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1. Basic Suggestions:
 Do not choose a topic which is too difficult for you. Make sure you understand the topic and are able to
express your ideas fluently before you decide to work on it. It is vital that you don‘t include irrelevant
information in your writing.
 Focus on your theme and develop your ideas. Draft an outline and sequence your ideas. You can
organize your text in chronological order (time sequence), spatial order (top to bottom, or from the
inside to the outside), cause and effect sequence, and from a simple to complex description. Include
definitions, examples and arguments when writing opposing views. The examiner should be able to
follow the development of your ideas easily. Avoid sweeping comments which are not supported by
evidence.
 Correct grammar is essential. A text full of errors (such as wrong tenses, agreement of subject and verb,
prepositions, etc.) is very often regarded as a poorly-written piece of writing.
 Correct spelling of the words used is also very important. Do not use a word if you are not clear about
how it should be used. Many students have misconception that using new vocabulary can impress the
marker. This is far from true.
 Good use of punctuation can help make your essay easy to read.
 Your conclusion should not contradict your introduction. In the conclusion, many writers like to
reiterate what they have stated in the introduction to reinforce their arguments.
 The length of the essay should be close to the number of words specified in the question, that is, about
300 words. Do not write too much. Leave yourself some time to check your work. [For CE level]
2. Basic Components of a good essay:
 Prewriting-organizing ideas & make outline (including 3 main parts: introduction, body & conclusion.)
 Brainstorming through asking questions.
 Sentence fragments. (i.e. don‘t put full stop after incomplete sentences.)
 Linking sentences. (i.e. Avoid writing too many short/complex sentences.)
 Tenses. (i.e. apply relevant tense that suit question requirement.)
 Proofreading. (i.e. pay special attention to spelling, agreement, singular & plural forms & connectives.)
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(I) Argumentative writing

A Brief Guide to Writing Argumentative Essays

The art of argumentation is not an easy skill to acquire. Many people might think that if one simply has an
opinion, one can argue it effectively, and these folks are always surprised when others don't agree with them
because their logic seems so correct. Additionally, writers of argumentation often forget that their primary
purpose in an argument is to "win" it--to sway the reader to accept their point of view. It is easy to name call,
easy to ignore the point of view or research of others, and extremely easy to accept one's own opinion as
gospel, even if the writer has not checked his or her premise in a couple of years, or, as is the case for many
young writers, never questioned the beliefs inherited from others.

Want to know what you think about something? Then write an argumentative essay. To be fair, however,
you'll find that one of the first things you must do is become an expert on the issue. When you pick a topic,
you should avoid writing about issues that cannot be won, no matter how strongly you might feel about them.
The five hottest topics of our time seem to be gun control, abortion, capital punishment, freedom of speech,
and probably the most recent, euthanasia, or the right to die. If possible, avoid writing about these topics
because they are either impossible to "win," or because your instructor is probably sick of reading about
them and knows all the pros and cons by heart (this could put you at a serious disadvantage). The topics may
be fine reading material, however, because most people are somewhat aware of the problems and can then
concentrate on understanding the method of argument itself. But care should be taken that if you read one
side, you also read the other. Far too many individuals only read the side that they already believe in. These
issues cannot be won for good reason: each touches on matters of faith and beliefs that for many people are
unshakable and deeply private.

Features
1. So, what do you write about? Pick a well-defined, controversial issue. (Spend some time with the latest
copies of several news magazines, watch 60 Minutes, or listen to National Public Radio to generate
ideas.) Readers should understand what the issue is and what is at stake. The issue must be arguable, as
noted above. After stating your thesis, you will need to discuss the issue in depth so that your reader will
understand the problem fully.
2. A clear position taken by the writer. In your thesis sentence, state what your position is. You do not need
to say: "I believe that we should financially support the space station." Using the first person weakens
your argument. Say "Funding for the space station is imperative to maintain America's competitive edge
in the global economy." The thesis can be modified elsewhere in the essay if you need to qualify your
position, but avoid hedging in your thesis.
3. A convincing argument. An argumentative essay does not merely assert an opinion; it presents an
argument, and that argument must be backed up by data that persuades readers that the opinion is valid.
This data consists of facts, statistics, the testimony of others through personal interviews and
questionnaires or through articles and books, and examples. The writer of an argumentative essay should
seek to use educated sources that are nonbiased, and to use them fairly. It is therefore best to avoid using
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hate groups as a source, although you can use them briefly as an example of the seriousness of the
problem. Talk shows fall into the same category as they are frequently opinionated or untrue.
4. A reasonable tone. Assume that your reader will disagree with you or be skeptical. It is important,
therefore, that your tone be reasonable, professional, and trustworthy. By anticipating objections and
making concessions, you inspire confidence and show your good will.

Style and content

Once a writer has made it clear which side of the argument he wishes to defend and heas explained what the
key words in the title mean to him, he is ready to write the main body of his composition in the body of an
argumentative composition, the writer is expected to present his arguments ‗‘for‘‘ and ‗‘against‘‘ the motion,
keeping in mind his own declared position on it. It is up to the writer to give reasons to support his claims; if
possible, he should use reliable research statistics or quote relevant facts and examples to prove his point of
view here are some points to remember:

Answer the points that are made in the question.

 discuss and comment on a statement. You can give views both supporting and opposing it.
 give a short introduction to draw the readers‘ attention to the topic.in your introduction, state the topic
under discussion, give some background information and briefly state your own view of the topic
 write only one idea in each paragraph. State each paragraph with a topic sentence which expresses the
main idea of that paragraph. Then give an explanation of that idea and examples to illustrate it.
 conclude by summarizing all the main points covered in the essay, looking forward to the future
situation and pointing out the significance of the discussion.

Language used:
Use simple present tense for stating your arguments. Of course you may use other tenses elsewhere in your
essay, such as simple past tense when giving an example form the past, or simple future tense when
predicting future situations
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(II) Persuasive writing

 we try to convince others

 to agree with our facts, share our values,
 accept our argument and conclusions,
 and adopt our way of thinking.

Elements toward building a good persuasive essay include

 establishing facts to support an argument

 clarifying relevant values for your audience (perspective)
 prioritizing, editing, and/or sequencing the facts and values in importance to build the argument
 forming and stating conclusions
 "persuading" your audience that your conclusions are based upon the agreed-upon facts and shared
values
 having the confidence to communicate your "persuasion" in writing

Here are some strategies to complete a persuasive writing assignment:

Write out the questions in your own words.
Think of the questions posed in the assignment
while you are reading and researching. Determine

facts
any sources that will help you determine their reliability
(as well as for further reference)
what prejudices lie in the argument
or values that color the facts or the issue

o what you think of the author's argument

List out facts; consider their importance:
prioritize, edit, sequence, discard, etc.
Ask yourself "What's missing?"

 What are the "hot buttons" of the issue?

List possible emotions/emotional reactions and recognize them for later use
Start writing a draft! (refer to: Writing essays, the basics)
Start as close as possible to your reading/research
Do not concern yourself with grammar or spelling

Write your first paragraph

Introduce the topic

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Inform the reader of your point of view!

Entice the reader to continue with the rest of the paper!

o Focus on three main points to develop

Establish flow from paragraph to paragraph
Keep your voice active
Quote sources to establish authority
Stay focused on your point of view throughout the essay
Focus on logical arguments
Don't lapse into summary
in the development--wait for the conclusion
Conclusion

Summarize, then conclude, your argument

Refer to the first paragraph/opening statement as well as the main points

 does the conclusion restate the main ideas?

 reflect the succession and importance of the arguments
 logically conclude their development?

Edit/rewrite the first paragraph

to better telegraph your development and conclusion.

 Take a day or two off!

Re-read your paper
with a fresh mind and a sharp pencil

Ask yourself:
Does this make sense? Am I convinced?
Will this convince a reader?
Will they understand my values, and agree with my facts?
Edit, correct, and re-write as necessary
Check spelling and grammar!
Have a friend read it and respond to your argument.
Were they convinced?
Revise if necessary

o Turn in the paper

o Celebrate a job well done,
with the confidence that you have done your best.
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How to respond to criticism:

Consider criticism as a test of developing your powers of persuasion.
Try not to take it personally.
If your facts are criticized, double check them, and then cite your sources.
If your values are criticized, sometimes we need agree "to disagree". Remember: your success in
persuading others assumes that the other person is open to being persuaded!
Fear: If you are not used to communicating,
especially in writing, you may need to overcome fear on several levels. Writing, unlike unrecorded speech,
is a permanent record for all to see, and the "context" is not as important as in speech where context "colors"
the words. For example: your readers do not see you, only your words. They do not know what you look
like, where you live, who you are.
Hopefully in school, and class, we have a safe place
to practice both the art of writing and of persuasion. Then later, when we are in our communities, whether
work, church, neighborhoods, and even families, we can benefit from this practice.
Persuasion also has another dimension:
it is built with facts, which illustrate conclusions. Of course, this means you need to know what you are
talking about, and cannot be lazy with your facts, or you will not succeed in convincing anyone. This shows
another level of fear: Fear of making a mistake that will make your argument or persuasion
meaningless. Since you are writing, and the words are on paper for all to see (or on a web site!), you need to
work to make sure your facts are in order.

Narrative essay(story telling)

The first important thing to remember about a narrative essay is that it tells a story. They are mainly about
personal experience or the fruits of a fertile impagination. A good writer can combine experiences and
imagination in such a way that most readers cannot tell when a writer is telling something real orsimply
making it up as he goes along. Obviously, the writer must persuade himself that the story he is narrating is
interesting enough to be retold; otherwise, how can he expect his readers to be interested in his sotry? The
sotry should be simple and the number of characters should be kept to very small people lose interest in a
complicate story and te same happens when there are characters coming and going all the time.
The author may write about

an experience or event from his or her past

a recent or an ongoing experience or event

 something that happened to somebody else, such as a parent or a grandparent

The second important thing about a narrative essay is that the story should have a point. In the final
paragraph, the author should come to an important conclusion about the experience that has just been
described.

The sample essay begins with a general statement, "Learning something new can be a scary
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experience." This statement introduces the subject of the essay, which is a particular learning
experience that the author had. The use of "I" in the essay indicates that what is being described is a
personal experience.
The essay is essentially a story about something that happened. The author gives
sufficient details about the people, place, and events so that the reader gets a clear idea of how the
author feels about them. In the essay, the author "stood timidly" and the teacher "smiled" and was
"patient." These words indicate the author's fears and the sense of security provided by the teacher
who helped the author get over her fear.
In the final paragraph of the essay, the author reflects on the larger meaning or importance of the
experience described. The author concludes that learning to swim has helped her to feel more
confident about herself in other new situations. The idea that self-confidence comes from conquering
your fears is something that all people can relate to. This is the point of the story.
The essay is well-organized. After the introduction, the author describes the experience as it happened
in time -- going to the pool the first day, having the first lesson, and the result of the subsequent
lessons. The author might have chosen, however, to talk about the things she learned in order of their
importance or difficulty.

1. The writing in an essay should be lively and interesting. Try to engage the reader's interest by
adding details or personal observations. Sharing personal thoughts and details invites the reader
into author's world and makes the story more personal and more interesting.
Style and content

do not start to write a narrative composition until you have the whole story including the end of it, clearly in
your mind this is necessary if the story is to be presented in both logical and chronological order. Narrative
compositions relate past events, so the tenses used are mostly the simple past tense and the past perfect
tense.
do not allow your narrative to drag along this can be achieved by avoiding irrelevant details and long
descriptions of unnecessary incidents.
aim at presenting your characters as real-life ones; not ones that only exist in your imagination. People
identify with real people. So your readers should unconsciously begin to identify themselves with certain
characters in your story. Suppose one of your characters is presented as a person who is good-natured,
misunderstood by his contemporaries and ends up as total failure in life. Among your readers there is bound
to be somebody who feels that such a description fits him to the last detail naturally, such a reader will take a
keen interest in the plight of his newly found ‗‘friend‘‘.
usually no introduction is required you should get down to the business of telling your sory right form the
beginning. Set the scene and introduce the main characters in your opening paragraph.

1. as you write, keep reminding yrself of the topic, or u will write a lot of irrelevant material.

Language to use:
1. Use past simple and past continuous tenses.
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2. If the main verb is in thepast simple or continuous tense and you want to talk about an action tat happened
before it, you should use the past perfect.
3. use direct speech. It is impossible o predict the tenses you will use which depend on the story and your
characters.
4. use time expressions, especially if there is a lot of action in your story such as a chase, a robbery. The
expressions you are most likely to use are while, as when, as soon as, then, once.
5. use non-defining relative clause to add details, descriptions , etc, but don‘t use them too much as they tend
to hold up the action.( the word that you can use it to modify a noun or pronoun (i.e. to identify or give more
information about it) who, which (not that)
Descriptive essay
The purpose of a descriptive essay is to describe a person, place, or thing in such vivid detail that the reader
can easily form a precise mental picture of what is being written about. The author may accomplish this by
using imaginative language, interesting comparisons, and images that appeal to the senses.
Read this sample descriptive essay, and then read the notes below.

The subject of the sample essay is fairly ordinary—a ride on a Ferris wheel. The author makes it
interesting, however, by comparing the Ferris wheel to a monstrous creature.
The author makes good use of fresh and varied vocabulary. For example, in the first paragraph alone,
she uses verbs that create excitement like "fascinate," "amaze," and "terrify." In the second
paragraph she uses a variety of terms to describe the machine such as "monstrosity," "mythical
beast," "amazing dinosaur," "fire-breathing dragon."
The author uses her senses to describe the scene—how the ride looks, sounds, smells, and feels. The
ride is "huge, smoky, noisy" and its engines "drone" like the roar of a dragon. On the ride, she gets a
"rush of adrenaline" and a "lump in her throat," she feels immobile and then weightless.

1. The essay is well organized. The introduction begins with a general statement, "I have always
been fascinated by carnival rides," and ends with a more specific statement of what the essay will
be about, "the thrill and excitement of a carnival ride keeps me coming back for more." The
body of the essay is composed of several paragraphs that describe the Ferris wheel, the way it
seems from the ground and the way it feels to ride on one. The conclusion restates the main idea
of the essay, that the author continues to find carnival rides thrilling and exciting.
You can use descriptive writing in the following ways:

To make scenes realistic and memorable

To help readers experience an emotion
To share your feelings more clearly
To bring characters to life
To convey key ideas, especially complex ones

 To help readers feel like they're on the scene

So Write, Already
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Follow these guidelines when you write descriptive pieces:

Start by deciding on a method of organization. Spatial organization, for example, works especially well if
your details are mainly visual. If you're describing an incident, consider chronological order.
Then select a point of view, the vantage point from which you will relate events or details.
Clearly identify the subject (no guessing games, please).
Use details to create a strong mood or feeling about the subject.
As you write, draw on all five senses: sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell.

1. Consider including figures of speech, those imaginative comparisons that evoke feelings in your readers.
Figures of speech (or figurative language) is covered later in this section.

Expository composition
It is essentially explanatory in nature and that the language of communication must be clear and accurate.
An exposition is a layout of facts or information, an explanation. Expository writing deals with facts. It may
be the organization of information that needs to be given to the reader, it may be a report of certain facts or it
may use the facts as a basis for argument, discussion or persuasion. Whatever form of expository writing it
is, there are certain basic techniques that you need in order to make it effective

Style and content

giving reasons to support the statements you make. One way of presenting them is to write a numbered list.
This is a very clear method. However, sometimes it may be more appropriate to write a smoothly flowing
prose.
you can also support statements by giving evidence which might be in the form of concrete examples,
figures, statistics, personal experiences, or anecdote.
other techniques are more concerned with the organization and structure of the writing : using comparaisons,
contrast, classification or description of process.

using comparisons- comparisons make things clear often something familiar to the reader is used as a
reference so that we can better explain things. To do so we may compare 2 things to show their similarities.
Classification- a common method of explaining things is by classification. The subject to be explained is
divided into parts which will be further explained in the sub paragraphs that follow.

1. Description of process- this method is often used to explain how something is done.
when you write instructions, you ant to give the reader information on how to do something you are only
interested in facts opinion has no place here the common ways to give instructions are to:

list the information in a time order

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1. group the pieces of information by theme

2. arrange the information in ascending or descending order of importance.

Language to use:

when listing reasons in paragraph, it is important to use connecting words- firstly, lastly, etc when writing in
paragraph form, we usually put the most important reason last for better effect.
for using evidence, some words or phrases are commonly used to express figures or statistics: increase from,
fall to, drop to, increase by, fell from , drop from, plummet etc.
you may use signpost words to show the steps that are described in the order of occurrence eg first of all,
first, the last thing to do is, afterwards, the next step, then, finally, following this…

1. instructions inform readers how to do something. The language used to write them may include:
imperative sentences, signpost words to show the time sequence, listing steps logically, use of ‗if‘
clauses.
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Speech writing
Style and content

it is in many ways more difficult to listen to a speech than it is to read something. Speech writer hould avoid
including too many ideas or details.
interesting
vocabulary and grammar should be kept fairly plain and simple

1. rhetorical questions can help to involve the audience, as listeners will silently answer yr questions.

Language to use:

don‘t start yr talk with ladies and gentlemen unless it is a formal occasion; eg speech day. Here are other
ways of opening your talks and speeches; good morning everyone, hello everybody welcome to the…
some useful ways of introducing yrself and if necessary, other people: my name is …., I‘m……, allow me to
introduce myself, I‘m……., on my right/left is Mr…..
if someone has invited you to give a tlak and has introduced you to the audience, you have to thank you host
for the invitation: thankyou for giving me the opportunity/ chance to talk to you today. I‘d like to take this
opportunity to thankyou for inviting me to speak to you. It is an honour to be given the chance to speak to
you today.
state your topic at the beginning of your talk. This morning I‘m going to speak to you about/ talk about/ look
at …, the subject of my talk this morning is….

1. after mentioning the topic, you should tell the audience about the different aspects of your talk:
to being with/ first of all/ firstly, I‘ll look at….
Then I‘ll go on to tlak about…
Finally/ lastly I‘ll suggest some ways to…

1. when you are giving a talk it‘s necessary to make the organization of your talk clearly you can do this at
the beginning and the end of your ‗paragraphs‘:
now I‘d like to talk about what we acaully do at our meetings
let me now turn to the things we do at our meetings
turning to the aims of our society
the second point I‘d like to make is

in your last sentence u can summarize or reinforce what you have said:
so I‘m sure you‘ll find our meetings enjoyable.
It sometimes helps reminding your audience of earlier pints. Here are some usefule phrases:
As I mentioned a moment ago…../at the beginning
As I said in my opening remarks……..
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1. other expressions:

1. persuasion
I feel sure/know I can count on you to take part.
I‘m certain/sure that you‘ll all want to contribute.
I very much hope that you will join…
Do make an effort/ try your best/ give generously

1. thanks
thank youy very much for coming tonight/your presence.
c. good wishes
good luck in the future/ in your new job.
All the best for the future
Best wishes
We all wish you every success in the future.

8 keep your English simple.

Letter writing informal

Because personal letters express your own ideas, you generally have a far wider choice of content with them
than you do with business letters. However, an effective personal letter must still be clearly organized and
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carefully thought out. The following tips should make your task easier.
Ten Tips for Writing Great Personal Letters

Never apologize for not having written or for running out of ideas. You're not on trial here.
Reread any recent letters you received from the person to whom you are writing. This will help you answer
the person's questions and include items of interest to the reader.
To make your ideas come alive, use vivid sensory impressions, descriptions that appeal to sight, hearing,
smell, and so on.
Also include figures of speech, such as similes and metaphors.
Dialogue makes your writing more specific and interesting, too.
Never assume that your reader knows the complete cast of characters in your life, especially newcomers like
your daughter's boyfriend (the one with the ring in his navel and hole in his head). Identify all unfamiliar
people and places you mention.
Check your grammar and usage carefully. Even though your letter is informal, you want to get it right and
prevent misunderstandings.
Reread for errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and logic.
Make your letter easy to read by typing or writing clearly.

1. Try to end your letter on a positive note. Avoid lame endings like, ―Well, that's all I have to say‖ or ―It's
late so I'll end this letter.‖ A strong ending leaves your readers thinking the good thoughts—and
thinking well of you.
Personal letters, also known as friendly letters, and social notes normally have five parts.
1. The Heading. This includes the address, line by line, with the last line being the date. Skip a line after the
heading. The heading is indented to the middle of the page. If using preaddressed stationery, add just the
date.
2. The Greeting. The greeting always ends with a comma. The greeting may be formal, beginning with the
word "dear" and using the person's given name or relationship, or it may be informal if appropriate.
Formal: Dear Uncle Jim, Dear Mr. Wilkins,
Informal: Hi Joe, Greetings,
(Occasionally very personal greetings may end with an exclamation point for emphasis.)
3. The body. Also known as the main text. This includes the message you want to write. Normally in a
friendly letter, the beginning of paragraphs is indented. If not indented, be sure to skip a space between
paragraphs. Skip a line after the greeting and before the close.
4. The complimentary close. This short expression is always a few words on a single line. It ends in a
comma. It should be indented to the same column as the heading. Skip one to three spaces (two is usual) for
the signature line.
5. The signature line. Type or print your name. The handwritten signature goes above this line and below
the close. The signature line and the handwritten signature are indented to the same column as the close. The
signature should be written in blue or black ink. If the letter is quite informal, you may omit the signature
line as long as you sign the letter.
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Letter writing 2
Letter Writing formal Letters remain hugely important in our everyday lives. People still feel the need to
have something confirmed in writing and a letter can add the all important personal touch. But there are
pitfalls to letter writing. Below are our top tips for getting your letter right.
1. Define your purpose Before you begin writing a business letter ask yourself:

Why am I writing this letter – what has led up to it?

What do I hope to get out of it (my maximum aims)?
What do you expect to get out of it (my realistic aims)?

 What is the best way to achieve this?

What information do I need to provide? For example, dates of previous letters, dates you saw
advertisement, dates of appointments, addresses of shops and people, names of people involved,
reference or account numbers.
What arguments do I need to use?
2. The first paragraph The first paragraph of the letter should introduce the subject matter and either state or
imply your purpose in writing.
3. The body of the letter The body of the letter should consist of one or more paragraphs. It should develop
clearly and logically the argument and facts of the case. If there is more than one paragraph, each paragraph
should focus on a separate aspect of the subject matter and there should be clear links between paragraphs.
4. The final paragraph The final paragraph should leave the reader in no doubt about your attitude towards
the subject of the letter. It may, for example, spell out what you would like to see happen. It should be
positive and unambiguous.
5. Achieve the right tone Although the reader of your letter may be unknown to you, it is important to
achieve a suitable tone in your writing and not to be too casual or too formal. So, as far as possible:

Avoid Jargon whenever possible.

Use shorter sentences rather than longer ones.
Avoid using the passive. For example write, ‗We sent you that letter by mistake‘, rather than the more
pompous, ‗Our letter was sent in error‘.
Don‘t let your feelings get the better of you.
Don‘t try to be too clever.

 Be clear and to the point, but don‘t be too blunt.

6. Adopt a clear layout Adopt a letter layout that is clear and consistent. For example, if you put a comma
after the person‘s name in the greeting, include one after Yours faithfully/Yours sincerely; either indent the
paragraphs or leave a space between them, without indentation.
7. Sincerely or Faithfully? If you are writing to someone whose name and title you do not know, use the
greeting Dear Sir or Madam, and the ending Yours faithfully, signing yourself with your initials and
surname.
If you are writing to a named person, address them as Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms, and end Yours sincerely,
HKDSE ENG Paper 2 / 15

followed by your first name and surname.

If you have met them or spoken to them by phone, or otherwise feel that you have some acquaintance with
them, address them by their first name and sign yourself Yours sincerely, using your first name.
Letter Writing: Useful Phrases Phrases for Personal and Social CorrespondanceOpenings:
The standard opening for personal correspondence is Dear but variations include:
My dear …
My dearest …
Darling …
I thought I‘d drop you a line to let you know how I‘m getting on…..
This is just a note/just a line to tell you I‘ll be…..
As a matter of fact, actually…I‘ve got…..
All the same, still…
After all
Needless to say/ naturally
To be honest…
Useful phrases:
Thank you for your letter
I am delighted to announce
[inviting, offering,
that
confirming]

I am very grateful to you for

[letting me know, offering, I was delighted to hear that
writing]

It was so kind of you to I am sorry to inform you

[write, invite, send] that

Many thanks for [sending,

I was so sorry to hear that
inviting, enclosing]

It‘s about time I wrote to

I am writing to tell you that
you!

Closures: For acquaintances and formal situations

Best wishes
With best wishes
Kindest regards
Closures: Affectionate variations for close friends and family
All my love See you soon

All the best Once again many thanks

I look forward to seeing you

Love
soon
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Lots of love With love and best wishes

Much love With love to you all

Do give my kindest regards

With love
to …

Love from us both

Letter of complaint
Style and content

open with a general statement about the content of the letter.

give clear, exact details about what has happened. Time, receipt numbers, names, official numbers, etc..
sometimes a good idea merely to hint at the further action you might take.eg.. legal action or writing to
press
HKDSE ENG Paper 2 / 17

1. in most cases, you should make it clear what action you want to be taken.
Eg. Refund? Do u want faulty goods changed? Do u want faulty goods repaired? Apology? Be explicit.

Vocabulary

intolerable
unbearable
unreasonable
unacceptable
dissatisfied
I object strongly to…
I demand..

 I will have no choice but to…

Language to use
-Opening
.I‘m writing to complain about the ……
I really must/wish to/ want to complain about..
-phrases
I was /am particularly unhappy/ annoyed about…
I was very/ extremely angry about
I was completely/ totally/solely/utterly dissatisfied
I think it is appalling that/disgraceful that…..without any explanation
The service was disgraceful/appalling/unacceptable/ intolerable/simply not good enough
I couldn‘t tolerate/ bear the noise
The thing that annoyed me most

-use past simple tense

-at the end of the letter u will usually need to make it clear what action you are expecting to be taken. You
may even threaten to take the matter further.
Eg I hope you will sned me a replacement
I would be very grateful if you could send me a new one
I demand a refund
I think something sould be done about ..
If you do not give me a replacement, I will have no choice but to take matter to the consumer council
It‘s about/high time you improve your service