ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE

PAPER 3 (WRITING) – TRANSACTIONAL PIECES

REVISION BOOKLET

FORMAL LETTERS -
LETTER OF COMPLAINT:

12 Star Street
Pinetown
(Your address) 3610
2 March 2023

The Manager
Eskom
51 Pine Street (The company’s address)
Durban
4000

Sir/Madam

ELECTRICITY DISRUPTIONS (State the issue. Capital letters or underline)

I have experienced….. (briefly state the issue – 2/3 lines)

(explain the problem in detail) [inconvenience, displeasure, extensive damage, inconvenience

requested, reported, disappointment] ((8-10 lines)

(suggest solutions) [request, refund, exchange, resolve, arrange, adjust, appreciate)

(3-4 lines)

Yours faithfully
T. Smith (Your signature)
T. Smith

*Introduction, body and conclusion = 180-200 words.

*Style = formal
*Avoid contractions = I’m, wouldn’t
*Although you are complaining, remain polite
 LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

12 Solar Street
Woodlands
May be written on the left - Your address) 3430
2 April 2023

The Editor
The Daily Sun
24 Dune Street (The newspaper’s address)
Durban
4000

Sir/Madam

POLLUTED BEACHES (State the issue. Capital letters or underline)

I have experienced….. (briefly state the issue – 2/3 lines)

(explain the problem in detail) [inconvenience, displeasure, extensive damage, inconvenience

requested, reported, disappointment] ((8-10 lines)

(suggest solutions) [request, resolve, arrange, adjust, appreciate)

(3-4 lines)

Yours faithfully
Y. Naidoo (Your signature)
Y. Naidoo

*Introduction, body and conclusion = 180-200 words.

*Style = formal
*Avoid contractions = I’m, wouldn’t
*Be polite even if you are frustrated about an issue
 LETTER OF APPLICATION:
25 Mill Street
Tongaat
Your address) 3491
30 June 2023

The Manager
Danwick and Associates
54 Trent Street (The company’s address)
Durban
4000

Sir/Madam

APPLICATION FOR POST (Capital letters or underline)

I (name and surname) would like to apply for the post (name the post) which was advertised in
(newspaper name/website/etc) (2-3 lines)

(State your qualification, experience and work ethic) [capable, determined, competent,
passionate, skilled, persistent, devoted]
(8-10 lines)

(How you can be contacted, you have included a C.V.)

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to discussing this employment opportunity.

Yours faithfully
N. Ndlovu (Your signature)
N. Ndlovu

*Introduction, body and conclusion = 180-200 words.

*Style = formal
*Avoid contractions = I’m, wouldn’t
*Provide information about what you can do for the company. Don’t write about what the company
can do for you – eg. why you need the job
CURRICULUM VITAE:
CURRICULUM VITAE OF ……

PERSONAL DETAILS
Surname and names
Date of birth
ID Number
Address
Contact details
Nationality
Languages

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
SECONDARY EDUCATION
Name of institution
Subjects
Highest qualification
Year

TERTIARY EDUCATION
Name of institution
Highest qualification
Year

WORK EXPERIENCE
Company and address
Position
Date of employment

REFEREES
Name
Relationship
Contact details

*For purposes of this writing piece you can make up information – ensure that it is relevant to the
job you are applying for.
THE FORMAL REPORT: eg. Prepare a report for the school Principal to determine whether the
school tuckshop needs to sell more healthy food.

SUBJECT OF REPORT S
[short title]

TO: T
[Person/s reading it]

PREPARED BY: P
[Your full name]

DATE OF SUBMISSION: D

BACKGROUND: B
[what lead to the need for this report]

PURPOSE: P
[Who has requested the report, the reason there should be an investigation]

SCOPE AND LIMITATION: S

[Time taken to complete the report/investigation/costs]

BODY OF REPORT: B
[methods to collect information/date/investigation procedure/interviews etc]

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: C

[findings, conclusion, outcome of investigation]

RECOMMENDATIONS: R
[final suggestion]

Create a pneumonic with each letter so that you can remember it: eg.
Sindy Took Peter’s Diary Before Paul Saw Ben Clouting Ralph

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIALOGUE:

Introduction: Who? When? Where? Why? Friends Ben and Peter are meeting at a
restaurant for a ten-year high school reunion. They have not seen each other for years.

Ben: Peter! (excited) Its great to see you.

Peter: You have not changed in these ten years (shaking hands)
Ben: (moving towards a table) Would you like to sit at my table?

Indicate /actions/tone in brackets. Develop a story – have a climax and create an end. It
is balanced = each person speaks for about equal lengths. Use all punctuation signs .?!...()
 INTERVIEW

Similar to the dialogue, however, the interviewer asks questions while the interviewee
answers/explains. Plan about 4/5 main questions (related to the topic). Be conversational
yet formal.

OBITUARY
(write an obituary of a well-known sports personality from your community)

Name and Surname of deceased

Year of birth and death

Name and surname…..aged…passed away on …….at………Cause of death.

He was born in…..(city), he was the son of……..(parent’s names). He attended (school name) and
graduated at (University/college). He was employed at (company name) and worked as
(job title).

(Name) was a member of (club, religious organisation, group, committee).

He enjoyed (hobbies/activities).

He had a keen interest in serving the …(How did he contribute to the community) (This will relate
to the topic given eg. contributed by helping underprivileged develop in sports/extra coaching at
an orphanage/engaging the youth etc)

(This paragraph is important – write about his community contribution – 4/5 points.)

He is survived by (mention immediate family)

The funeral service will be held on (date, time, place)

He will be remembered for (personality trait eg. positive approach)

Don’t write in the first Third person: He will be

person: I will miss him. He missed. He helped the
helped us. community.
 SPEECH:

Par 1: 1st point-

Introduction: Use a explain, use an
catchy phrase/quote. example.
Explain what you will
speak about topic

Par 2: 2nd point-

Conclude: leave
anecdote.
listener with an
interesting Par 3: 3rd
thought. point,
explain.

Remember: focus on the given topic. You only need three important points – develop them. Consider the
audience – should it be formal or informal? Add an anecdote (story) or humour a joke if the topic allows this
approach.

MAGAZINE ARTICLE:

*Write a catchy title. *Ask the reader a question (rhetorical). *Provide your opinion
*Give a real example. *Choose a style = audience. * Be descriptive and use figurative
language. Be creative, entertain the reader. *Divide ideas into paragraphs

Compiled by: R. Gowthum-Seebadri

Sources: English HL KZN Step Ahead
A Guide to more rewarding writing by D.S. Nair
Pictures sourced online