6. Match the parts of the letter (1 to 11) with the following. Example: a) -7

1. Background information: saying why the rain forests are useful to us.

2. The date of the letter.

3. Concluding the letter by suggesting a solution and requesting action.

4. The name of the Member of Parliament (MP).

5. The formal close of the letter.

6. Saying what the reason for writing is.

7. The address of the person writing the letter.

8. Explaining why rain forests are destroyed.

9. The name of the person writing the letter.

10. The address of the Member of Parliament.

11. The formal start of the letter.

7. Sarah Trebbit is not a personal friend of her mp, Mr Crew, and so she has written to him using a fairly formal (semi-formal) style.

a) Say whether the following statements are True or False about writing semi-formal letters. One has been done for you.

i) We use contractions (e.g. it's, I've). False.

ii) The letter begins with an introduction and ends with a conclusion.

iii) The close of the letter is something like Best wishes.

iv) Each paragraph usually contains a different topic.

v) When we start the letter with the person's name (Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms, etc.) we close with Yours sincerely.

b) How do we start and close a semi-formal letter to a person whose name we don't know?

8. The phrase / am writing to express my concern... is appropriate in a semi-formal letter. In a more personal, informal letter we might say, The reason I’m writing is to tell you I’m worried about... The phrases in list A come from semi-formal letters.

Match the words in italics in list A with their informal equivalents in list B.

A As requested... Please send it at your earliest convenience. How can I obtain... When can I make an appointment... I am very dissatisfied with ... I need to see you concerning... / apologise for...

В get hold of about as you asked I'm sorry as soon as possible arrange to come and see you unhappy

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