Situational

Writing
“By failing to plan, you
are planning to fail.”
–Benjamin Franklin
General Instructions

• Read the given question carefully.

Identify the purpose, audience,
context and tone.
• Identify the various parts of the
question. Know exactly WHAT the
question wants!
• Brainstorm! Note down your points
for each part of the question.
General Instructions
• Recall the format / structure of the
assigned task.
• Write and paragraph accordingly.
• Do not take more than 30 minutes
for this section.

•Check your work!

General Instructions
• Some VERY IMPORTANT points to
keep in mind:
– Your TONE must be APPROPRIATE for
the given task!
• This will depend on your audience, the
purpose of your writing and the context.

– Proper ORGANISATION of your

points is very important!
 Task: Tone and Audience!
Which of these statements is in a tone appropriate for the audience?
(Answers are on the next slide.)

Principal I would like to seek your permission to carry out an

environmental project that my class has planned.
Teacher I want to find out more about the exam timetable.

Pen-Pal I would appreciate if you can assist me on this

matter.
Friend I think it is good that you can go for the trip.
Straits I think it is good that so many readers support this
Times idea.
Forum
Uncle who I would like to seek your understanding on this
stays matter.
overseas
Colleague I would like to seek your understanding on this
matter.
 Task: Tone and Audience!
Principal I would like to seek your permission to carry out and 
environmental project that my class has planned.
Teacher I want to find out more about the exam timetable. 
Pen-Pal I would appreciate if you can assist me on this 
matter.
Friend I think it is good that you can go for the trip. 
Straits I think it is good that so many readers support this 
Times idea.
Forum
Uncle who I would like to seek your understanding on this 
stays matter.
overseas
Colleague I would like to seek your understanding on this 
matter.
Task: Evaluate!
• Determine which of these is a better
proposal for the graduating students’
reward.
An overseas trip for all
graduating students,
probably to a relaxing Prom night at a five star
beach location hotel

Choose one of these proposals, and compare them to

show why one is better than the other.
Task: Evaluate!
There are two ways to evaluate which is better…
First Way: Choose first, then
justify.
Example:
Choice – Overseas Trip
Justification
- Chance to bond with classmates,
as may not have another chance
to spend time together.
- More opportunity to build close
relationships than prom night that
is only for a short time.
- More experience and learning to
be gained than in Prom Night.
- Prom Night means we have to
spend a lot of money for just one
night. Not as meaningful or
worthwhile as overseas trip
together.
Second Way: List down the pros
and cons of both, then decide
which is better.
Example:
Pros and Cons of Prom Night
- We can dress formally and get an
experience of dining at a five star
hotel!
- Cheaper than overseas trip
- But the money may not be as
well-spent
Pros and Cons of Overseas Trip
- More time to bond as a class
- Able to learn and gain new
experiences
Choice – Overseas Trip
IMPORTANT POINT!

You will not get marks for

writing what is already in
the question rubrics /
stimulus. You must come
up with your own points
without altering the
information given.
 Formal Letter
• Format:
Date 29/10/08

Sender’s Address Blk 123 Cashew Road

#19-188
Recipient’s name Singapore 670123
Recipient’s position
Recipient’s company and address Mr Benjamin Tee
Principal
Dear Sir/ Madam/ Mr _____/ Ms _____, Assumption Secondary School
928 Cashew Road
Subject Singapore 670928

<TEXT> Dear Mr Tee,

<TEXT>
<TEXT> Littering by Students
<TEXT>
<TEXT> I am a resident…

Yours sincerely, Yours sincerely,

Sender’s signature <signature>
Sender’s name Ms Tan Ah Di

We will use the formal letter as an example. However, please note that the
guidelines apply to all situational writing tasks.
Formal Letter
• Organise your letter such that your
first paragraph tells the reader
exactly what your letter is going to
be about.
– EXAMPLE: As the president of the student
council, I have decided that the council will
organise an overseas trip instead of prom
night after much discussion with my peers.
This is mainly because I feel that the overseas
trip would offer learning opportunities and
opportunities to bond, which will not be
easily available for us once we graduate.
Formal Letter
• Your tone must be formal at all
times.
– I hope that you will consider my appeal letter.
I want you to consider my appeal letter carefully.
You should do your job as a principal and consider my
appeal letter.

– Thank you for your kind attention and I look forward to

hearing from you soon.
I know you are busy but I hope you will reply me.
You should do your job as a principal and reply me.
Examples

Letter of Application
Opening:
I am writing in response to your
advertisement dated 1st April 2009 and
would like to apply for the post of Web
Page Designer in your company.
Closing:
I sincerely hope that you will consider my
application and I await your favourable
reply. Thank you.
Examples

Letter of Complaint
Opening:
I am a resident of Choa Chu Kang estate and
I am writing in to complain about the
cleanliness of my block.
Closing:
I seriously hope that you would look into the
complaints that I have raised and remedy
the situation as soon as possible. Thank you.
Examples

Letter of Invitation
Opening:
On behalf of the school, we would like to
invite you to our Annual Speech and Prize
Giving Day to be held on 17th April 2009 in
our school grounds.
Closing:
We sincerely hope that you will accept our
invitation and we look forward to your
presence on that day. Thank you.
 Task: What do you think?
Which of these is in a tone appropriate for the purpose? (Answers on the next slide.)
Business Letter: Letter Seeking Employment Good Bad Ugly
Introduction I would like to apply for the
- Purpose of above position which was
Letter advertised as vacant in the
6 April 2009 edition of the
Straits Times.
My name is Chew Kok Boon
and I am a 26 year old male.
I saw your job advetisement
one morning while I was
having coffee and I would
like to apply for it.
I saw your advertisement
about a vacancy in your
restaurant as a manager,
and I would like to apply for
that position.
 Task: What do you think?
Business Letter: Letter Seeking Employment Good Bad Ugly
Introduction I would like to apply for the
- Purpose of above position which was
advertised as vacant in the

Letter
6 April 2009 edition of the
Straits Times.
My name is Chew Kok Boon
and I am a 26 year old male.
I saw your job advetisement
one morning while I was
having coffee and I would
like to apply for it.
I saw your advertisement
about a vacancy in your
restaurant as a manager,

and I would like to apply for
that position.
 Task: What do you think?
Which of these is in a tone appropriate for the purpose? (Answers on the next slide.)
Business Letter: Letter Seeking Employment Good Bad Ugly
Qualifications I am a graduate from
SHATEC and I have a degree
in F&B Studies. I was also
president of the Students’
Council.

I have a degree in F&B

Studies from the Singapore
Hotel ATEC and during my
varsity years, I was elected
president of the Students’
Council.
I am a degree holder and I
was president of the
students’ council, which
explains why I was so
popular.
 Task: What do you think?
Business Letter: Letter Seeking Employment Good Bad Ugly
Qualifications I am a graduate from
SHATEC and I have a degree
in F&B Studies. I was also

president of the Students’
Council.

I have a degree in F&B

Studies from the Singapore
Hotel ATEC and during my

varsity years, I was elected
president of the Students’
Council.
I am a degree holder and I
was president of the
students’ council, which
explains why I was so
popular.
 Task: What do you think?
Which of these is in a tone appropriate for the purpose? (Answers on the next slide.)
Business Letter: Letter Seeking Employment Good Bad Ugly
Aspirations I will definitely be an asset
to the company, so do not
hesitate now, hire me!
I will definitely work hard
and always try to introduce
new things to make Bhavani
restaurant the most popular
one in Singapore.
If I am appointed to the
position, I will strive to
work hard and also
brainstorm for new and
innovative dining
experiences to put Bhavani
Restaurant on the forefront
of the F&B industry.
 Task: What do you think?
Business Letter: Letter Seeking Employment Good Bad Ugly
Aspirations I will definitely be an asset
to the company, so do not
hesitate now, hire me!
I will definitely work hard
and always try to introduce
new things to make Bhavani

restaurant the most popular
one in Singapore.
If I am appointed to the
position, I will strive to
work hard and also

brainstorm for new and
innovative dining
experiences to put Bhavani
Restaurant on the forefront Menu
of the F&B industry.
 Task: What do you think?
Which of these is in a tone appropriate for the purpose? (Answers on the next slide.)
Business Letter: Letter Seeking Employment Good Bad Ugly
Conclusion I hope you will consider my
application and I look
forward to your reply.

I have fallen on hard times

and my family needs me to
support them, so please hire
me or else my family will
have to go hungry. Thank
you for your kindness.

I hope you will consider this

job application and I await
your reply.
 Task: What do you think?
Business Letter: Letter Seeking Employment Good Bad Ugly
Conclusion I hope you will consider my
application and I look
forward to your reply.

I have fallen on hard times
and my family needs me to
support them, so please hire
me or else my family will
have to go hungry. Thank
you for your kindness.

I hope you will consider this

job application and I await
your reply.

 An Anecdote!

A blind boy sat on

the steps of
a building with
a hat by his
feet.
He held up a
sign which said:
'I am blind,
please help.'

There were
only a few coins
in the hat.
 An Anecdote!
A man was walking by.
He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them
into the hat.
He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote
some words.
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by
would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were
giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had changed the sign
came to see how things were.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked,
'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?
What did you write?'
The man said, 'I only wrote the truth.
I said what you said but in a different way.'
An Anecdote!
What he had written was:
'Today is a beautiful day
and I cannot see it.'

Do you think the first sign

and the second sign were
saying the same thing?

Of course both signs told

people the boy was blind.
But the first sign simply
said the boy was blind.
The second sign told
people they were so
lucky that they were not
blind.
Should we be surprised
that the second sign was
more effective?
Task: Compare!
Imagine that you are the president of the students’
council. You are to discuss with the other
councilors and decide which of these would be a
better reward for graduating students.

An overseas trip for all

graduating students,
probably to a relaxing Prom night at a five star
beach location hotel

Choose one of these proposals, and write a letter to the

principal to inform him of your decision.
Dear Mr Tee,
I am John Toh from Class 4/2. I have discussed with my
fellow student councilors and we have decided on choosing
the prom night. We think our classmates will like prom
night better.
Firstly, prom night will be cheaper than the overseas trip.
An overseas trip would require lots of funds, and from
what I know, the school isn’t that rich to begin with. I
don’t thing we should all the funds we worked so hard to
raise all at one go. We should be prudent, and still have
fun at a cheaper cost.
Secondly, a prom night would allow everyone to go. Even
though you say that this is a reward for graduating
students, students still have to fork out money for
expenditure and buying clothes and other important items.
Thirdly, it would be easier to get permission from parents
to allow their children to go for prom night rather than an
overseas trip. Many parents will not allow their children to
go for such a trip.
I hope you take my points into consideration and will allow
us to have a prom night.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
John Toh
Dear Mr Tee,
I am writing to inform you that the Students’ Council has
decided on the prom night as a reward for the graduating
students. The councilors arrived at this decision after much
discussion and weighing of pros and cons. I would like to
explain to you our reasons for making this choice.
Firstly, we feel that the prom night would cost less for the
school than the overseas trip. The prom night will only be
one night, and the school would not have to bear the costs
for accommodation, which can be quite steep. We feel that
the money could be used for other worthwhile programmes
that can benefit the school population as a whole.
Secondly, we feel that it would be easier to garner support
from parents for a prom night than an overseas trip, as
parent may worry about the safety of their children.
Furthermore, parents will also find it more affordable, as
they wouldn’t have to worry about their children’s
expenditure during an overseas trip.
The students’ council would like to suggest that the prom
night be held at a beach location rather than a five star hotel,
as this will allow for the students to engage in some bonding
activities.
Thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
John Toh
Reports
• Format
To: Recipient’s Name
Recipient’s Position
Recipient’s Company
To: Mr Benjamin Tee
Principal
Assumption Secondary School

Subject Broken Tables in 3/2 Classroom

<text> I am a student…

Report By: Writer’s Name Report By: Tan Ah Di

Signature: Signature Signature: Signature
Date: Date Date: 29/10/08

• First paragraph must answer these questions:

– What happened?
– Where did it happen?
– Who was there?
– When did it happen?
Reports
• You may elaborate further on the
incident after the first paragraph.
• Do not go into descriptive detail.
• Do not sound emotional.
• End off your report with your
contact information.
– “For further details, please contact me
at 91199890.”
Speeches
• You must greet the audience in
hierarchical order.
• Guests-of-honour, invited guests, principal,
vice-principal, parents, teachers and students.
• End by thanking everyone for their
attention. Make sure your ending is
not too abrupt!
• Your speech must be formal in tone.