Exercise: Writing an informal letter/email
Structure:
1. Salutation or greeting (Dear/Hey/Hi and your friend’s first name only followed by a
comma), for example, “Dear Ben,”
2. Introduction (apologizing or congratulations, all the best for upcoming exam etc.)
3. Body (one for each three prompts)
4. Conclusion (closing before the signing off)
5. Signature (Love/With love /Lots of love/Best/Regards/Best regards/Your friend/Cheers
followed by a comma and your first name on the next line), for example,
Truly yours,
Ali
With love,
Ali
Writing: Exercise (Writing a Review)
The review could be for a book, movie, restaurant etc. that you enjoyed (or didn’t!)
The exercise is worth 16 marks and you should write about 120-160 words.
A book review is being used here for example purposes. Also, I have included a sample review
at the end for your understanding. Read it.
Structure:
P-1 Introduction: state the book’s title, the author’s full name, and the setting of the story,
giving a one-line description of what the story is about. Use adjectives to describe the book such
as insightful, beautiful, controversial etc.
P-2 Brief description: give a one-paragraph synopsis of the plot of the book, shortly expanding
your one-sentence description in the introduction. Don’t write the whole story, only the
beginning! Use the present tense of verbs and linking words to outline the story chronologically.
Bonus points if you can use words that fit the theme of the story.
P-3 Opinion: this is where you have to write down how the book impacted you. Was it
inspiring? Thought-provoking? Life-changing? You could praise the book or criticise it, stating
why.
P-4 Recommendation: you must state whether you would recommend this book, to whom and
why.
Example review
The Kite Runner- an unmatched unbreakable bond
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini has to be the most devastatingly beautiful book I’ve had the
pleasure of reading. Set in 20th-century Afghanistan, it tells the story of how a young boy’s
friendship is tested by war and betrayal.
Amir, the son of a wealthy Afghan, shares a close friendship with their household servant’s son,
Hassan. But a fateful kite-flying competition tethers their bond, and as war forces them to part
ways, the boys’ lives take them on a journey of love and redemption.
The book made me realise how precious yet fragile the relationships we build are; and that we
must always take a chance on our loved ones. It taught me the importance of the people in our
lives and how they shape us to be who we are.
The book is a beautifully narrated tale, the writing just as simple as it is heart- breaking, the
characters realistically portrayed. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy
character-driven stories set in troubled times.
Note: There are 172 words written in this review however, you have to follow the new limit of
120-160.
All the best!
