Preparation for the OGE and the Unified State Exam

Secondary general education

Line UMK M.V. Verbitskaya. English language "Forward" (10-11) (basic)

Line of teaching materials of O. V. Afanasyeva, I. V. Mikheeva, K. M. Baranova. "Rainbow English" (10-11) (basic)

English language

We analyze the Unified State Examination in English: section “Writing”

Analysis of tasks in the “Writing” section with the teacher. Methodological tips, building the logic of the answer, writing examples and essays.

Jalolova Svetlana Anatolyevna, English teacher of the highest qualification category. Winner of the competitive selection for the Moscow Grant in the field of education in 2010. Senior expert of the State Examination Agency Unified State Exam in English. Winner of the All-Russian Olympiad of English Language Teachers “Profi-Kray” 2015. Certificate of honor from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation 2014, Certificate of winner of the competition for the best teachers of the Russian Federation 2007, Diploma of the winner of the competition for the Moscow Grant 2010. Work experience - 23 years.

Nedashkovskaya Natalya Mikhailovna, English teacher of the highest qualification category. Winner of the PNPO 2007. Winner of the competitive selection for the Moscow Grant in the field of education 2010. GIA OGE expert in English. Conducted a pedagogical examination of educational publications at the Russian Academy of Education 2015-2016. Certificate of Honor from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation 2013, Certificate of the winner of the competition for the best teachers of the Russian Federation 2007, Diploma of the winner of the competition for the Moscow Grant 2010. Work experience - 35 years.
Podvigina Marina Mikhailovna, English teacher of the highest qualification category. Winner of PNPO 2008. Winner of the competitive selection for the Moscow Grant in the field of education 2010. Senior expert of the State Examination Agency Unified State Exam in English. Conducted a pedagogical examination of educational publications at the Russian Academy of Education 2015-2016. Certificate of honor from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation 2015, Certificate of winner of the competition for the best teachers of the Russian Federation 2008, Diploma of the winner of the competition for the Moscow Grant 2010. Work experience - 23 years.
Trofimova Elena Anatolyevna, English teacher of the highest qualification category. Senior expert of the State Examination Agency Unified State Exam in English. Certificate of honor from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation in 2013. Work experience - 15 years.

39. Task 1. Let's get straight to writing. It is better to write the letter straight away: this will avoid wasting time and energy. To correctly formulate answers to questions, you can make preliminary sketches in the form of keywords that can be easily converted into a complete thought, for example:

Russian cuisine, healthy and delicious, pancakes and cabbage soup called shchi, pancakes

When preparing answers to questions, it is important to remember that your real opinion on a particular issue does not matter in the exam. If you have forgotten how this or that Russian word is translated into English, simply answer the question differently, the main thing is that your answer sounds clear and believable. The beginning of the letter is the same for all letters, so you just need to memorize it. We write a short address in the upper right corner. There is no need to write the street and house number - no one will appreciate our wasted efforts. In addition, stupid mistakes are possible. Let's just limit ourselves to Moscow, Russia (separated by a comma) or without a comma under each other.

Under the address we write the date, simply 04/17/17 (you can use words, but there is no need for this, and the risk of stupid mistakes increases). What follows is a typical homework for the first paragraph (let’s first take a look at the task and remember the friend’s name):

Dear Stuart, (can be without a comma)

Thank you for your letter. I was very happy to hear from you again.

You can also start the second paragraph with a fairly typical, but nevertheless winning phrase, which will serve as a kind of “bridge” before moving on to the main part of the work.

In your letter you asked me some questions about the food I like (or the cuisine I prefer) and now I"m ready to answer them.

Let's take a quick look at our notes and answer the first question, which consists of two parts. For example, I prefer Russian national cuisine because it's healthy and delicious.

There is no need to give long and lengthy explanations of the reasons here. This can be done if you are sure that you write absolutely correctly, have a good supply of time, and also that you will not exceed the established word limit. Otherwise, save your energy for the essay. The answer to the second question can be preceded by an introductory word, for example,

As for my favorite dishes, I love pancakes and cabbage soup called shchi.

And finally, the answer to the third question. Note that the question is simply about what kind of dishes you generally know how to cook, which means that the dishes definitely need to be mentioned. You can do this: Unfortunately, I can't cook very well. I can only fry potatoes and make a sandwich.

Alternatively, you can link the answer to the previous statement: I can cook pancakes very well. Also I can fry potatoes.

Of course, we can say that we don’t know how to cook at all: I can't cook at all.

So the second paragraph of the letter might look like this:

We take a look at the task and make sure that we have answered all the questions asked. Now you can move on to the third paragraph: questions for a friend. You can start a paragraph with a pre-prepared phrase: Now I want to ask you some questions about the cooking camp.

Or you can simply use the conjunction by the way before the first question. For example, Wu the way, where is the camp located?

Now let's get to the questions. According to the assignment, we have to ask a friend about the culinary camp. To avoid the typical mistake (off-topic questions), you can simply ask questions where the phrase cooking camp will be the subject, for example, Where is it located? What facilities has it got? Is it a popular among teenagers? How big is the camp?

There is no need to try to ask different types of questions. The type of questions does not affect the score. Please note: questions that are only indirectly related to the camp will not be accepted. For example, Who recommended the camp to you? (This is not about the camp itself, but about where you got the information) How long are you planning to spend there? (This is more about the author's plans than about the camp).

The third paragraph might look like this: Now I want to ask you some questions about the cooking camp. Where is it located? What facilities has it got? How big is the camp?

We end the letter with standard phrases:

Write back soon.

Best wishes,

Misha

Our finished work looks like this:

Thank you for your letter. I was very happy to hear from you again.

In your letter you asked me some questions about the food I like and now I"m ready to answer them. I prefer Russian national cuisine because it"s healthy and delicious. As for my favorite dishes, I love pancakes and cabbage soup called shchi. Unfortunately, I can't cook very well. I can only fry potatoes and make a sandwich.

Now I want to ask you some questions about the cooking camp. Where is it located? What facilities has it got? How big is the camp?

Write back soon.
Best wishes,
Misha

Methodical hint

All that remains is to check. In order to do this in the most effective way, I suggest imagining yourself in the place of an expert who will check the work. The first thing the expert will do is count the words. It can be very disappointing when a competent and interesting piece of work loses points because the author got too carried away and wrote a letter that was too long. It is important to remember that the maximum length of the letter should not exceed 154 words. If the letter is longer, then the expert counts 140 words, and everything else is not taken into account. Most often, in such cases, the author’s signature, the final phrase, mention of subsequent contacts, and even 1-2 questions are not taken into account. In this case, the author loses points for the content, logic, and design of the letter. In our case, the letter contains 109 words. The expert cannot have any complaints about the volume of the letter. Next, we check the letter according to the criteria.

It is important to remember here that the work is assessed according to three criteria: in terms of content, logic and linguistic design. As for the content, we tried to check everything paragraph by paragraph. You can take another look at the task and the letter and make sure that it contains answers to all the questions asked (there is an answer to the question of what national cuisine we prefer and why, an answer to the question about our favorite dishes and an answer to the question what we can do prepare). All three questions are about the camp. We did not forget to thank our friend for the letter, mention previous contacts, and express hope for future ones. The letter contains the correct form of addressing a friend (by name), the correct closing phrase and signature (name only). Thus, we have every chance to believe that the score for content will be maximum (2 points).

We evaluate the logic and structure of the text. The text is correctly divided into paragraphs (classic division: introduction, answers to questions in one paragraph, questions in a separate paragraph). Address to a friend and the author's signature on a separate line. The letter contains linking words (and, because, as for), and they are used appropriately. There are logical bridges between paragraphs, there are no violations of logic. The score for this criterion is 2 points (maximum). Thus, even with very superficial knowledge of grammar and not having a large vocabulary, you can get at least 4 points out of 6 for this task if you follow these simple recommendations.

The last criterion is language design. Here, the most typical errors are the absence of an article before a countable singular noun (a sandwich), the word order in questions (should be reversed, except for dividing questions), and the absence of auxiliary verbs in questions. Also often forgotten are the endings –s in 3rd person singular verbs and the plural endings of nouns.

You also need to check your spelling. Some mistakes can be avoided if you look at the assignment carefully. For example, the word cuisine can simply be copied from the assignment. Our task is to reduce the number of possible errors to a minimum, remembering that according to the criteria, if there are no more than two grammatical or lexical errors and/or spelling and punctuation errors, the highest score is given for this criterion (2 points out of 2).

40. Task 2. Essay expressing your opinion on the topic: “Playing videogames is a complete waste of time”.

Just like a letter, it is better to write an essay straight away, having first drawn up a detailed plan. The outline for the plan might look something like this:

Means of communication

In addition to the “content” column, where we will write down ideas regarding what to write in the paper, the plan must include the “vocabulary” and “communications” columns. In the vocabulary column we will write down interesting lexical units and expressions that we will later use in the essay. This is very important, since in an essay, unlike a letter, the vocabulary used is assessed. The “means of communication” column will contain the conjunctions necessary to present our ideas logically. A detailed plan will allow us to think through the essay in advance, concentrate on important points and avoid going off topic.

As for dividing the essay into paragraphs, it is better to follow the plan given in the assignment. In accordance with this plan, in the first paragraph it is necessary to state the problem. It would be more logical to start the essay with an introduction to the topic, and then write about the two existing views on this issue. The topic is what we will write about (in this case, we should write about video games). The problem is the existing disagreements on this issue. One of the opinions is given in the assignment; all we have to do is paraphrase it, i.e. express using other lexical means (synonyms, antonyms) or grammatical structures (other parts of speech, passive instead of active). Another opinion must be formulated carefully and precisely, making sure that it is exactly the opposite of the first. This is very important, since inaccurately wording opinions can later lead to a deviation from the topic.

Paragraph: Introduction
Content: Theme: playing videogames. Opinion 1: a waste of time. Opinion 2: a useful activity
Vocabulary: Nowadays, become popular, useless, leisure-time activity, a lot of benefits
Means of communication: Think, believe

The next paragraph should contain our own opinion on this issue and arguments proving its correctness. Our opinion must coincide with either the first or second opinion from the first paragraph. It is absolutely forbidden to write something compromising, for example: “It depends on the person,” or “It depends on the video game the person plays.” The essay requires you to take one side and defend your position. At this stage, we need to clearly decide which opinion we will defend. Of course, nothing prevents us from writing what we really think about this issue. However, the most important question we will have to answer is: “Which position is easiest for us to formulate arguments for?” Sometimes the argument for one position looks much stronger and more interesting than for another, and it will be easier for us to defend this particular point of view. As for argumentation, we must remember that a strong argument consists of two parts: the idea and its evidence. To prove an idea, you can use the following methods: give an example, refer to existing statistics, explain the reason, or describe the consequences. In accordance with the plan, we must give 2-3 arguments. Experience shows that two arguments in this paragraph are quite enough, since we will need another argument later to dispel the opposing opinion.

Paragraph: 2 (my opinion and arg)
Content: Opinion: disagree (it is useful), arg 1: entertaining, reason: good plots, arg 2: helps make friends, statistics: popular activity
Vocabulary: Can hardly be called, gripping, good for uplifting, socialize, the majority of
Means of communication: In my opinion, firstly, this is because, secondly, according to statistics

Next, we proceed to the formulation of the opposite point of view and the argumentation of its supporters. It is important to remember that we are not writing about the pros and cons of video games, but we are writing about two opposing points of view on this activity. The opposing point of view should correspond to that stated in the introduction. Since we have given two arguments to defend our point of view, here it will be enough for us to have one argument supported by evidence.

Paragraph: 3 (opposing opinion+arg)
Content: Opinion: absolutely useless. Arg: not educational. Example: shooting, chasing
Vocabulary: A way to kill time, do not do any good, do not lead to developing skills
Means of communication: However, other people are convinced, they say, because

In the fourth paragraph, our task is to disagree with the opposing point of view and refute the argument given in the previous paragraph. We should start with the fact that we do not agree with the opinion of the opposite side, and then choose an argument that will repel the argument of our opponents.

Paragraph: 4 (explain why we disagree)
Content: Arg: a lot of games, which teach players take decisions, coordinate their actions, consider possible solutions to the problem
Vocabulary: A lot of upsides, come in handy
Means of communication: Nevertheless, I still argue, for instance

And finally, we formulate a conclusion. The main thing in the fifth paragraph is to once again confirm your conviction that you are right. However, it will not be enough if we limit ourselves to just one sentence stating our opinion. A conclusion containing a link to an opposing opinion and a sentence summarizing our main arguments will look much more interesting.

Paragraph: 5 (conclusion)
Content: My opinion
Vocabulary: Approve of, not only…, but also, amusing, exciting
Means of communication: In conclusion, although, I am still in favor

Another erroneous approach when completing this task is to write the essay first in a draft, and then rewrite it into a clean copy. This is very labor-intensive work, and during the exam there is often no time for this. In addition, rewriting is often done in a hurry, which leads to numerous errors. It is much more correct to plan your essay by writing down key words, as we did. Thus, as a result of detailed planning, we receive a carefully thought-out draft of the future essay, containing not only outlines of ideas, but also useful vocabulary. Unfortunately, many people skip this important stage of work, believing that it takes too much time and effort, and that it is much easier to write right away, without a preliminary plan. This kind of approach leads to various kinds of errors, such as avoiding the topic, weak argumentation, and logical errors. It happens that, under the influence of stress, by the middle of the essay the author of an essay forgets what position he defends and switches to the position of his opponent. Correcting such errors in the finished work takes much more time than planning.

Now, based on the template, we write an essay. We should not forget that the essay is written in a more formal style, one of the features of which is the absence of short forms with an apostrophe (for example, don"t). The finished work might look something like this:

Nowadays playing videogames is becoming a popular leisure-time activity. Some people think that it is a useless way to spend free time. Others believe that this hobby has got a lot of benefits.

In my opinion, videogames are worth playing. Firstly, they are very entertaining and can be used for uplifting. This is because their plots are often gripping and one cannot help feeling amused playing them. Secondly, this activity helps people socialize. According to statistics, videogames are enjoyed by the majority of teenagers, which means that adolescents can easily make friends among those who share their interest.

However, other people are convinced that playing videogames is just a way to kill time. They say that videogames are not educational and do not do any good because most games are based on chasing or shooting which do not lead to developing any useful skills.

Nevertheless, I still argue that videogames have got a lot of upsides. Plenty of modern videogames help develop different skills which will come in handy in real-life situations. For instance, one can practice taking decisions in stressful situations, or coordinating their actions with actions of other players, or considering possible solutions to various problems which they face in games.

In conclusion, although there are people who do not approve of playing videogames, I am still in favor of this pastime activity. Not only are they highly amusing and exciting but also make people more skillful in certain spheres.

After finishing the work, you need to count the number of words. The minimum allowed number of words is 180 (minus 10% of the lower limit indicated in the assignment), and the maximum allowed is 275. The resulting essay contains 242 words, which indicates correct preliminary planning of the work. After counting the words, you need to check your work for grammar and spelling.

A huge number of communication methods are available these days if the interlocutor is far away. These are phone calls, SMS in chats, personal messages on social networks - you can’t list everything. Communication through letters has lost ground a little, but people still write letters, send them, and look forward to them. This is especially appreciated between close friends: there is a certain romantic and pleasant aura in letters that is unique to them.

It is very pleasant to receive a letter from a friend, but the impression can be spoiled if the message is written chaotically and the thread of thought is lost. In any language (including English), the letter must be formatted according to a certain scheme so that it is easy for the reader to perceive it and understand the sender’s intentions. The clear structure of the letter is an expression of respect for the person to whom it is intended.

Required elements of letter structure

Appeal

At the very beginning there is an appeal to the person for whom the text is intended. If the letter is in English, friends are addressed with the word Dear, regardless of the age of the recipient. To a person of the same age group (or when he is younger), the address can be continued with the name, and if the friend is much older, then after Dear there is data with the surname.

Dear Nana - an address to a friend of about the same age.

Dear Mr. Simthon - an appeal to an elderly person who is an old family friend and close to the author of the letter.

The absence of Dear in circulation is allowed if the message contains a hint that the letter is being written quickly, in cramped circumstances.

Sam!
I’m so sorry I haven’t written you for ages, I’m working hard.

Sam!
Huge apologies for not writing to you for a thousand years, I'm working hard.

The addition of My to the address is not at all respectful and does not indicate a very close relationship, but has a sarcastic background. It is worth using the expression My dear before the name if the letter contains a reproach or a joke.

My dear Samantha!
I was greatly surprised to find out the fact of your marriage, why didn’t you invite me to the wedding?

My dear Samantha!
I was extremely surprised to learn that you got married, why didn’t you invite me to the wedding?

Introduction

After the address there is an introduction from a new line; it should not be long: one, maximum two sentences. This could be an apology for a long silence, an expression of joy over good news received, or gratitude for the response to a previous letter.

Dear Karlos!
I’m writing, because I’d like to thank you for the invitation to your birthday party.

Dear Carlos!
I am writing to you because I want to thank you for inviting me to your birthday party.

Main part

The third part, also starting on a new line, is the main one, it reveals the main content of the letter. The main part may have one paragraph if the overall text is small, or two or three depending on the amount of information.

It is highly advisable to break the main part into several paragraphs and not write in a “solid canvas”: It will be difficult for a reader to understand a large text if there are several ideas in it.

Dear Mrs. Castaneda!

It was so pleasant to receive a letter from you.

How are you? What about your rheumatism? I heard you visited Israel in order to get treatment there.

I am happy to tell you, that I met a very good guy and we are planning to marry. We will definitely send the invitation for you as soon as we decide the date of our wedding.

Translation

Dear Mrs. Castaneda (address to a married elderly lady, an old family friend)!

I was so pleased to receive a letter from you.

How are you doing? What about your rheumatism? I heard that you visited Israel to receive treatment there.

I'm happy to tell you that I met a very nice guy and we are planning to get married. We will definitely send you an invitation as soon as we decide on the wedding date.

Conclusion

Next comes the final part. It is also written (or printed if it is an email) on a new line. The conclusion, like the introduction, should not be very long; it includes one sentence, maximum two. This section summarizes the message and asks a question to which I would like to know the answer in further correspondence.

I would like to know the details about your life in England in the next letter.
I would like to know details about your life in England in my next letter.

I'll be looking forward to receive your next letter. Remember: I miss you, I love you so much!
I will look forward to your next letter. Remember: I miss you and love you so much!

Signature

The signature completes the message. First, an expression of sympathy, gratitude, respect, love is written (depending on the content of the letter).

Important: This phrase is followed by a comma and the author's name followed by a line break.

Yours cordially,
Mark.

Yours with all my heart,
Mark.

Best regards,
Martha.

Best wishes,
Martha.

Examples of friendly letters with translation

Dear Mr. Katasava.

I’m so sorry that I didn’t answer you in April: I was very sick and had to stay in the hospital for a long time.

Thanks a lot, I received the book about Japanese ronins, it is so interesting. This book helped me to kill the time in the hospital, there was no internet there.

By the way, I heard that you met a pretty clever woman and you are thinking about marriage. Is it true? When you decide the date of the wedding, please inform me in advance. I’d like to present you something extraordinary.

When I returned home from the hospital, I found the red little plane (your gift for my tenth birthday). I was sure I lost it, but it was in the attic! Probably my grandma hide it there.

I hope that my illness is defeated and I will answer you in time.

With respect and best regards,

Mark.

Translation

Dear Mr. Katasawa.

Sorry for not answering you in April: I was very ill and had to stay in the hospital for a long time.

Thank you very much, I received a book about Japanese ronin, it is so interesting. This book helped me pass the time in the hospital; there was no Internet there.

By the way, I heard that you met a nice, smart woman and are thinking about starting a family. This is true? When you decide on the wedding date, let me know in advance. I would like to give you something unusual.

When I returned home from the hospital, I found a small red airplane (your gift for my tenth birthday). I was sure I had lost it, and it was in the attic! Most likely, my grandmother hid it there.

I hope that my illness is overcome and I will answer you in time.

With respect and best wishes,

Mark.

One more thing:

My dear Tim!

I am so upset that you haven’t written anything for a long time.

As I remember, you are a very well-behaved person, and it is very strange that you didn’t reply to our letters. Maybe you are working hard, but anyway you must pay attention to your sister – to me!

Maybe you have known already, but I will write: our mum is going to do the surgery, her heart leaves much to be desired... We all are very nervous: her doctor says, that the surgery will be very difficult.

I hope that you are all right and you have important reasons for your silence.

With love,

Meggy.

Translation

My dear Tim!

I am extremely upset that you have not written anything for so long.

As far as I remember, you are a very well-mannered person, and it is very strange that you did not answer our letters. You may be very busy with work, but in any case you should pay attention to your sister, that is, me.

Maybe you already know, but I’ll write: our mom is going to have an operation, her heart leaves much to be desired... We are all very nervous: her doctor says that the operation will be difficult.

I hope you are doing well and there are good reasons for your silence.

With love,
Maggie.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Formal letters/emails are written in a formal style to people who hold official, leadership positions, such as managers, directors.

Official letters can be of different types:

• Business letter;
• Letter requesting information;
• Complaint letter;
• Letter of application for employment;
• Complaint letter;
• Letter of apology.

Structure of a business letter

Sender's name and address

The sender's details are located in the upper left corner.

The sequence of details is as follows:

• manager's name;
• his position;
• sender's company name;
• house number, street;
• city, postal code;
• a country.

Example:

Mr Viktor Moskvin

154 Sadovaya St

The absence of punctuation marks in a business letter is called "open punctuation".

date

The date is located under the details, indented three lines. There are several options for writing the date:

• July 28, 2017;
• July 28th, 2017;
• July 28, 2017;
• 28th July, 2017.

Address of the recipient

The recipient's address is written after the date as follows:

• recipient's full name;
• job title;
• Company name;
• house number, street;
• city, postal code;
• a country.

Must be indicated before the name abbreviated address:

• Mr. (mister, master)
• Dr. (doctor),
• Ms. (miss, for an unmarried woman),
• Mrs. (Mrs. – for a married woman or if you are not sure about your status).

Example:

Mrs Jennifer Gray

editor publishing company “GoodBook”

The location of the address is similar to the writing of the sender's address.

Addressing the addressee of the letter

• The address to the addressee begins with the word “ Dear..." (Dear): If the full name of the recipient is indicated, then the greeting begins exactly like that, with a personal greeting: Dear Mrs Jennifer Grey.
• If the name is unknown, then the letter addresses vaguely: Dear Sir or Madam.
• If addressed to a company, the address is general: Dear Sirs.
• If the letter is addressed to an American company, a colon is placed at the end of the address: Dear Mrs Jennifer Gray:

Sender's job title

If the letter was written by a man, then the word Mr is not used. If the letter is written by a woman, then after the name in brackets there is (Mrs). There is no period at the end of the sentence. For example: Yours sincerely,

School of foreign languages ​​“Lingva”, or

Yours sincerely, Nikole Noble (Mrs)

School of foreign languages ​​“Lingva”

Application mark

A business letter may be accompanied by other documents. To indicate this in business correspondence, an abbreviation is written after the signature Enc or Encs (« Enclosures" - "Applications"). After this inscription a comma is placed and all documents attached to the main letter are listed. For example:

Yours sincerely,

School of foreign languages ​​“Lingva”

Enc, a copy of the license.

Business and formal letters. Structure of a business letter and speech patterns to use in it

Letter structure	Speech patterns
1. Official address to the recipient (Address the recipient in a formal manner)	Dear Sir or Madam - Dear Sir (appeal to a man) or Madam (to a woman)
2. In the first paragraph, indicate the purpose of writing the letter. (Do not use shortened verbs!)	I am writing in connection with/to ask about… – I am writing in connection with/to find out/ask…. I have read/found your advertisement in...and would like to... - I read/found your advertisement in...and would like to... I am interested in... - I am interested in... I would like to know more details about... - I would like to know more details about... I would like to ask further information about/concerning... I would like to ask if/when/why/where... - I would like to ask if it is possible, if/when/why/where... I look forward to your answer/ to hearing from you. - Looking forward to your response…
3. End of the letter in the appropriate form:
If the letter begins with Dear Sir or Madam, then the letter should end with the phrase	Yours faithfully,... - sincerely yours, with respect...
If the letter begins Dear Mr/Mrs Wilson, then the letter ends	Yours sincerely,... - sincerely yours, with respect...

Samples of business/formal letters

Examples of business official letters

Letter of enquiry

1.Dear Sir/Madam,

2.I am writing in connection with an advertisement for your English course. I am 19 years-old student from Russia. I am interested in English and have been looking for a course in English at higher level.

I would like to ask for more details about this English course. I would be very grateful if you could inform me about payment forms and enrolment requirements.

I look forward to your answer.

3.Yours faithfully,

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you in connection with an announcement regarding your English course. I am a 19-year-old student from Russia. I am interested in the English language and therefore am looking for English courses to improve my level.

I would like to know more details about this English course. I would be very grateful if you could provide me with information about payment methods and enrollment requirements.

Looking forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Anna Rudova

Dear Mr. Stevens

Mrs. M.K. Collins has applied for work as saleswoman in my drugstore. She has referred me to you as one for whom she has done similar work. Please give me some general information as to her fitness for this work. I shall be grateful to you for this help.

Sincerely yours,

Dear Mr. Stevens,

Mrs. M.K. Collins applied for a job as a salesperson in our pharmacy. She listed you as the person to contact for more information as she was doing the work for you. Please provide me with general information about her suitability for this position. I will be grateful for your help.

Yours sincerely,

Brian Warner

Letter of complaint

I am writing to complain about ineffective work of your book service center. On February the third I ordered from you one copy of “Dandelion wine” by Ray Bradbury. The book arrived by mail and I found that some of the pages were transposed so that the book was not usable.

As a result I was left without a needed book. I would like the privilege of returning the defective book to you in exchange for a perfect copy. I hope it would be possible for you to replace it as soon as possible. I look forward to your answer.

Yours sincerely,

Dear Mr. Olsen,

I am writing to complain about the ineffective work of your book center. On February 3rd, I ordered from you one copy of the book “Dandelion Wine” by Ray Bradbury. The book arrived by mail and I discovered that some of the pages of the book were in the wrong order, so the book was “unreadable.”

As a result, I was left without the book I needed. I would like to replace the defective copy of the book with a normal one. I hope you can replace the book as quickly as possible. Looking forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Bill Barry

Additional speech models for a letter of complaint:

• I must express my dissatisfaction with... - I must express my dissatisfaction...
• In fact I have already talked/written about it but nothing has changed/happened to... - In fact, I already talked/wrote about it, but nothing has changed...
• There has been no replay to my previous letter. – There was no response to my last letter.
• The item has not been replaced. – The product has not been replaced.
• It suddenly stopped working. – Suddenly the product stopped working.
• The keyboard was missing. – The keyboard was lost.
• Contrary to the description in the menu/brochure/time-table…The description in the menu/brochure/time-table does not correspond…
• The food was not cooked properly. – The food was not prepared properly.
• The price was expensive enough. - The price was too high.
• It was a very unfortunate event because... - This event ended in failure because...
• In this way it ruined all my plans as... - Thus, all my plans were ruined due to...
• I hope I can expect... - I hope that I can count (expect)...

Letter of application

(Letter of application)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in response to your job offer concerning the post of computer operator which I found in the latest issue of “Daily News”.

I believe this position fits my expectations of a perfect job for a young person. As far as my qualifications are concerned I have been working for about two years as a computer operator in Gray Service Company, where I have had the chance to get “hands-on” experience with computers in a real working office and coming into contact with the public for the first time. There I have gained a lot of professional valuable experience. In addition to this, I consider myself to be hard-working and a very sociable person.

I would be happy to attend the interview at any time that is convenient to you. I am enclosing the names of two referees from Gray Service Company, whom you can contact for more details. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing to respond to your advertisement for a computer operator position, which I found in the latest edition of the Daily News.

I believe this position meets my expectations of an ideal job for a young person. Regarding my qualifications, I worked as a computer operator for 2 years at Gray Services, where I had the chance to gain practical experience of working with a computer in a work office and my first experience interacting with people within the profession. I gained valuable professional experience at work. In addition, I consider myself a hardworking and very sociable person.

I will be happy to attend an interview at any time convenient for you. I am providing the names of two former colleagues whom you can contact for more detailed information about me. Looking forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Jane Morrison

Additional speech models for a job application letter:

• I am writing in reply to/with regard to... - I am writing to answer/in connection...
• I am writing in connection with... - I am writing in connection...
• I would like to express my interest in... - I would like to express my interest in...
• I found the position/job/post offer extremely interesting because... - I believe that the position/job/post is extremely interesting because...
• I would like to apply for this job because... - I would like to get this position because...
• My reason for applying for this job is that...(I am very sociable, hard-working, talented in...) -The reason I want to get this place...
• As for my experience it includes... - As for my work experience...
• I worked for...as... - I worked in the position... for...
• I am ready to come to an interview at any time. – I am ready to come for an interview at any time.
• I enclose my CV/references from my previous employers. – I am attaching a resume/recommendations from previous employers.

• I met him...in..., when he joined...
• …has asked me to write a letter of recommendation to accompany his application for… I am very pleased to do so…. asked me to write a letter of recommendation to submit at the place of requirement.... I'm glad to do this.
• ...distinguished himself / herself ... showed himself as...
• His/her greatest talent is…His/her greatest talent is…
• He/she is a creative person... He/she is a creative person...
• His / her excellent capacity to...was invaluable...
• While he / she was with us he / she... His responsibilities included...During the time he/she worked for us... His/her responsibilities included...
• His / her main responsibilities were... His / her daily tasks included... His / her daily tasks included...
• The only weak spot that I ever noted in his / her performance was... The only flaw that I noted in his / her personality...
• I am confident that…will continue to be very effectively. He/she deserves my best recommendations. I am confident that... will continue to work very effectively. He/she deserves my best recommendations.
• I would happily recommend…as a hopeful candidate. I am happy to recommend... as a promising employee.

Business greeting letter

The purpose of a congratulatory business letter is to formally congratulate the head of the company or your colleague. This letter may be shorter than a formal business letter, but have a more emotional tone.

Additional speech models for congratulatory letters:

• Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year from...! Please accept my best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year from...!
• In appreciation of our association during the past year, everyone at … extends our very best wishes for a wonderful holiday season! — Appreciating our cooperation over the past year, each employee ... expresses our best wishes for the holidays!
• Warmest wishes for a happy holiday season and a wonderful new year! — With warmest wishes for a happy holidays and a wonderful year ahead!

Job Application Letter (Resume Cover Letter)

In the introduction to the cover letter, it is recommended to mention the source of information and the desired position.

The main part of the letter talks about the applicant’s professional knowledge, skills and abilities, and contains information about the resume accompanying the letter. Express your desire to come for an interview, if possible at a time convenient for the employer or his representative, as well as the hope for a positive decision in favor of the applicant. Finally, thank you for reading the letter.

Additional speech patterns for job application letters:

• I was interested to read your advertisement for … I was interested when I read your advertisement in …
• Please accept this letter as application for the … position currently advertised in the … Please accept this letter as an application for the vacant position … which was advertised in …
• I have exceptional verbal and written communication skills. I have exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• I can supply references from…if required. I can provide recommendations from...if required...
• Thank you for your attention. Thank you for your attention.

Business invitation letter

In the business world, meetings with partners are part of the key to success, so proper invitation design is very important. When writing an invitation, make sure that the partner's name is indicated in full. Keep the invitation short, use humor appropriately, and of course, time the invitation!

Phrases for invitation:

• You are cordially invited to be the guest of… We cordially invite you to be the guest of…
• Allow me the pleasure of inviting you to... Do not refuse the pleasure of inviting you...

Reply to a business letter in English

Some letters received by the company require a response. The structure of such a letter is no different from a business letter.

Additional speech models for responding to a letter:

• Thank you for your letter. Thanks for your letter.
• We greatly appreciate your offer. We highly appreciate your offer...
• We shall be pleased to supply you with... We will be very happy to supply (send) to you...
• Regarding your question about... Regarding your question about...

Conclusion

An official letter consists of the following parts:

Official greeting: Dear Sir/Madam – when you don’t know the person’s last name; Dear Mr/Mrs Wilson – when you do not know the recipient's name.

The first paragraph contains the greeting and introductory words, the purpose of the letter.

The main part of the letter reveals its content - provides arguments, requests information of interest (usually 1-3 paragraphs).

The last paragraph is the summary of the entire letter, namely, the actions you expect from the recipient, final comments.

The formal ending of the letter: Yours faithfully,... – when you do not know the person’s last name; Yours sincerely,... when you don't know the recipient's name.

Formal letters can also be a response containing the requested information. The response letter has the same structure.

Make sure that no part is left out when you write the letter.

A well-thought-out and carefully written business letter is an effective tool in business, which can not only help in concluding various types of transactions, when applying for a job, etc., but also spoil the impression of the sender, which does not guarantee his success in achieving his goal.

English culture is unthinkable without the art of correspondence. For centuries, English ladies and gentlemen exchanged elegant messages, written in accordance with strict etiquette - it determined what to write, when and why, in what terms, at what time of day, and on what paper. Letters played, and still play, a vital role in people’s lives: they make people laugh, surprise, intrigue, fall in love, offend people to death and fill them with happiness.

7 Basic Types of Informal Letters

In a personal letter you can

1. Appeal: by first name, last name or using the words “ Sir/Madam”:

2. Opening sentence. This is where you explain the purpose of your letter. This could be a complaint, agreement or refusal to accept an invitation, or a response to a letter received.

3. Body of the letter: one or two paragraphs covering the topic.

4. Final paragraph in one or two sentences. Summarize what you have written and express your readiness to continue the correspondence. You can also thank the recipient in advance for the favor or prompt response.

5. Final wording:

6. Date and signature(not necessary).

What to pay attention to

• Informal writing allows you to use expressions from different styles, both business and informal, depending on the situation. You can even use colloquial style, slang, abbreviations and abbreviations. Just don’t overdo it with vernacular so that your letter doesn’t look cheeky or impolite. Some expressions sound acceptable in conversation but are inappropriate in writing, even if the letter is informal.
• Idioms and colloquial expressions will enrich the language of your letter - feel free to use them.
• Follow the structure of your letter, do not overload your sentences with complex structures, and develop your thoughts consistently.
• It is customary to leave a blank line between paragraphs for visual convenience. For the same reason, it is advised to start each paragraph with a small indent at the beginning of the first line if you are writing by hand.
• Use the tense when you want to communicate your expectations (“ I am looking forward to hear from you…” - “I look forward to your response...”) or about the purpose of your letter (“ I am writing to you on behalf of/with regard to…” - “I am writing to you at the request / occasion...”). Use or when reporting news or describing recent events.
• Try break the body of the letter into at least two or three paragraphs instead of trying to fit everything you want to say into one big paragraph. Information is perceived much better when divided into logical parts.
• You can end the letter with a question to the recipient to initiate further correspondence. This way you will show that you are interested in communication and are waiting for his response - and this will be the logical conclusion of the letter.

1. Letter of invitation

There are unofficial, semi-official and... Such a letter should contain additional information about the event (address, date and time, dress code of the event) and, if necessary, clear directions on how to get to the venue.

Opening phrase:

Final phrase:

We would be grateful if you could…	We will be grateful if you can...
Please indicate whether you would be able to attend…	Please let me know if you can attend...
I hope you can make it…	Hope to see you...
Hope you can come.	Hope you can come.
Looking forward to seeing you at…	Looking forward to our meeting…
Please let me know if you can come.	Please let me know if you can come.

2. Letter of acceptance of invitation

There are informal, semi-official and business. Contains clear and unambiguous consent to attend the event.

Opening phrase:

Final phrase:

We await the event with great anticipation.	We look forward to this event with anticipation.
I will be looking forward to the party. See you then.	I'm looking forward to the party. See you.
We are really looking forward to your party.	We look forward to your reception*.

*Stylistically, in this case, the definition of “reception” rather than “party” is more suitable for translating the word party, since the construction of the phrase is quite formal and we are most likely talking about an official and semi-official reception.

3. Decline letter

There are informal, semi-official and business. Expresses refusal to accept an invitation.

Opening phrase:

Final phrase:

I am sorry to miss the opportunity of greeting you in person.	I'm sorry that I'm missing the opportunity to congratulate you personally.
Thank you again for the invitation.	Thanks again for the invitation.
I hope we will have another opportunity to meet/celebrate…	I hope we will have the opportunity to meet/celebrate again.
I am really sorry I will have to miss it.	I'm really sorry that I won't be able to attend.
I'm sure we can get together some other time.	I'm sure we can get together another time.

4. Letter of apology

There is also business and informal. The letter should include an apology and an explanation of why anyone was inconvenienced or why responsibilities or promises could not be kept.

Opening phrase:

Final phrase:

Once again, my sincerest apologies for…	Once again I offer you my sincere apologies for...
I hope you understand.	I hope you understand.
I hope my apologies will be accepted…	I hope my apology will be accepted...
I know there is no excuse good enough for... and I just hope you can forgive and understand me.	I know that all my apologies are not enough for... and I only hope that you can forgive and understand me.

5. Letter responding to an advertising offer

There is business and semi-formal.

Usually contains a request for additional information or a request to clarify and supplement information received previously.

Opening phrase:

Final phrase:

​

"Yes" and "no" of a personal letter

These rules must be followed:

• No matter how informal your letter is, always remain polite.
• Communicate the purpose of the letter from the beginning.
• Use adverbs and conjunctions to connect your thoughts into a logical chain: then(then), later(Later), but(But), at the same time(in the same time), finally(finally).
• Start a new thought on a new line: text that is not divided into paragraphs is difficult to comprehend.
• Be restrained in expressing emotions, especially in semi-formal letters (complaint, congratulations, invitation, etc.).

And this should be avoided:

• Do not overuse exclamation marks, even if you are writing to a friend or close relative.
• Don't forget about opening and closing phrases - if the letter has a clear logical structure, it is easier to read and understand.
• Don't jump from thought to thought, don't write haphazardly. Thoughts must be arranged in a logical sequence.
• Do not use long ones with numerous minor members and . The purpose of a letter, including an informal one, is to convey your thoughts to the addressee the first time, and not to force him to re-read every sentence in order to understand the meaning of the message.

Now that you are familiar with the basic rules for writing informal letters, we offer you a rather interesting example of an informal letter in English. Such letters have become a real flash mob on the English-speaking Internet: actors, singers, and famous bloggers write them to themselves. Write yourself a letter like this too: it’s a great way to tap into your inner self (even your sixteen-year-old self) and take stock of a certain period of your life:

Letter to My 16-Year-Old-Self I know it is hard for you to believe that you could ever receive a letter from the future, but this has become a reality; though your calendar shows that it’s 1996, for me it is already 2013. It is almost dawn, and in a couple of hours I will have to get up (if I even go to bed) and go to work. But don’t worry, work is interesting, and I am fully satisfied with it. Why am I saying “don’t worry?” Well, because I am you; I am a 33-year-old Steve writing a letter to myself, when I was just 16.	Letter 16 year old self Dear Steve! I know it’s hard for you to believe that you are holding a letter from the future in your hands, but this is reality: although your calendar says 1996, for me it’s already 2013. It's almost dawn, and in a couple of hours I have to get up (if I even go to bed) and go to work. But don’t worry, my job is interesting, and I’m completely happy with it. Why do I say "don't worry"? Yes, because I am you; I'm 33-year-old Steve writing a letter to my 16-year-old self.
I’ve got so many things to tell you, and so many details of my life, both happy and sad. But I think I would have to write a book to describe it all; so I will just focus on what is important for you in those difficult times you will have in 1996.	There are so many things I want to tell you, so many stories from my life, both happy and sad... But I think I would have to publish a book to describe them all, so I will only focus on what is important to you in 1996 , in not the easiest times for you.
You don’t need to be that devastated by what Sally did to you. I know it hurts, it is unfair, and nothing seems to be the same anymore, but just try not to do anything stupid only to decrease pain, because you will only hurt some nice people for no reason. Anyways, your grief will vanish without a trace in a month or so. Here is one little tip for you: on September 16, at 2pm, go to a bus station near your school. Just ask a girl standing there with Whitman's Leaves of Grass in her hands something about poetry. This simple act of curiosity will change your entire life, I promise.	Don't feel so bad about what Sally did. I know you are hurt, you have been treated unfairly, and it seems to you that it will never be the same as before. Just try not to do anything stupid just to numb the pain, because that way you'll hurt good people needlessly. And your grief will pass without a trace in about a month. Here's a little hint for you: on September 16 at 14:00, go to the bus stop near the school. Ask the girl who will be standing there with a copy of Whitman's Leaves of Grass something about poetry. This simple act of curiosity will change your entire life, I promise.
Listen to yourself, to your own wishes and beliefs. I know it sounds unoriginal, but it works. Now you feel oppressed by the expectations of your parents, relatives, friends, and society. It may be hard to step over your parents’ wishes on your account. But it is just how everything goes: it’s you or everyone else. You have only two options: either spend your entire life doing not exactly what you wanted and trying to please people around you; or you can do something for yourself, live a happier life, and make others adapt to your decisions. By the way, don’t worry: you will make the right decision. Thank you for that.	Listen to yourself, your desires and beliefs. I know it sounds corny, but it will work. Now you are under pressure from the expectations of your parents, relatives, friends and society. It may be difficult for you to override your parents' wishes for your own sake. But that's life: it's either you or the rest. You only have two options: either spend the rest of your life doing things you don't want to do and trying to please others, or do something for yourself, live happily and leave it to others to adapt to your decisions. By the way, don't worry: you'll make the right choice. Thank you for this.
And, in a nutshell, just a couple more tips. Don't start smoking cigarettes. I know (believe me) you think that smoking cigarettes looks cool and rebellious, but the truth is that tobacco will turn you into a walking ruin even before you reach 30. Don’t drive so fast on May 11, 2003; learning how to walk and using help when going to bathrooms is reasonable only in childhood, but not when you are 23. Boldly accept that weird job offer in 2006 despite all your doubts; it will help you keep afloat when everyone around you will be losing their jobs two years later. Finally—just stay as positive and open-hearted as you’ve always been. In any complicated situation remember that in the end it will all be for the better.	And just a couple more tips. Don't start smoking. I know (trust me) you think it looks cool and rebellious, but tobacco will turn you into a walking wreck before you're 30. Don't drive so fast May 11, 2003 - learning to walk and go to the toilet with someone else's help is appropriate in childhood, but not when you are 23. Feel free to accept that strange job offer in 2006, casting aside all doubts; it will help you stay afloat when everyone around you is losing their jobs two years later. Lastly, just stay as positive and open as you always have been. In any difficult situation, remember that in the end everything is for the best.
Your life will be just great, believe me!

Letters have always been an important part of human life. Personal and business correspondence was conducted with special care, because it is by letters that one can judge how educated, intelligent, and interesting a person is. Letters from great poets, writers, scientists, and philosophers have become an important part of the cultural heritage of civilization.

Today we are not so sensitive to letters: electronic correspondence has made the process of delivering a letter lightning fast, thereby reducing the value of each individual message in the eyes of both the sender and the addressee. And yet, the main rule of correspondence remains the same: by your letters, people will judge you as a person, your education, interests and hobbies, as well as how well you speak the language in which you write the letter.

In personal correspondence, of course, you can allow yourself to abbreviate words and use slang expressions, but even in personal correspondence it is not a bad idea to adhere to some rules.

First, structure your text.

Even if you are writing to a very close person, he will be grateful to you for a structured text, and not a stream of consciousness in the best traditions of James Joyce.

Structure of a letter in English:

• address to the addressee
• introduction (paragraph in which you state the purpose of the letter and can refer to previous contacts)
• body of the letter
• conclusion (usually written on a new line)
• final phrase (a separate line will also be allocated for it)
• signature of the letter's author
• The author's address and date are indicated in the upper right corner

Example letter:

Secondly, learn the correct forms of address in letters in English:

The form of address depends on the degree of familiarity with the addressee of the letter:

• Dear Margery – an appeal to a friend or relative
• Dear Sir/Madam - an official address if you do not know the recipient (often used in mailings)
• My dear Sir/Madam is an address that is used only in personal correspondence and often with irony
• Dear Mrs. Smith - an official address to an unfamiliar person

Thirdly, try not to offend the recipient with incorrect address

1. If you do not know the gender of the recipient, write his full last name: Dear T.K. Spinazola

2. Use the abbreviation Ms. instead of Miss or Mrs, if you are not sure that the woman is married

3. If the letter is addressed to two people, indicate both names in the message

4. Dear Ladies and Gentlemen is used only in oral addresses; in writing it is better to use Dear Sirs

5. Some messages cannot be shortened, for example Dean, Governor, Professor, Captain, Admiral, JudgeSister

6. Addresses Mr., Ms., Mrs. and Dr. cannot be used completely

Example letter:

Templates for introductory phrases for letters

Introductory phrases	Closing phrases	RSVP
It was great to get your letter…. Thanks for your letter. It was great/lovely to hear from you. Thanks for your long letter. It was really great to hear all your news, after not hearing from you for ages…. Sorry I haven’t written for so long but…. I was really pleased to hear that…	I would really like you to visit me this summer. Write to me and tell me your plans. Please give/send my regards (love) to your…. And write and tell me your plans for…. Write back soon! If you want to know anything else, just drop me a line.	I am writing to ask for your advice Can you give me your advice? I've got a problem and I need your advice. What do you think I should do? Do you think I should...?

We wish you only pleasant letters!