Letters Giving on Opinion

Aim: by the end of the session the students will be able to write a                
letter giving an opinion (an advice or some
suggestions/recommendations)

1. Study. Read the teory and complete the structure:

A formal letter of advice is usually written in response to a request or enquiry, whereas a
making suggestions offers an opinion and suggestions on a particular situation. EciCh point should be presented in a separate paragraph containing a clear topic se Лепсе supported by examples and/or justification.

Useful Language

To begin letters:
I am writing in reply/response to your letter requesting advice about...

Thank you for your letter requesting advice about...
I hope the following advice/suggestions will be of (some) help to you ...

Advice/Suggestions:
It  might/would be useful/to your advantage (if you were) to ...
I feel/believe (that) the/your best course of action would be ..
I would like to offer  one or two suggestions concerning ...
I would (strongly) suggest/recommend + -ing/(that)...
Yon should / ought to ...

To end letters:
     I hope that these suggestions           will (prove to) be of some assistance. have been useful/of use.

I hope/trust that you will accept/follow this advice ...  
I would be pleased/happy to offer any additional advice you may  require.                           
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further questions/queries problems.

2. Study           I. Letters of Advice

Read the instructions and the model below and identify the topic of each paragraph. Then replace all phrases in bold with other similar ones. Which phrases in the letter are used to give reassurance?

The student representative body at the university or college which you attend offers an advisory service to help students with their prob­lems. As a member of the advisory committee, you have received a letter from a foreign student who is concerned about various prob­lems related to studying abroad. Write a reply, offering practical advice and reassuring them that they do not need to worry.

Model letter
Dear Ms Yagniq,
I am writing on behalf of the Students' Advisory Service in reply to your letter of 13th May, and would like to congratulate you on obtain­ing a place at Shelbourne University. I understand that you are ner­vous about moving to a foreign country, and I hope the following advice will be o/ some help to you.
You mentioned that you are afraid of being lonely and unable to make friends when you get to university. Firstly, I would suggest that you try to meet as many people as possible during the first few days, as this is when many/riendships are formed. I would also recommend joining some clubs and societies as a way o/ meeting people with the same interests as yours.
Let me reassure you that, i/ you/ollow this advice, you will not /eel lonely. When you arrive, you will realise that everyone is in the same situation and that your fellow students will be more than willing to make/riends.
In your letter, you also refer to your worries about<oping with the work. I would advise you to make sure that you always do each piece o/work immediately after it is assigned so that you do not/all behind. Additionally, if you find that you need help, the best course of action would be to speak to your tutor. Most important of all, I strongly rec­ommend that you organise your timetable carefully so that you can combine work and recreation.
You may rest assured that, although some students take time to adjust to the workload, with proper organisation they find it easy to cope with.
I would like to wish you good luck with your course. Please do not hesitate to contact me again should you have any further questions.

Yours sincerely, Jessica Hill

3. Study          
Read the following situations and offer advice for each one using appropriate expressions.

1. John Smith has been working for a computer supply company for the last ten years. He finds his job boring and now wants to use the experience he has gained over the years to open his own com­puter supply centre.
2. Pamela Wilson is a working mother. She works a 40-hour week and takes care of her two young children. When she arrives home after work, she has barely enough energy or patience to help her children with then homework.
3. Sarah Jones is a student who is about to graduate from university. She wants to start looking for a job, but docs not know how to go about it.

4. Study           
II. Letters Making Suggestions/Recommendations

In this type of letter you are usually requested to express your opinion on a certain matter and also to provide suggestions supported by expected results/conse­quences. You can introduce suggestions with: To begin/start with, Firstly, Secondly, Additionally, Finally, etc. It is advisable to use the following linking words in order to introduce the expected result: thus, as a result, consequently, there­fore, as a consequence e.g. / would also suggest advertising in the local newspa­per; as a result, you would attract more attention to your new range of special offers

5. Complete the structure          

Introduction

Paragraph 1

for writing

Main Body

Paragraphs 2-3

give________ ^
Paragraphs 4-5

make_________ and comment
on______

Conclusion

Final Paragraph

Full __________name

6. Study           
Read the instructions and the model letter and list the suggestions made and their expected results. Is the writer's opinion a positive or a negative one? Find expressions in the letter which justify this.
You recently went to a museum where the staff were particularly helpful. Write a letter to the museum's curator, giving your overall opinion of the museum and suggesting what might be done to further improve the stan­dard of what it has to offer the public.
                                                                                                                               

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to commend you on the exceptional service the Museum of Natural History offers the community of Kempton. I recently visited the museum for the/irst time and viewed your exhibition entitled "The Age o/ Dinosaurs" which was, to my mind, extremely interesting and informative.
I was particularly impressed by how approachable and helpful the museum staff were; they showed themselves willing to help with any questions or requests which arose during my visit. Moreover, I appreci­ated the fact that the guides were very knowledgeable about their sub­ject.
In my opinion, the subject o/ your feature exhibition was both fasci­nating and enlightening. It was obviously carefully researched and its excellent presentation made it interesting to people of all ages. I was equally impressed with the permanent exhibits and found your late clos­ing time very considerate and convenient for working people such as myself.
There are, however, one or two suggestions I would like to submit which I feel would further improve the standard of the museum. Firstly, a service offering guided tours in foreign languages would be useful for tourists visiting the museum. Additionally, installing ramps would make access easier/or disabled people, thus making their visit more enjoyable.
Finally, may I suggest that you publicise the museum's forthcoming exhibits more widely? As a result, many more people like myself who are interested in natural history would be made aware of the regular exhi­bitions you present.
Once again, I would like to congratulate you on the very high stan­dard of your museum, and assure you that I shall be a regular visitor from now on.

Yours faithfully, MrsP.Morrison

7. Study          

Match the following suggestions to the expected results and link them with appropriate linking words.
Suggestions
a   I would suggest hiring more staff.
b   May I suggest that you renovate the premises.
с  Another suggestion would be to install computers.
d   I would venture to suggest hiring a bouncer.

Results

• Less time would be wasted on
  writing   down   personal   information.
• You would succeed in retaining a
  higher standard of clientele.
• Work could  be delegated  and
  done more efficiently.
• You would attract a greater number of younger people and make
  more of a profit.

8. Pre-writing (1)

Read the instructions and the fol­lowing model Setter and correct the mistakes which have been highlighted.

Then complete the structure          


You are on the committee of a local charity organisation which recently held auditions for its annual fund-raising variety concert. You have been asked to write a letter to one of the groups/people who auditioned, thanking them for taking part, expressing your opinion of their per­formance, suggesting how it might be improved and explaining why these changes are necessary.


Dear Mr Potts,
I am writing or. behalf of the 'Featherton Friends' with regard to your recent audition about our fund-raising concert. Unfortunately, the large amount of people involved makes it impractical to hold group rehearsals, and actions areselected on the basis of being ready for per­formance.
To begin with, I would like to thank you for your generosity in offer­ing to appear in the concert. We realise that a great deal of lime and effort were necessary to prepare your act.
We were very impressive with your performance at the audition and the members of the comittee enjoyed it enormously. We fell that the singing and dancing were of a great standard and your groups mem­bers showed a very professional approach.
We would like to suggest one or two minor alterations, although, which we feel would improve the overall performance. Firstly, the committee believes that it would have been better if the dancers were already positioned on the stage as the curtain goes up. The reason of this is that the venue for the concert is very small and, consequently, the space behind the stage is limited. Secondly, we would like to suggest that you omit the last chorus from your performance in order that make it shorter. We feel that This is necessary because your act was quite long and, in order to have a wide variety of acts in the con­cert, it is necessary lo limit each performance to a maximum of fifteen minutes.
I hope that you will appreciate the need for these changes and would be grateful if you can contact me lo arrange rehearsal times. I look for­ward lo hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,
J.P. Douglas

Introduction Paragraph 1 _____for writing Main Body Paragraph 2 express_______ Paragraph 3 give___________ Paragraph 4 suggest____and give Conclusion Final Paragraph _____________ Full name

9. Pre-writing (2)
Look at the following writing task    
instructions and answer the questions
below. The questions apply to all three  
tasks.


a)  As a social worker, you have received a letter from a foreign family who moved to your country three months
ago and are having difficulty adjusting lo their new surroundings. Write a letter advising them how to deal with
the situation. You should offer certain practical suggestions and reassure them that they need not worry.
b)   There are plans to tear down an old cinema in the town where you live. Write a letter to  the authorities
stating why you think this should not be done, and suggesting alternative ways in which the building might be
used.
c) You recently visited a new supermar­ket or fast food restaurant which has opened in your neighborhood. Write a letter to the manager expressing your opinion of the establishment and suggesting ways in which it could be improved.

1. What greeting would you use?
2. What is the main purpose for writing
   the letter?
3. What is the additional purpose?
4. What useful expressions can you think
   of for making suggestions?
5. What paragraph plan would you use?
6. What useful expressions could you
   write as opening and closing remarks?
7. •   Mow would you sign the letter?

10. Writing
Choose ONE of writing tasks above, and write a complete paragraph plan with notes. Then write the letter in about 200 words.

11. Home assignment
Choose another writing task and write a letter of about 200 words