1. Deltion College Engels C1 Schrijven [Edu/004] thema: NIMBY (Not in my backyard) can-do : kan een uitgebreid en gedegen betoog tegen iets schrijven.

2. Tijd opdracht: 3 SBU Eindprodukt: a. Formal letter of protest, 300 – 350 words Needed: dictionary

3. Je hebt deze opdracht naar behoren uitgevoerd als je je protest in een duidelijke, goed gestructureerde brief kunt weergeven en uitgebreid je standpunten kunt uiteenzetten.

4. Situation You have acquired a traineeship abroad. You now live in an English speaking, but low budget part of Birmingham. Town planners have launched a plan to build a complex in your neighbourhood, including a multi-screen cinema and nightclub. The local residents fear the impact this will have on the environment. Because they are not so highly educated, they have approached you to help them write a letter to the authorities, outlining their concerns.

5. Assignment for 1 student no teamwork no roleplay Tip: read the hints on the lay-out of a formal letter given on the last three pages

6. Content of the letter 1. Address your letter to: The Town Planning Committee, Unit 319,The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA Use the lay-out of a formal letter (see also next page) You should use an appropriate, impersonal opening (e.g. “To whom it may concern”). 2. Use a formal style throughout. 3. Consider some realistic concerns that residents might have, such as parking, noise, etc. 4. Suggest solutions (i.e. how some of the potential problems might be avoided), but use a moderate, impartial tone for these recommendations. 5. Ask for some information and ensure that this request is related to one of the points you have made earlier. 6. Round off your letter in a conventional way.

7. Sender Your address (do not write your own name here). Addressee Name + address (here: Town Planning Department etc.) Don’t forget to add the country (here: "Britain"). Date The date can be written in a number of ways:  January 1 st  2 nd February  March 3  14 May Do not write “the seventh of August” or “June the 8 th ”, even though this is what we say. Do not only use numbers. In Great Britain 7/9/01 = 7 September. In the USA 7/9/01 = 9 July. Starting a formal letter

8. Addressing the person If you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to,  Dear Sir/Madam, Dear Sir, or Dear Madam. If you do, choose from:  Dear Mr or Mrs or Ms + surname. Never use both first name + surname! If you write a letter of protest: ‘To whom it may concern’ Use paragraphs, so skip a line for each new subject. The ‘body’ of the formal letter

9. If you have asked for something, you can end by writing:  I am looking forward to your (early) reply.  I am looking forward to hearing from you (soon).  Awaiting your reply.  Many thanks in advance. Rounding off There are a number of choices:  Yours faithfully (if the letter opens: Dear Sir, or Dear Madam, –or Dear Sir/Madam.  Yours sincerely (if you write: Dear + surname). Common in America:  Yours truly, / Sincerely yours, / Very truly yours. Your signature. Your name in simple, legible (e.g. block) letters. If you write on behalf of a group, write ‘On behalf of…..’ Ending the formal letter