How to write an Informal Letter

STRUCTURE

Part 1  Greeting and opener: Say hello to your friend and ask how he or she is
Part 2 Reasons for writing:Explain your reason for writing and give details.
Part 3  More information: Give some other information about yourself. (Eg:
Your plans, what you did...)
Part 4  Closing phrase and sign-off: Finish y0ur email and say
Goodbye.
Content:
- Use contractions.
- Use direct questions
- Use colloquial language.
- Use filler expressions.
- Use short words.
- Use exclamation marks and dashes.

USEFUL LANGUAGE
GREETINGS
Hi / Hi there! /Hello!/ Dear (name)
OPENERS
How are you?/ How’s it going?/ How’s life? / How are things? All well, I hope
RESPONDING TO SOMEBODY’S LETTER
Thank you for your letter. / It was good to hear from you./ You asked about.../ You
wanted to know about.../ Thanks for asking about...
ANNOUNCING NEWS
I’ve got great news!/ Guess what!/ You’ll never guess what’s happened!
APOLOGIZING
I’m sorry I haven’t written for a while, but.../ It’s been ages since I last wrote to you,
but...
ADDING EXTRA INFORMATION
What else? Oh, yes.../ I also wanted to tell you about.../ By the way,...
FILLERS
Well,..../ Anyways,.../ Otherwise,....
CLOSING EXPRESSIONS
Write soon/ Keep in touch/ Looking forward to hearing from you./ See you soon!
SIGNING OFF
Love, Lots of love, Take care, See you, All the best,
 Model answer

Write an informal e-mail to a friend about a future plan.

Hi Jason,
How are things? Did you get my e-mail about the party I ' m having on Friday night?
You haven ' t answered me.

First of all, can you come? I know you ' ve got your driving test on Saturday, so you
probably want an early night. On the other hand, you ' ll probably be nervous so maybe
it would be a good idea to get out and relax a bit!

Anyway, even if you don ' t come, could I borrow a few of your discs? I know you ' ve
got a lot of good music. I was also wondering - could you lend me your speakers as
well? Mine are n ' t very good. I promise that nothing will happen to them !

Hope you can come. Please let me know.

See you,

Steven
Model from: Viewpoints 1. Burlington Books, 2009.
Write an informal e-mail to a friend about a holiday
you took. (120 words)

Images from: google images.