Name: Date:

Critical Reading and Writing

Level 8

Symbolism and Context

Austen Term
Lesson 6
Writing a Letter of Advice
Lesson 6: Writing a Letter of Advice

Year Focus – Symbolism and Context

Austen Term Focus – Literary Analysis

Lesson Learning Objectives

1. Skills for Reading Unseen Poetry (I)

2. Skills for Reading Unseen Poetry (II)

3. Essay Writing (I): Analysing a Question and Making an Essay Plan

4. Essay Writing (II): Structuring and Developing Points

5. Essay Writing (III): Writing and Assessing an Essay

6. Writing a Letter of Advice

7. Wonder: Recap & Genre

8. Wonder: Letter of Advice to Auggie

9. Wonder: Themes + Perspective

10. Wonder: Tone, Mood, & Context

11. Wonder: Characterisation (Character Arcs)

12. Unseen Poetry Test

Note to Parents:

Today students are going to be reintroduced to the elements necessary to writing a

good letter of advice. This is a common writing task that appears throughout
secondary school and in the HKDSE.

Students will look both at the language and structure they need in order to write a
successful advice letter. In further lessons, they will continue to apply these
techniques to the books they read.

2
 Lesson 6: Writing a Letter of Advice

Writing a Letter of Advice

When we write letters of advice, it is important to pay attention to the language we use and how
we structure the letter.

Language Structure

• The language must be • You need to lay out your advice

appropriate for the reader of in clear paragraphs
the letter
• Your letter needs to respond to
• Language that is more personal each of your reader’s points
or informal (though not always)
• Use topic sentences and details
• Use conditionals, imperatives to make your writing clear
and modals to express advice

Language

Using conditionals and modal verbs are good ways to give advice because you can create a gentler,
more caring tone. Circle the phrases that use modal verbs below (hint: there are three), and rewrite
the other phrases so that they contain modal verbs.

You might be able to find a different way to do it.

You could try talking to your friend in person.

A proper schedule is useful.

Spend more time studying to get better
grades.
I think you should try to do some research about it at the library.

Just focus more on your own hobbies and

interests. Listen to what your mother is telling you.

Rewritten sentences:

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

3
 Lesson 6: Writing a Letter of Advice

Aside from modal verbs, it is useful to use conditional sentences:

If I were you, I would take a look at other job options.

If you talk to your teacher, you might find that he can help you.

If you went to the library to study, you would probably be able to focus more easily.

Make three conditional sentences using the sentences at the bottom of page 3. You may have to
add details.

1. _______________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Other useful phrases to use when giving advice include:

Why don’t you…? Whatever you do, … The way I see it, you probably
should (not) …
Have you tried..? A piece of advice that I’d like to
pass on is to… You might like to think about…
In my experience, … works
really well. What I would suggest is to… … is worth a try.

One idea is to… Have you thought about..? In this kind of situation, I would
always recommend…
If that happened to me, I … might work.
would…

Lastly, it’s important to get the tone of your letter right. Refresh yourself below.

From To Tone Language

Friend Friend Informal; friendly Phrasal verbs; idioms; idiomatic language; abbreviations

Mother Child

Teacher Child

Adult Stranger (adult)

4
 Lesson 6: Writing a Letter of Advice

Structure

Aside from just language, when we are writing an advice letter, it is important to pay attention to
how you structure the letter. A common mistake is to write all the first ideas that come to your
head after you read the advice request, and leave out some of the details. It is important to
understand all aspects of the situation before you reply.

Annotate the following request for advice, noting all the areas you need to pay attention to. This
will include:

• Information that will help you use the correct tone

• Information you need to respond to (either by giving advice or by discussing it)

• Any other useful information that will help you write your reply

Dear Mrs Chan,

I’m writing to ask for some advice. I’m in your S2 class and I have lots of issues
with my family.

Firstly, we’re always arguing because they say I’m on my phone too much. My
mum always screams at me and says that I’m being lazy and that I am
neglecting my school work. The truth is that I always get my homework done
before I use my phone, but my mum doesn’t believe me. What should I say to
Maybe I can talk
her?
about ways they can
build trust
Next, my parents keep treating me like a young child. They don’t let me go out
past 9pm, and say I have to be in bed before midnight, which isn’t fair. My
friends all say they can stay up however late they like. Why are my parents so
harsh on me?

Lastly, my parents have signed up me for seven different classes on Saturdays.

I have told my parents that this stresses me out and makes me tired, but they
don’t listen. I like some of the classes, such as fencing and calligraphy, but I
can’t handle so much on my weekend. What can I do?

I really hope you can help me deal with these problems. Thank you for reading
my letter.

Sarah Wong

5
Lesson 6: Writing a Letter of Advice

Planning Ideas

It’s important to spend some time planning what you are going to say in response to your advice
letter.

Use the chart to plan your ideas to respond to the letter above.

Paragraph Purpose of paragraph Specific ideas

1 – Introduction I need to acknowledge the letter I should thank Sarah for reaching out to me.
and sympathise with the writer. She says she is in my S2 class, so I can also
refer to that.

2 – First advice I need to advise her on how to build

paragraph trust with her mum, especially with
(specific advice) reference to her phone use and
schoolwork.

3-

4-

5 – Some general It’s good to end an advice letter Maybe I could emphasise that the student can
advice with some general positive advice talk to me in the future and encourage her to
stay positive. I could use an exclamation mark.

6 – Sign off

6
Lesson 6: Writing a Letter of Advice

Before you write your reply, go back to page 4 and circle at least 4 advice giving phrases that you
are going to use in your writing. Write your advice letter to Sarah below.

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

7
 Lesson 6: Writing a Letter of Advice

Critical Reading and Writing

(Day Book and Literature Oriented)
2018-2019 Regular Term Timetables
(September 2018 – June 2019)
Grade Time
Fri 1400-1510
Mon 1600-1710 Tue 1720-1830 Wed 1640-1750
L1 Fri 1600-1710
Tue 1600-1710 Wed 1600-1710 Thur 1400-1510
Sat 0900-1010

Mon 1720-1830 Thur 1600-1710 Fri 1640-1750 Sun 1020-1130

L2
Tue 1600-1710 Thur 1720-1830 Sat 0900-1010 Sun 1140-1250

Mon 1720-1830
Sat 0900-1010
L3 Tue 1600-1710 Wed 1600-1710 Sun 1140-1250
Sat 1520-1630
Sat 1640-1750
Tue 1600-1710 Sat 1020-1130 Sat 1400-1510
L4 Sun 0900-1010
Sat 0900-1010 Sat 1140-1250 Sat 1520-1630
Sun 1140-1250
L5 Mon 1720-1830 Tue 1800-1910 Fri 1640-1750 Sat 1640-1750

Tue 1600-1710
L6 Mon 1600-1710 Thur 1640-1750 Sat 1020-1130
Wed 1800-1910
Mon 1610-1720 Fri 1530-1640 Fri 1800-1910 Sat 1640-1750
L7
Wed 1720-1830 Fri 1640-1750 Sat 1520-1630 Sun 1020-1130
Sat 1520-1630
L8 Mon 1600-1710 Wed 1600-1710
Sun 1020-1130
Grade Elementary Intermediate Advanced
CRW L9
Wed 1720-1830
S3 Wed 1815-1925
DSE Foundation Thur 1600-1710
DSE Preliminary
Mon 1800-1930 Sun 0900-1010
Tue 1800-1930
Thur 1400-1530 Sun 1400-1510
S4 Applied Critical Thinking
Sun 0900-1010
DSE Merit DSE Distinction
DSE Essentials Sat 1640-1910 Wed 1800-1930
S5-S6
Fri 1800-1910 Sun 1400-1510 Thur 1800-1930
Sun 1640-1810
家長可自行組班，四人成班。 如少於四人，課堂將於開班前取消。本中心保留最終決定權。
Parents can form your own group with a minimum of 4 students.
Classes will be cancelled one week before the lesson if there are fewer than 4 students.
Update: 18/7/2018