1. Writing an informal e-mail (describing an event)
Questions to consider:
The addressee (To whom are you writing an ?)
Purpose of writing (Why are you writing this ?)
The purpose and content of each paragraph, e.g.
Opening paragraph: the reason for writing
Main part (paragraph 1): description of the festival
Main part (paragraph 2): the writer’s opinion and comments of the festival
Closing paragraph: the writer’s final remarks/ comments

2. Example
Dear Annabel, It was great to hear from you. Of course, I’ll help you with your assignment. We had loads of festivals and celebrations here in Shanghai but I’m going to tell you about my favourite one: the Shanghai International tea Culture Festival, during which tea’s long and significant history is celebrated. This festival is held in late April and lasts for one week. You wouldn’t believe the variety of activities that take place! There are competitions and exhibitions, as well as tasting sessions for numerous varieties of tea. There are also seminars on tea culture and lectures on the importance of tea, auctions of beautiful tea sets, any many performances of Chinese, Japanese and Korean tea ceremonies. I always look forward to this festival, not only because I enjoy learning more about our tea culture, but also because it’s great way to make new friends. You see, the festival attracts tea lovers from all over the world. I love mingling with them and getting to know them over a cup of tea. Well, I think that’s about it. Would you like me to send you some pictures, too? I’d be more than glad to, so don’t hesitate to ask! Take care, Mia

3. Style and features of informal writing
The use of the first name to greet the addressee
The use of the first name of the writer
Short forms (e.g. I’ll help you…, I’m going to help you…)
Informal language and expressions (You see,…/ Well, I think that’s about it./ ..so don’t hesitate to ask!/ Take care)
direct questions (Would you like me send you some pictures, too?)
Exclamations (You wouldn’t believe the variety of activities that take place)
Vocabulary (simple)

4. Punctuation marks
Punctuation marks are important because they help the writer structure and organise his/ her writing, and make it flow and read better.
Some basic rules:
full stop (.), question mark(?) and exclamation mark (!) are used at the end of the sentence.
Comma (,) is used: in lists, in direct speech, to separate clauses, to mark off certain parts of a sentence, with ‘however’.
Colon (:) is used to list items or explain something specific.
Semicolon (;) is used to connect two complete sentences when they are too closely related to put a full stop, or when there is no connecting word (e.g. so, but), that require a comma. E.g. My brother prefers coffee, I prefer tea.

5. Correction code WW: wrong word WF: wrong form WO: word order
Pr: preposition
T: tense
P: punctuation
A: article
Sp: spelling
^: something missing

6. The choice of the correct word
Japanese bowing Although bowing as a greeting is 1 throughout Asia, Japan is the country where it is used the most. It is an important 2 and Japanese children learn how to bow properly from an early age. It is a(n) 3 of respect towards other people, in particular to people who have a higher status. At first 4, any two bows may seem 5 but actually there are small details that distinguish them. There are three kinds of bows: informal, formal and very formal. A 6 informal bow is made at about 15degree angle, formal bows are at about 30degrees and a very formal is even lower. The duration of a bow may also 7 but they usually last for a few seconds. Bowing is also used to apologise, but in this case several bows are usually performed instead of a(n) 8 one.
a. routine b. ordinary c. regular d. common
a. gesture b. sign c. symbol d. signal
a. signal b. sign c. emblem d. source
a. eye b. glance c. display d. look
a. same b. unique c. equal d. alike
a. regular b. normal c. typical d. common
a. vary b. feature c. form d. reverse
a. unique b. single c. rare d. identical

7. Task
Write an informal ( words) to your friend describing a popular celebration/ holiday in your country and tell him/ her what you like about it.

8. PLAN (An informal letter/ e-mail)
GREETING (Greet the person you are writing to.)
OPENING PARAGRAPH (Begin your letter/ and say why you’re writing.)
MAIN PART (1-3 paragraphs): Mention everything you want to include. Start a new paragraph for every major point.
CLOSING PARAGRAPH (State anything you want to emphasise and end your letter/ .)
SIGNING OFF (Use a signature ending and your first name below that.)

9. In the coursebook, pages 160-161, you will find the information related to:
the layout of an informal letter/ ,
suggestions which greeting, set phrases for opening paragraphs, set phrases for closing paragraphs and signature endings are commonly used in an informal letter/ ,
Other phrases which could be helpful.