FORM 4 ENGLISH WRITING SKILLS

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CHAPTER 1:
BUY IT

This unit include : Objectives
● Formal Letter :  Student are able to apply formal

● Email of Application vocabulary in a formal writing
● Completing a Form  Student are able to develop ideas in a

● Exercises formal letter
 Student can distinguish between
At the end of this chapter : formal and informal language

Goals : 1
 Student can write a formal letter

by using correct tone and
language  Student learn to write a
complain, request and application

letter

Getting know with Formal
Letter

What is Formal Formal letter is write for an official
Letter?

To whom we It is usually written to governmental bodies,
write it? organisations, authorities and business

Why do we write  > To complain or express dissatisfaction
formal letters? >To enquire about something

Tips in writing!

o When writing a formal letter, you must pay attention to the
format of the letter.

o Make sure your points or ideas are well-presented. o Pay attention
to the tone and language. A formal letter must be polite even if we are

writing to express our dissatisfaction.
o Avoid using informal language

o Use formal vocabulary and expressions

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Guidelines on Writing a Formal Letter

Format of A Formal Letter

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Structure of a Formal Letter

The structure of a formal letter is
as follows :

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Phrases for Writing A Formal
Letter

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Sample of Formal Letter

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Vocabulary
Guide

● Purchased – buy
● Faulty – broken
● Malfunction – fail to function
● Placement – Placing something to somewhere
● Refund – give back, repay
● Certified – validate
● Immediate – hurried
● Features – characteristics

Practice : Read the following sentences. Tick the ones that apply to the
letter above.

The writer :

1. uses polite tone and language(      )
2. mentions the purpose of writing(       )
3. explain what is her TV program.(       )
4. states the what product she bought(       )
5. states her age and status(       )
6. explain what she do to make the TV works(       )
7. uses informal expressions(       )
8. ask for refund or placement(       )

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PRACTICE

Question : You have bought a new laptop
computer and in a few days of purchase
discovered a major flaw. Write a letter to the
company to complain about the faulty item.

You should include the following points :
● Windows operating system was not installed
● Wrong colour model received
● Could not change default language
● Specifications are not the same as in catalog
● Recommendations.

In your letter :
● introduce yourself
● explain the situation
● say what action you would like the company
to take

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Now it’s your turn !

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Difference Between Formal
and Informal Letter

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Differences Expressions/Phrases Between Formal and
Informal Letter

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Which is the more formal
expression from each pair ?
How to Write An Email?

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What is Email ?

Email stands for electronic mail. It is the most preferred means of
communication because it is cheaper and faster. It is used in formal,

semi-formal as well as an informal way of expression or writing.
There are two ways to write the email :
Formally
Informal

Formal Email Writing Format

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Email of Application

Sample writing :
Replying to a job advertisement

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Completing a Form

A. Read the questionnaire and answer the questions.
Malaysian Culture

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Exercises :

A. We may hear popular expressions used in everyday speech. How
can we change these expressions to make them more formal ? Write
the more formal expression on the column given.

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B. Imagine that you are the secretary of Art Club in your school.
The club wants to hold a learning visit at a Batik factory and you are
responsible to handle the visit. Write a letter of permission to visit
the factory.

You may include this point :
● details of the visit
● batik printing
●take up new skills
● expose to the art
● souvenirs and gifts

In your letter :
●introduce yourself
●explain the details
● clarify the objectives of the visit

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Vacancy Opportunities !

Graphic Designer needed !
A position is available for a full time graphic
designer to join our advertising department.

Your responsibilities will include :
Organising advertising
Creating posters
Designing television ads

You must have a lot of experience in using
computer design programs.

Based on the advertisement above, write an email to apply for the
position.

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CHAPTER 2:
LET'S CHAT

At the end of this chapter :

Objectives:
Getting the students to
understand the rules of

informal letter.

Goals :
Helping the students to
differentiate between a formal
letter and informal letter

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Conversation between Meimei and Mira about informal
letter.

Hi Mira! How are you today?

Oh ! Hello Meimei! . I’m doing good. I’m just
wondering about writing a letter to my friend

but I don’t know how to do it.

Oh … you mean informal letter ?

Yes. That’s right. What are supposed to be
include when write an informal letter?

The format of informal letter is:
1.the address
2. date
3. salutations
4. opening
5. content
6. ending

7. signing off & signature

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Oooo … is the format of the informal letter
and formal letter are same?

No, it is not the same

So, how we can differentiate between
informal letter and formal letter ?

It is easy. First ,if we look at the format.
The address, date and signature for
informal letter are used on the right
side.
Meanwhile, for formal letter, the
address and signature are on the left
side.

Wow! This information is very useful !. thank
you , Meimei!

If you don’t understand , let’s take a look on the
next page on informal letter.

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What is Informal
Letter ?

Informal letters are written to Since they are written to close
close acquaintances of the writer, relations the letters have an
their friends, family, relatives, etc informal and personal tone.

nformal letters are mainly Casual language is
used for personal used while writing
communication
informal letters.

And sometimes the letters
may even have an

emotional undertone.

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The format of Informal Letter.

1. Address     
Write the address of the sender on the right hand
corner.    
Example:    No 321, Taman Mawar, P.O 2435,
35217, Beaufort , Sabah. 
2. Date   
 Write the date below the address    
Example:    24 January 2019 
3. Salutations   
Salutations with  the name of the person you are
writing to    
Example:    Dear Maria, Dear Uncle Bob, Dear
Mum
4. Opening    
Useful phrases for the opening
-How are you ?/ how have the family been?
-Thank you/ Many thanks for your (recent/ last)
letter/ postcard?
- It was good / nice/ great to hear from you again.
- I was so surprised to hear that…
-How are things ? / how are you?

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5. Purpose of writing.          
Useful phrases to state the purpose of your writing    
Referring to news.
-Great news about… Glad to hear that… Sorry to hear about….    
Giving news
- Listen , did I tell you about …? / you’ll never believe that…
- I thought you might be interested to hear about/ know that…    

Apologies

-I’m writing to apologies for missing your party but I’m afraid I was
with flu.
- I’m really sorry that….   

Invitations

- I’m /We’re having a party on Friday and i/ we hope you’ll be able to
come.
- Would you like to come/ go see Planetarium with me this
weekend?   

Requests.

- I’m writing to ask for your help on..
- I’m wonder if / I was wondering if you could help me/ do me a
favour 
 Thank you/ congratulation/ good luck
- I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality / the wonderful
present.
-It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.
- I really appreciated all your help / advice.  

Making suggestions and recommendation

-Why don’t you ….? / Maybe you could…?
-You can’t leave New York without (doing something)
- Do visit… don’t forget to …

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6. Contents / Body    
Write in paragraph. Each  paragraph should contain new theme.
7. Closing remarks.    
 Give the reason why you’re ending the letter:v Anyway , I must
go and get on with my work!. 
- I guess it’s time I got on with the studying I’ve been avoiding.\  
 Send greetings and/ or make reference for future contact:
- Give my love/ Say hello to …/
-We must try and meet up soon/ See you soon
8. End of letter     
Write your end of letter on right hand corner    
Examples:
-Yours sincerely, your cousin

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This is a sample of an informal
letter

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This is example 2

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While this is a sample of informal
letter for an e-mail

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Do you have an example?
Here's the example...

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Now that you get it, here
some exercises.

Question 1: Informal Letter Writing
Your cousin, who lives in another state, says that her society is
interested to do some social work to aid the community as part
of the year's activities. She asks you for some ideas on how to

go about it.
Using the information you gathered from the internet, write a
letter to her, outlining your ideas on how she or anyone else

can do community work.

♦ Start a food bank - collect foodstuff - house-to-house collection

- residential area

♦ Class-to-class collection - set up - outside school canteen
♦ Send to international organisations - needing food
♦ Volunteer to help at animal shelter
♦ Visit a nursing home - bring joy and comfort to the inmates
♦ Start your own recycling drive - collect aluminium cans,

newspapers, batteries - send to recycling centres

♦ Set up recycling bins
♦ Go door to door - collect recyclables
♦ Help to build, repair home - clean up compounds - good
♦exercise

Help out at the local museum or library

When writing your letter, you must:
• lay out your letter correctly (address, greeting,

closing)
• use all the notes given
• provide relevant information where necessary
• remember that you are writing an informal letter

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Exercise 2

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Exercise 3

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Exercise 4

Wow! Thank you, Meimei.

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Write your letter for exercise 4
here, Mira.

Wow! Thank you, Meimei.

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Exercise 6

This is great! Thank you.

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You also need to know the difference
between using the formal words and

informal words
Tell me please!

Transitions – Informal & Formal

Verbs – Informal & Formal

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CHAPTER 3:
MOTHER NATURE

Values
- Respecting nature
-Protecting the environment

At the end of this chapter, you will :

- Talk about nature and environmental problems
-Learn to write and article describing a place

- Learn to express empathy and joy of the living
- Learn to brainstorm ideas using a mindmap

- Learn to write a letter (to the editor) expressing your opinion

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PLEASE SAVE
THESE ANIMALS!

These endangered animals are facing their worst nightmares and they might go
extinct before we reach 2030! You might think that animals are likely to live
more than a hundred years old but for some unspeakable reasons, their
species will be gone forever if we are not doing anything. Find out the reasons
they are going extinct…

1. Malayan Tiger

Malayan Tiger is one of the most elegant creature and it is a
subspecies unique to Peninsular Malaysia. It can be found in
three priority areas which are Taman Negara, Endau-Rompin

Forest Complex and Belum Temenggor Forex Complex. In
2015, it was placed under the Critically Endangered list as
their species is going from 3,000 tigers in the 1950s, the
number has reduced to around 300 today. This is because of
the illegal activities of poaching these cats for their body
parts as medicines has risen up to the roof. Without any

awareness, these tigers will decrease in numbers soon.

2. Malayan Tapir

This Malayan Tapir is famous for its beautiful dual-coloured body.
This herbivorous animal is closely related to an elephant and a
rhino and slowly decreasing in number too. This species is facing

extiction because of deforestation and hunting. Malaysia used to
have lots of Malayan Tapir everywhere in the forest but it is

reported that there are supposedly only 350 Malayan Tapirs left.
We are losing them to selfish humans.

3. Orangutan

Orangutan is one of the gentle and intelligent creatures out there
that needs to be taken care of. They are the ‘man of the forest’ and
at risk of being wiped out because of habitat loss. Due to no place

to live, they kept on moving to one place to another and they
cannot get used to the new place. There are many organizations
helping to protect them but the most notable one is the Sepilok
Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah. Although they are saved
by these organizations, Malaysians should have make a move for it

to increase in number again.

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4. Sunda Pangolin

Believe it or not, pangolins is one of the most heavily
trafficked protected animals in the world. This is because
their scale, meat and skin are high in price as it is belived to
have medicinal benefits. In order to protect these pangolins,

in 2016, the Convention on the International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES) imposed a total ban on the
international trade on all species, including the Sunda
Pangolin. Even though there is a ban, there are still illegal

hunters hunting for them.

WHAT CAN YOU CONCLUDE FROM THE
INFORMATION ABOVE?

WHO HUNTS THESE ANIMALS?
WHY DO THEY HUNT THESE ANIMALS?
WHAT DOES THE WORLD OR MALAYSIA DO TO

STOP IT FROM HAPPENING?
WHY DO YOU THINK THESE METHODS ARE STILL

UNSUCCESSFUL?
ARE YOU AWARE THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE

ENDANGERED SPECIES IN MALAYSIA?

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MIND MAP SESSION!

It turns out that the answers are too long and for a
greenier Malaysia, a mind map can be done to save the

trees!

Example of a mind map:

POACHERS HUNTERS

WHO HUNTS
THESE ANIMALS?

NON-PERMITTED
PEOPLE

Now it's your turn!

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EXPRESSING YOUR THOUGHTS

How do you feel after answering the last question on
"Are you aware that these animal are endangered in
Malaysia" ? Express your answers in the given mind map

below:

Feel sorry
for the animals

Your feelings

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EXPRESSING YOUR THOUGHTS TO OTHERS

Expressing to yourself is never enough. You feel the urge
to make the awareness more alive and wish to express

your views on the information. Write a letter to the
editor about your views. You may use your ideas from

your previous task.

NOT FAMILIAR WITH WRITING A LETTER (TO THE
EDITOR)? LET'S PLAN TOGETHER!

When writing A LETTER (TO THE EDITOR OF A NEWSPAPER,
ETC.) EXPRESSING YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS, follow

the plan below.

GREETINGS

Use a formal greeting

- Dear Sir/Madam - Dear Editor,

OPENING PARAGRAPH

- Say why you are writing the letter.
- If you are writing in response of an article, refer to the
topic/ title of it
-

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MAIN PART (1-2 PARAGRAPHS)

- Focus on one or two aspects of the issue/ problems
-Give your opinion and provide justification and/or
example.
-Make any relevant suggestions

CLOSING PARAGRAPH

-Summarize your points and your letter politely.

SIGNING OFF

-Use an appropriate signature ending.
eg: Yours faithfully,
-Sign underneath and print your full name below the
signature.

TRY AND ERROR

You have been taught to write a letter in the
previous chapters. Test your memory and
apply the plan of the letter (to the editor)
with the format you remember in the
previous chapter.
Don't worry if you are wrong in some parts,

you can always try again!

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WRITE a letter (to the editor )
expressing an opinion

A. Discuss

1.Why do you think people write letters to
the editors of newspapers and magazines?

2. Have you read any of these letters?
3.Would you consider writing a letter to the

editor of a newspaper? Why/ Why not?

B. Read the extract from a local newspaper article and the
letter to the editor below. Do you agree with the writer?

He says that it will serve the
residents and also attract
shoppers from
neighbouring towns. Many
people are not happy with
the decision. One resident,
Kumar, told us, "We don't
Georgetown - need a shopping centre! So
Yesterday a new head
of a company many trees will be cut
down if the CEO goes
announced plans to ahead with his plans.
build a new modern
shopping centre in Taman Bunga Georgetown
gives us the oxygen we
breathe and it's where we
the existing lot of bring our children for a
Taman Bunga
Georgetown. healthy outing. We need to
save it at all costs."

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