EMAILS: Understanding the Rubric
Your email should be 120-160 words long. What happens if there are 180 words?
The examiner will stop reading at word 160
Is this an example of formal or informal language?
"Yours sincerely"
formal
Is this a good way to end an informal email task?
“Now I have to go, don’t forget to write back!”
Yes!
How should you start your article?
With a title (this answer gets 100 points)
--> with a CLICK-BAIT style title (this answer gets 200 points!)
Which is the better title? (Why?)
A. STOP DOWNLOADING MUSIC!
B. THE IMPORTANCE OF ARTIST REVENUE SCHEMES
[A - STOP DOWNLOADING MUSIC!] is a better title because it makes the reader involved.
(--> there is a COMMAND - readers are told to DO something) --> emotions get involved because we are being told to stop doing something and it makes us wonder WHY the author is in authority over us! (etc.)
"The pictures above may give you some ideas, and you should try to use some ideas of your own." Should you:
1. use the ideas in the pics
2. use only your own ideas
3. use a combination
3. use a combination
Is this formal or informal language?
Thank you for your email of March 18th.
formal
What's wrong with this email opening? (Fix it!)
"Dear Mary,
I'm writing to tell you about something that happened last week..."
There is no inquiry/asking about Mary / mention of their relationship
After the title, your article should begin with a....
question (which engages or provokes the reader)
What makes this title interesting for the downloading music for free school magazine article prompt topic?
BE THE REASON YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST SUCCEEDS
a. appeal to the emotions --> every fan / supporter wants their favorite artist to succeed
b. "be the reason" sounds like a phrase we often hear ("be the...") (so we are biased to feel like it is something familiar / friendly / known to us)
c. there is a command / opportunity for action (telling us what to do)
d. creates curiosity (people want to know how to do it so they will read the article to find out)
The email should be "effectively organised and sequenced". Do you need to use paragraphs or can it all be in one block of text?
YES! Use paragraphs!!
Mention three informal phrases that might be found in an informal email…
1.) Thanks for your last email
2.) Write back soon
3.) With love / yours
(etc.)
Is this a good closing? Why / why not?
"Goodbye from your friend"
No, it sounds unnatural or akward. If you are friends with the person, he/she already knows this!
Give two examples of how to engage / interact with your reader
1. using "we/us/you" etc. (language of commonality)
2. referring to common life situations of students
3. asking a question
4. ending with a suggestion / recommendation
What makes this title interesting for the downloading music for free school magazine article prompt topic?
"WE'RE ROBBING MUSICIANS TO DEATH"
a. extreme language (death) makes us feel stronger emotions
b. "we" involves the reader (as a guilty person!)
c. creates curiosity (people want to know how this is happening so they will read the article to find out)
"Use both simple and complex sentences."
Is this an example of a complex sentence?
"If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be."
YES
Make this formal phrase into an informal phrase:
"Please give my kindest regards to…”
"Please say 'hi' to..."
Is this a good closing? Why / why not?
"That is all I wanted to tell you."
No - because this doesn't establish a relationship with the person. There should be some asking for a response - 'what do you think' or 'write back and tell me about...' or 'I can't wait to see you next week' etc.
Your article should END with what kind of information?
Either:
1. a suggestion / recommendation (call for action - what your readers can do differently now that they've read your article)
OR
2. something to think about (how their perspective might have changed after reading your article)
If you were going to write an article about downloading free music online (and whether this is good or bad) -->
what could you say for the PRO argument?
what could you say for the CON argument?
PRO:
1. Music is expensive to buy
2. artists already make their music available for free online, why does it matter if we download it?
3. artists can make money from other income streams like the sale of merchandise and concert tickets
4. other / etc.
CON:
1. in many countries it is against the law
2. artists will struggle to make enough money from music as a full time career
3. other / etc.
What is the definition of a complex sentence?
It has an INDEPENDENT clause and a DEPENDENT clause:
example: You cannot leave class until the lesson is over.
(Dependent means it cannot be alone: "until the lesson is over" is a dependent clause)
Convert the following from formal to informal language:
1. I refer to your email of 13 April
2. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me
3. I hope that I have covered the main points
1. I wanted to write you back
2. Let me know if you need any more info
3. I think that's all
What's wrong with this answer:
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow! I'm writing to tell you about something that happened to me last week."
This is fake / unnatural because the writer will meet her friend the next day so there is no need to tell a story in an email! Just skip the email and share the story face-to-face!
In terms of the ideas / arguments / CONTENT of your article - the best thing to include is BOTH (1.) ____ and (2.) ______. For our class, you will need to have one clear (3.) _______.
1. the ideas mentioned in the prompt (the two opinions)
AND
2. some of your own ideas
3. position / thesis
Write an article about studying English through books or movies (which is better) -->
What can you say for the LEARNING THROUGH BOOKS argument?
What can you say for the LEARNING THROUGH MOVIES argument?
BOOKS:
1. Engages a different part of the brain than other tasks
2. Teaches critical thinking
3. Improves reading skills for other subjects and makes students better learners overall
4. Other (etc.)
MOVIES:
1. Improves listening skills
2. Inadvertently improves student language pronunciation (by consistent exposure)
3. More engaging / appealing (fun?) for students
4. Other (etc.)