expressing your views on this matter. problems and consequences or suggestions and resulls 1 Who is going to read your letter? 2. What is the reason for writing the letter? 3. How would you begin and end your letter? Why? 4 a) Is there a shopping centre in your town? What can you buy there? Is it popular with shoppers? Conclusion Final Paragraph b) Which of the following problems can a shopping centre cause? Tick (7). noise pollution [~] heavy traffic [] litter in the streets [~] sea pollution ©) Would you like a new shopping centre near your house? What would be the advantages or disadvantages? Think about: crowded streets; convenience; noise/air pollution; variety of shops; trafic; smaller shops closing down; how the area will change; ete summarise/restate your opinion * The number of main body paragraphs may vary depending ‘on the rubric.Unit 14¢ Letters to the Editor 3a) Read the letter below and label the paragaphs with these headings: USEFUL EXPRESSIONS AND UNKI 1DS/PHRASES ® second problem and os consequences " ‘© To begin your letter: 1am writing to © reason for writing and === express my approval/disapproval opinion Se ofisupport for ...;1 am writing with © summary of opinion regard to ..; am writing about. | © frst problem and have just read a... n your .. about consequences sete © Tostate your opinion: In my opinion ; 1 {do not) feel/believe) think... Dear Sir/Madam, , aS am (totally) opposed tojin favour of ; Istrongly agree/aisagree with. am writing about Trent Councils decision to build a large Pata 1 ete shopping centre in our town. I strongly disagree with this © To express consequences/results: decision and I believe it will have negative effects on the town, TEC Re This willfwould mean ...; Then ...; odin Firstly, a shopping centre will tum Trent from a quiet, Thectota eCome ee ae peaceful neighbourhood into a busy shopping area. Obviously, Para result we dojdid this there will be an increase in the amount of traffic and the ve Obviously ..; Clearly ..; etc “umber of people coming nto town. Asa result, we willsuffer. =~ © Tollst your point: Firstly .; First of : from both air and noise pollution, all..; Secondly .; Furthermore ..; Secondly, the appearance of our town will change What is more ..; Lastly. Final. completely, In order for the shopping centre to be built, Par## ete | some of our oldest and most beautiful buildings will have to. ~~ oi jolend Vouler ea Cen a oa eee cae a asits comments/suggestions/etc will be "character will be destroyed. taken into consideration ...; | hope ; To sum up, I am totally opposed to the Council’s decision as Para 4 the government/local council/we 2 [believe it will be disastrous for Trent, Consequently, I hope will ...; [nope something will be thatthe council wll reconsider its decision, nnn done about this urgently, etc Yours faithfully, Mary Swanson 5 Read the letter in Ex. 3a again and underline the words) phrases the writer has used which also appear in the table b) Does the writer agree or disagree with the local council's decision? 4 Read the letter again and complete the table that follows. Then make above. Then, replace those sentences, as in the example. words/phrases with suitable alternatives, as in the example. Problems ‘Consequences © increase in amount of trafic PB suo eg, [an writing about = I am writing and number of people with regard to . I strongly disagree with = I am gee ae opposed to eg. The amount of traffic and number of people will increase. As a result, we will.