TEACHING WRITING

FOR INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS

• Useful ideas can be found for teaching
writing to help students be more effective
in their own compositions.
• Some genres are presented here as
samples.
• Other key phrases and expressions are
shown to provide a variety of applied
language.
WRITING FOR INTERMEDIATE
STUDENTS

Report
Memo
Application
Personal letter
Inquiry
 REPORT
Basic parts of the report:
• Introducing the report
• Predicting the future
• Making recommendations
 Report on: The Elderly Homeless Situation in Newville
TO
Prepared by: Jeff Robbins
For Newville Homeless Action Committee

FROM
The number of elderly homeless people in Newville has increased
significantly over the past year. This report reviews the causes of
homelessness in our city and makes some proposals to turn the situation
TOPIC around.
Many senior citizens today have no one to depend on for financial or
emotional support. The lack of affordable housing has forced many people
onto the streets, including old people who are no longer capable of taking
AIMS care of themselves.
Our society as a whole is responsible for these people. Our government must
take steps beyond political promises in order to find alternative housing for
MAIN them.
POINTS The elderly homeless must be moved to temporary shelters until affordable
apartment are built. Furthermore, rehabilitation programs should be
established for them so that they will have a future to believe in.
Such steps might make a difference to the lives of Newville’s elderly
CONCLUSION homeless. We must not forget them. It is our responsibility to bring up the
issue of homelessness at every possible opportunity and to take positive
steps to address it.
 Catherine Watson
TO The Mayor of the town

FROM Financial Department of the town

George Omeli, Accountant

TOPIC New taxation laws

Campaign budget

AIMS This is a report on the academic progress of Cathy Smiths class 9F.
This report will detail the figures of the company’s advertising budget.

MAIN Sales tax will be reduced to two percent.

POINTS We propose spending 10,000 $ on posters

:
CONCLUSION
We suggest you to come into the office for a personal tax consultation.
I advise increasing the budget for TV commercials by 25 percent
 Find the synonyms
• To a considerable degree _______________________
• Person with full rights as a member of a country_______
• Old retired person _______________________
• Re-examine, reconsider _______________________
• Help, provide _______________________
• Having as a part _______________________
• Legally/morally obliged _______________________
• Discover by searching, inquiry ____________________
• Lasting for a limited time ______________________
• Restore to a normal life ______________________
• Favourable time/ set of circumstances ______________
 PRACTICE
• Report on: Ad campaign for no cold
• Prepared by: Eve Reynolds, Assistant Manager
• For: Advert Company Directors Meeting
• The ad campaign we produced for Meditech has
not been very successful. This report will offer
some possible explanations for the failure.

• Key words:
• consumer, advertised, as well, emphasize,
referred to, appeal to, commercial, brand
 REPORT
Introducing the report:
• The aim of this report is to examine …
• The report is based on a survey conducted among …
Predicting the future:
• The future looks uncertain/ is promising.
• This seems unlikely in the near/foreseeable future.
Making recommendations:
• I would strongly recommend that (the company)
should…
• In the light of the results of the survey, I would advise …
 TO
Road Conditions in Fairfield Country
Prepared by Fairfield Road Safety Committee
For Mayor Farber
FROM The number of car accidents in our area has risen by forty
percent since the beginning of this year. This report
describes some of the reasons for this high rate of
TOPIC accidents and suggests solutions for improving the road
safety situation in Fair field.
Most of the local roads are narrow and have dangerous
curves.
AIMS
Signal light at Fairfield railroad crossings are more than
thirty years old. Despite these poor conditions, Fairfield
MAIN county has the fewest emergency telephones in the state.
POINTS The recommendations of this committee are that the local
roads be widened, that old signal lights be replaced, and that
at least twenty more emergency telephones be provided.
CONCLUSION
 TO • John Smith
• The governor of the department
FROM • Financial Services
• Accountant department
TOPIC • New taxation laws
• Campaign budget
AIMS • I will state here the changes to the state tax
laws for next year.
MAIN
POINTS
• Sales tax will be reduced to two percent.
• I advise increasing the budget for TV
CONCLUSION commercials by 25 percent.
 PRACTICE
Report on: Employee promotions
Prepared by: Ella Tyson
Jim Hopkins, who is the manager of accounting
department, has been asked to resign. We are not
satisfied with the way he has been managing the
company’s expenses over the past two years.
Key words:
Brightest, required, satisfied, accountants, transferred,
keep track of, qualifications, performance, promoting,
recommend, employment contract,
 MEMO
Basic parts of the memo
• Reason for writing
• Introducing points
• Request for action
 MEMO
Reason for writing:
• I am writing with regard/reference to…
• I would like to draw your attention to/point out …
• I am writing to express (my concern
about/disappointment)
Introducing points:
• Firstly/To begin with/Moreover
• I should also like to point out that …
• According to your (article)
Request for action:
• I would appreciate it/grateful if you would
• It seems only fair that you should …
 TO TO: Lynette Brooks, Secretary to the Principal
FROM: Robert Graves, Talent Show Coordinator
DATE: March 1
FROM RE: Upcoming Talent Show

Our annual Fairmont School Talent Show will be held

DATE on May 5. This year the show will feature some
outstanding performers. To make sure it’s as great a
success as last year, I would like to begin making
TOPIC
plans immediately.
Please arrange a meeting for me with John Dukes.
ACTIVITY
I’m sure you’ve heard of him. I want to invite him to
conduct the school orchestra. Our famous graduate,
the musician Julia Abbot, will only perform her new
KEY composition for string instruments if he is conducting.
PHRASES
We’ll meet next week to discuss the final details.
Let’s get the show on the road!
 TO • Miranda Reynolds, Associate director
• Tom Gonzalez, Sales representative

• Catherine Poor, General manager

FROM • Jerry Richards, Chief editor

• November 15
DATE • 15/11

• Management training program

• Tax payments
TOPIC
• Please send me a list of employees who will be participating in
the program.
• Call me as soon as possible.
ACTIVITY

• TO:
KEY
PHRASES • FROM:
DATE:
• RE:
COMPLETE THE CHART
Questions Short answers
Lynette Brooks
Robert Graves
May 5
Outstanding performers
Making plans
John Dukes
To conduct the school
orchestra
Julia Abbot
Next week
 PRACTICE
You are the Events Organizer at Norwich High
School, where you are working for the summer.
You recently accompanied a group of teenage
students from the school on a short trip, during
which you stayed at a hostel. The hostel
manager has written to your principal
complaining about the behaviour of the students
in your charge.

Write a letter to Peter Knight as requested

by the principal
 APPLICATION
Basic parts of the application
• Reason for writing
• Relevant experience
• Expressing suitability and
desire for the job
 APPLICATION
Reason for writing:
• I am writing in response to your request for
(writers/assistant) …
Relevant experience:
• I am an active member of …
• I am really good at …
• I have had an interest in environmental concerns
Expressing suitability and desire for the job:
• I am convinced that issues like these would be of interest
 16 Saunders Street
Dallas, Texas 75260
TO October 15
Mr. Theodore Hall
Executive Director
Senior’s Rights Organization
FROM
Dear Mr. Hall,
I am interested in applying for the position of administrator which you
advertised in the October 14th issue of the ”Metropolitan Daily”.
GREETING
For the past two years, I have been working as assistant manager at the
Hollis Community Center for the Elderly. My responsibilities include seeing
to it that everything runs smoothly and training new employees. In addition,
I meet weekly with staff members in order to review feedback received
AIMS from our clients. Then it’s up to me to summarize the content of theses
sessions for the manager, and together we change the center’s policy
accordingly.
I would like to find out more about the job you've advertised.
KEY I am a hard-working, dedicated person, I feel confident that if selected for
PHRASES the position, I can contribute to your organization in a positive manner.
I look forward to meeting with you at the earliest opportunity. I can be
reached by phone during the day at 555-7878 or in the evening at 523-
8213.
CLOSURE
Sincerely,
Gail Owens
 Dora Franklin
TO • Presidant safety committee

• Mrs. Dorina Gordon Principal

• The Highland school
FROM
• Dear Sir or Madam,
• To Whom it May Concern,
GREETING
• I am writing to apply for the position of head teacher…
• I am writing in response to your advertisement for English courses.
• I am writing to find out if you would like to employ…
AIMS
• I wish to apply for …
• I am writing in response to …
KEY • I am interested in …
PHRASES
• I look forward to hearing from you.
• Looking forward to your reply.
CLOSURE • Thank you for your consideration.
• I would be delighted if you could grant me an interview.
 COMPLETE THE TEXT
salary, degree, forward, improve, job, unemployed,
apply, details, advertised, experience
Dear Mrs Whitman,
I am writing to ________ for the ________ as a librarian which you
_________ on 11 May.
I am 32 years old, from Sopron and I have a ___________
in library from Szeged University. At the moment I am ___________ so I
would like to spend a year in England to __________ my English. I am at
advanced level in English but I want to live with British people.
I have some ___________ of working in a kibrary. I worked as a librarian in
a small village, however it was closed.
Would you be so kind as to send me more ____________ about the
___________ and conditions?
I look __________ to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Alexa Smith
 PRACTICE
Write an application.
Language school Receptionist
Busy and expanding Language school with a
reputation for professional standards and friendly
service requires two receptionists for its new
centre in the west of Wales. Successful
candidates will have an interest in people and be
able to work under pressure. They will also be
reasonably fluent in both spoken and written
English. Previous experiences are useful but not
essential.
 PERSONAL LETTER
Basic parts of the personal letter:
• Reason for writing
• Opening paragraph, providing lead-
into rest of letter
• Appropriate ending
 Dear Dave,

FROM Greetings from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia That’s right! I decided on the spur of the moment to pick
up and get away from it all – leave New York City and get back to nature for a couple of weeks with my
backpack and tent. I’m writing this letter to try to convince you to join me on what’s turned out to be a great
adventure.
My firs night out the weather suddenly got rainy and muddy. My bedroll and I both got soaked. I began to
wonder if I hadn’t lost my mind coming down here like this, but by morning it had cleared up completely. Take it
from me: there's nothing like watching the sunrise at 5:00 a.m. in the fresh mountain air. At times it gets a little
TO chilly. In fact, my feet nearly got frostbitten because I couldn’t find my extra pair of wool socks.
I can’t get over how beautiful and fresh everything is and the way the whole place smells of pine needles
instead of exhaust fumes; it must be two years since I last saw a tree. The mountains are covered with green
and all the wild flowers are in bloom. It makes you fell like a human being again.

Yesterday I decided to follow some deer tracks, but before I knew it I’d lost my way. (I guess tracking is a lost
GREETING art among us city folks.) Anyway, to make a long story short, I sat down on a log to take a rest, only I didn’t
notice that the space was already occupied – by a bee who didn’t appreciate being sat on, and I got stung in a
very inconvenient place.
It was nearly dark by the time I managed to get back to my campsite. My bee sting got so swollen overnight that
today I could hardly walk and I still can’t sit at all. Going fishing in a nearby stream seemed like the best thing to
do. You should have seen me learning against a tree the whole day with nothing to do but dangle my fishing rod
in the water. And not without results. That a fish! I must have weighed over a pound! I’ll show you a picture of it
AIMS when I get the film developed. Imagine my satisfaction at eating my own freshly caught fish for dinner! Only I
probably would have enjoyed it more if I could have eaten it sitting down.

The mosquitoes, however, got their dinner before I got mine. Around sunset they came zooming out in full force,
whole armies of them ( more like the whole Air Force, if you want to get technical). Judging from the number of
KEY mosquito bites i Have (they itch like crazy), I must be a real delicacy. So much for insect repellents.
PHRASES Dave, how can you stand being cooped up in the city in this glorious spring weather? Why don’t you drop
everything and come down and join me?

Your nature-loving friend,

CLOSURE Alex
P.S. I’ve been using my flashlight to write this letter.
I hope the battery doesn’t run out.
 • Janet
FROM • Daniel and Dave
• Dad
• Granny
• Aunt Claire
TO • Dora

• Hi Mum and Dad,

• My darling Tom,
GREETING
• Dear Kate,

• I just wanted to let you know, what I’ve been doing lately.
AIMS • Can you please wire me some many? I am stuck.
• Congratulations on your exam results.

• What’s the news with you?

KEY
PHRASES
• I really miss you.

• Write soon,
• I will see you when I get back
CLOSURE • Love and kisses
 Answer the questions
• Where did he go and Why?
• What is his purpose with this letter?
• What is the weather like?
• Why did he enjoy deer tracking?
• What else could he do there?
• What does seem to be the only problem?
• How was he able to write this letter?
 Find the synonyms
• On a sudden impulse
• Cause somebody to realize
• Wet to the skin
• Injury caused by extreme cold
• Return to usual state of happiness __________________________
• Having a great number of
• Take up or fill
• Was able to
• Small river/large brook
• Feeling of contentment
• Buzzing or humming
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
__________________________
__________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
 PRACTICE
Imagine that you have received a present from a friend. Tell
him why you like it.
Write a thank you letter. Include the following points.
• Say thank you. Write about the present.
• What is it like?
• Why do you like it?
• What you did on that occasion?
• Say thank you again.
Key words:
Thank you so much for the …, fantastic gorgeous, some money,
necklace and earrings, a mobile phone, DVD, Hope you are well,
See you soon, Thanks again.
 INQUIRY
Basic parts of the application

• Reason for writing

• What exactly you are interested in and to
accomplish this goal, what information
needs to be added
• Expressing desire
 73 East Penn Street
Long Beach, N.Y. 11561
April 29
FROM
Ms. Virginia Simms
Director of Admissions
Higgins Language School
31 Treemont Avenue
TO Westbury, N.Y. 11590

Dear Ms. Simms,

GREETING I am writing to inquire aobut French courses for my family and myself prior to our
departure for France at the end of August. My husband has been assigned to set up
a new office for his company in Paris, where we will be living for the next two years.
Would you kindly send us information about your courses for adults and children?
I am interested in an intermediate course for myself. Although I can get by with my
French, I am not bilingual, and I feel that additional practice is necessary to help me
AIMS learn to speak correctly. However, my children, and my husband, will require
beginners’ courses. Do you have any special courses suitable for my eight-year-old,
who will be attending elementary school in Paris? He does very well in school and
has good memorization skills.
I am optimistic that we will all be quite fluent in French within a short time after our
KEY arrival. Nevertheless, we would like to take advantage of our remaining time in the
PHRASES U.S. to make as much headway as possible.
I look forward to receiving information from you soon.

Sincerely yours,
CLOSURE Cindy Landsman
 • George Willis, Team manager
FROM • Jason Robinson, Assistant manager

• Mr. Charles Mason course coordinator

TO

• Dear Sir or Madam,

• Dear Miss Winston
GREETING

• I would like to find out more about your swimming classes for
AIMS children.
• Can you please send some information about summer trips to
New Zeeland.

KEY
PHRASES
• I would like to know
• Could you help me with
CLOSURE

• I look forward to receiving the information.

• Thank you for your help.
 Complete the chart
STATEMENTS TRUE FALSE NO
INFORM.
She needs information about
language courses.
Her husband will work for a car
company.
They will live in Bolougne.

Cindy will work at the

university.
They are all at intermediate
level.
In the family there are three
kids.
All of them are happy to live in
France.
 PRACTICE
Imagine that you are a teacher from Hungary
who would like to travel to Scotland next year
with fifty students.
You want to get information about:
• means of transport
• accommodation
• dates, times
• food
• sights
• prices