informal email

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Welcome

• Warming up
• Instruction: How to write an informal email 
• Writing challenge

Today's goal  

We can write an informal email to plan a visit to a foreign city in 80-100 words.

How to get there:

1: We can explain what an informal style of writing is in our own words. 

2: We can apply the basic structure of an informal email  correctly. 

3: We can express our intentions to visit a friend in a foreign city correctly in short simple sentences. 

What do you already know about an informal email?

How do you start an informal email?

1. Goodmorning-afternoon-evening
2. Dear + first name
3. Hi, hello
4. No name

To whom do you write informal messages?

1. Your (future) boss
2. Friends
3. Family
4. People you don't know

The correct way to start a formal email?

1. YOOOOO!!!
2. Hey dude!
3. Dear Mr. /Mrs. /Ms./Mx. + last name
4. What's up???

Writing a formal email could be to a/my

1. cousin
2. company
3. grandparents
4. teacher

Informal writing

Slang (dialect, streektaal)

Expressions (uitdrukkingen)

Personal tone (persoonlijk)

Simple language , short sentences (simpel en kort)

Informal style (informele opbouw en stijl)

Contractions are allowed (You're, it's) (afkortingen toegestaan)

Expressing feelings (uitdrukken van jouw gevoelens en emoties)

Informal writing

Informal writing consists of short sentences and is used in more personal settings, such as writing a letter to a friend or writing a diary entry. It is much more relaxed than formal writing.

Formal writing

Complex (ingewikkelder)

Longer sentences (langere zinnen)

Explain your points (uitleg, argumenten)

Formal style (formeel taalgebruik, netter)

No contractions (such as you're) (geen afkortingen)

No expressions or slang (geen uitdrukkingen of dialect)

No or hardly any emotions/feelings (niet te persoonlijk)

Diverse vocabulary usage (diverser taalgebruik)

Formal Writing

Formal writing is written for an audience you do not know on a personal level. It is often the main style in academic writing (unless otherwise noted) and is more complex than informal writing. Formal writing is serious.

Informal vs. Formal

Type	Informal letters and emails	Formal letters and emails
Writing to	- Friends - Family members	- People we don't know - Bosses or managers

"That film was sick!"

1. Formal
2. Informal

"I regret to inform you that the swimming pool is now closed."

1. Formal
2. Informal

"The managing director requests that everyone arrives for the meeting at 9am prompt. "

1. Formal
2. Informal

"What's up?"

1. Formal
2. Informal

"We were just hanging out in the park."

1. Formal
2. Informal

Which Style is Appropriate?

Knowing the difference between formal and informal writing is only half the battle. The other important aspect is knowing which to use. On the next slides are some examples of both styles. Can you guess which one is which?

Use Formal Writing When:

Writing professionally (reaching out to a client or company);

Academic writings (essays, research papers, etc.);

Job applications (resume writing, CVs, and cover letters);

Reaching out to someone you do not know.

Use Informal Writing When:

Writing to a friend;

Sharing a story or writing a personal blog;

Writing creatively;

Writing dialogue and conversations;

If you are unsure of whether to use informal or formal writing, it’s generally the rule of thumb to start out writing formally. Then, when you make the connection and you see how the other side responds, you can ease up on the formality.

Writing an informal email

You write an informal email or a letter to friends, family members or people you know.
An email has 5 main parts:

1. A subject (in the title)
2. Salutation (greeting)
3. Body 
4. Closing sentence
5. Name

Formal

Informal

A relative

A client

Your friend from school

Your boss

Writing an informal email

Salutation (Aanhef)	Start your email with Dear + name. You can also start with Hello, / Hi, / Hey there! Good morning, / Good evening etc.
Body	In the body you write your message. This could be about a number of topics; asking questions, inviting a friend or just sharing information. (2/3 paragraphs)
Closing sentence	I hope to hear from you soon. Keep in touch! Write soon.
Closing + your name	All the best, / Best wishes, / Love, / Hugs, / Kisses, / Take care, / Have a good weekend,

Match the sentences with formal or informal.

Hello Sabrina,

Dear Mrs Collins,

I'm writing to find out about ...

 I look forward to hearing from you.

 I apologise for not getting in contact with you ...

See you soon.

I'm not happy about ...

Sorry, I haven't written for ages, but ...

Formal 

Informal

I am writing to enquire about ...

 I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with ...

Match the formal expressions (right) with the informal expressions (left).

Big

Better

Change 

Call off

Put off

Put forward

But  

And 

Postpone 

Superior to

Propose 

Cancel

However

Transform

As well as

Large

Planning a trip to a foreign city.

Challenge

1. Write your friend/family member an email to plan a visit to a foreign country/city in 80-100 words.

2. send your email to: [e-mail] (and your classmate) 

Inhoudelijke eisen: 

1. Begin de e-mail op een passende manier

2. Vertel waarom je daar naartoe wil reizen. 

3. Noem vertrektijd, vluchtnummer en aankomsttijd: stel een plek voor om elkaar te ontmoeten. 

3. Zeg dat je veel zin hebt om samen naar ... te gaan. 

4. Beschrijf jullie verdere reisplannen en laat je enthousiasme blijken. 

5. Zeg dat je een vlog gaat maken over je reis en deel ideeën. 

6. Stel drie andere vragen over jouw verblijf (over het huis, eten, vervoer, etc.) 

6. Sluit netjes af. 

Peer feedback - Exchange your email with your neighbor. How many points does your classmate score? Why?

Points
1p	Salutation, closing sentence + proper ending	juiste aanhef en juiste afsluiting
2p	Grammar	correcte zinnen (woordvolgorde), tijden, lidwoorden etc.
1p	Punctuation (interpunctie) Does each sentence start with a capital?	interpunctie Does each sentence start with a capital?
2p	Task - Have you covered all requirements?	Heb je alles genoemd wat in de opdracht staat?
1p	Spelling	Correcte spelling van woorden.
1p	Language formal/informal
1p	Paragraphs

Today's goal  

We can write an informal email to plan a visit to a foreign city in 80-100 words.

How to get there:

1: We can explain what an informal style of writing is in our own words. 

2: We can apply the basic structure of an informal email  correctly. 

3: We can express our intentions to visit a friend in a foreign city correctly in short simple sentences. 

EXIT ticket
1) Wat is een informele stijl van schrijven?
2) Wat is de structuur/opbouw van een informele email?

you should …

you shouldn’t …

read the question/task carefully.

sound ‘chatty’ like you’re talking to a friend.

miss out any of the necessary information.

use a formal beginning and ending. 

write more than the word limit