215 Writing

Samples

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Jidhafs Secondary Girls School

Done by:

Ms. Safeya Mustafa & Ms. Masooma A. Aziz

English Language Teachers

Supervised by:

Mrs. Ahlam Yusuf

School Principal Principal Assistant

Mrs. Asadiya AlKhalow Mrs. Ghaniya Alnashaba

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1- Email: Invitation to an event or a meeting

You are the executive secretary at a big company in Bahrain and your name is Ms. Janahi. You have organized a meeting at the meeting room. Write an email to all the staff (around 60-80 words) explaining:

- when & where the meeting will be.

- the importance of the meeting… and ask everyone to be present.

- Send a copy of meeting agenda

To: all staff

Subject: meeting

Dear All,

This is to invite you all to our next weekly meeting. It is going to be

held on Monday 22 May at 10:00 in the meeting room. We will discuss

the problem with our new supplier so it is important that everyone is

present, we would be delighted to hear your suggestions.

I will send the meeting agenda to your emails, if you have any questions

please contact me.

Regards,

John Peters (69 words)

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2- Email: Invitation to an event or meeting

You arranged with your colleague Mr. Chris for a meeting next month. Write him an email to confirm your availability. (around 60-80 words) include:

- when & where the meeting will be.

- who will be present in the meeting

- what the meeting will be about

To: all staff

Subject: meeting

Dear Chris,

Thank you for your email I received the file and will write my report as

soon as possible.

I am writing this email with regard to our meeting next month. I am

available on Tuesday 15th June. The meeting will be in our meeting hall

at 11 a.m. 11:30 a.m. with our department manager and Mr. John from

Batelco we will discuss the latest offers from Batelco and how we can

benefit from those offers.

Please confirm your availability at this time?

Regards,

Peter (82 words)

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3. Email: Reply to an invitation

You have arranged to meet an important business client. Unfortunately something unexpected has cropped up. You cannot attend the meeting. Write an e-mail in apology to her, suggesting another time.

To: Ms. Van Linh@yahoo.com

Subject: meeting

Dear Ms. Van Linh,

This email is regarding our meeting next Sunday. Unfortunately, I will

not be able to attend the meeting since I will be away on business for 5

days. Would you please tell me if it is alright to meet on Monday 20

May at 10.00 a.m. in Costa coffee? This will help me to prepare more

brochures about our products to give away when we meet.

Please confirm your availability.

I look forward to hear from you.

Yours sincerely,

Chris John (77 words)

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4. Email: asking for permission

You are an employee in a bank. Your car will be in the garage for 3 weeks, you need to arrive late and leave early. Write an email to your manager Mr. Ali (80 words) explain:

- your situation

- How you will make time up

To: Ali@yahoo.com

Subject: emergency situation

Dear Mr. Ali,

I write this email hoping you can help me with my problem.

My car has broken down and it will be in the garage for three weeks. I

will use the bus to come to the office, and there are not any buses at

the night times.

I would be grateful if you allow me to arrive late and leave early for

two weeks only, I could make up the time by having shorter lunch

breaks and promise to submit all the reports on time.

I look forward to hear from you

Yours sincerely

Noor Ali (92 words)

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5. Email: delegating

You are a manager for a large bank and you planned for a trip to London next month. Unfortunately, you cannot go and you would like a colleague to go on this trip. Write an email to your colleague (between 60-80 words):

- explaining when the trip will be and for how long

- why you cannot go

- ask him / her to write a report when she comes back

To: Ali@yahoo.com

Subject: emergency situation

Dear Noor,

How are you? Hope everything is going well with you.

I am writing this email to ask you to ask for a favour. Well I arranged

for a trip next month to London. The trip is to visit our new factory

and follow-up with the work there. Unfortunately I cannot go because

I will be having an urgent meeting with our new supplier.

I would like to ask you to go on this trip which will last for 8 days and

submit a report about your visit when you come back.

Please note that the company will take care of all the trip expenses

during your stay in London.

I look forward to hear from you.

Yours sincerely,

Sabah Ali (120 words)

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6. Email: giving feedback

Noor Ali, a temporary member of staff, is leaving your office. The new manager has asked for a report on her performance.

Plan a report reviewing Noor’s performance. Use your imagination to think of relevant

examples and comments. Write your report (between 120 – 140 words)

Dear Sir,

Further to your letter asking for a report about Ms. Noor Ali’s performance

at work, here’s some information about her work abilities.

During her work Ms. Noor provided great support to the sales team, in fact

she had good relationship with all staff and everybody respects her. She has

also excellent telephoning skills and can deal with different customers in

different situations. Ms. Noor is a very reliable person; she always meets

deadlines and finishes her tasks on time. Ms. Noor has always shown positive

attitude to work. She is highly self-confident and works for the success of

the company.

However, Ms. Noor needs to improve her leadership skills; she has

sometimes reacted poorly when put under pressure. She also needs more

training Microsoft applications.

Overall, Ms. Noor is a fast learner and I am confident that she will excel at

her new position.

Yours’ sincerely

John Peter (148 words)

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7. Email: wrong order

Bahrain Computers has recently made an order (purchase order no. 2209) to receive a delivery of 100 iPads from your shop, Hope Computers, but there were some problems. Write an email to the secretary of Bahrain Computers to explain what happened and rectify the situation.

To: Mr. Hassan Ahmed@yahoo.com

From: Mona Ali@gmail.com

Subject: Re: Purchase order no. 2209)

Dear Mr. Ahmed,

Thank you for your email. We’re sorry you did not receive your order on

time. You know that we are known for our fast reliable service, but I don’t

know how that’s happened. Well, after checking, I’m sorry to say it seems

that the item was out of stock, so your order wasn’t shipped on time. We

received new items yesterday so I’ll call the forwarder and make sure that

they send your order (purchase no. 2209) today. Please accept our apologies

and we promise that this will not happen again.

Please let me know as soon as you receive your order.

Best regards,

Mona Ali

Secretary (102 words)

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8. Covering letter: Applying for a job

Dear sir / Madam,

I would like to apply for the post of sales manager advertised in this week’s

newspapers.

I have worked as a manager of the sales department for one year. I am very

interested in this position and am keen to pursue a career in this area.

I am driven to succeed and committed to the company’s success. I have strong

communication skills and am a great listener. In fact, I can get along with any team

setting.

I graduated from university and have a degree in business management. I have also

attended many training courses in leadership so I can develop a positive work

environment.

Please find enclosed my CV and a reference letter from my previous employer. If

you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Noor Ali (146 words)

Kanoo Travel

Requires a Sales Manager

Kanoo Travel has a vacancy at its main Manama office for an assistant to the Marketing Director. The successful candidate will be a graduate with at least 3/years marketing experience and preferably a second foreign language. Key responsibilities will include helping to plan and manage our range of package holidays.

If you think you have the ability and confidence, please apply by writing to Kanoo Travel, P.O. Box 445, Kanoo Building, Kingdom of Bahrain.

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9. Writing an advert

-of the following objects. (Write about 50 oneWrite an advertisement for A) 80 words)

a. A portable DVD player

b. An electronic translator

Are you interested in learning a new language?

Are you fed up with using dictionaries?

Here is the best solution for you: The new Wikilang. It will change your life. The Wikilang is a very advanced electronic dictionary, it uses modern technology.

It is also practical and very light. It is easy to use. Anyone can use it easily. It has

rechargeable batteries and the battery can last for weeks not hours. Moreover, it

has a very stylish look.

The Wikilang is available in a small size. It is as big as a calculator. In addition, it is

a top quality one which is made of strong materials. The Wikilang has no wires or

cables, so you can move freely.

Hurry up to get one because the amount is limited. The Wikilang is a bargain at

only 200BD. For more information contact us on 17757574. (145 words)

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10. Writing a report

A. The table below shows the monthly expenditure of an average Bahraini family in 2007 and 2012. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

2007 2012

BD Per Month

Food 155 160

Electricity and Water 75 120

Clothing 30 20

Housing 95 100

Transport 70 45

Other goods and services* 250 270

Total 675 715

The table shows changes in the spending patterns of an average Bahraini household

between 2007 and 2012. In general, Bahraini household spending was higher in 2201 than

in 2007 but the difference was not considerable (BD 715 per month and BD 675 per

month respectively).

The amount of monthly spending on electricity and water saw a dramatic increase over

the 5-year period from BD 75 to BD 120. Yet in terms of the expenditure on other goods

and services, the rise was less obvious with a minor increase of BD 20. At the same time,

the amount of money spent on food and housing rose only slightly from BD 155 to BD160

and BD 95 to BD100 respectively.

However, there was a decrease in expenditure on the other two items. Bahraini spent one

third less on clothing, which fell from BD30 to BD 20. Similarly, expenditure on transport

dropped from BD 70 in 2007 to BD 45 in 2012.

Over all, it seems that food and other goods and services were the two biggest items of

expenditure. Altogether, they accounted for more than half of the total household

spending. By comparison, Bahraini spent little on dressing up. (197 words)

B. The chart below shows male and female fitness membership between 1970 and 2000. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

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Write at least 150 words.

The chart shows male and female fitness membership over a thirty-year period from 1970

to 2000.

Overall, the chart indicates that there were greater fluctuations in fitness membership

among men than among women. The number of male members started at just over two

thousand and reached the peak to four thousand in 1975 and five thousand around 1995.

The lowest rates were in 1985 and in 2000 when the rate dropped as low as one

thousand.

On the other hand, female fitness membership began lower at one thousand, doubled by

1975, and then fluctuated between two and three thousand for the remainder of the

period. When male rates were at their lowest, female rates were higher. This was

particularly true in 1985 when around three thousand women held fitness membership.

In brief, there were considerable differences in rates of male and female fitness

memberships in the period covered. (148 words)

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Workplace Communication

1. Workplace communication is the process of exchanging information, both verbal and non-verbal, within an organization. An organization may consist of

employees from different parts of the society. In order to unite the activities of all employees, communication is crucial. Communicating necessary information to the entire workforce becomes essential. Effective workplace communication ensures that all the organizational objectives are achieved. The following are the factors

influencing workplace communication.

2. Different people absorb information in different ways. To make sure that the information conveyed is understood by all, the way you use for communication needs to be simple and clear. When presenting vital information, using pictures will make way for easy understanding. Preferring two-way communication is considered best for communicating. Sufficient importance can be given for discussion, questions and clarifications.

3. The content of the information plays a major role in workplace communication. The level of detail must be according to the grasping capacity of the audience. Giving too much detail may get the audience bored and switch them off. On the other hand, too little detail won’t make them involved. Use of jargon while communicating is not considered good for effective workplace communication.

4. While formal workplace communication that is done too rarely or too often is not good for an organization, frequent informal workplace communication has its benefits. A perfect balance is required for the proper functioning of an organization. Information must be communicated as and when required rather than holding unnecessary meetings frequently. At the same time important information must not be held till the last hour or day, instead they have to be communicated as early as possible to get the employees in tune with the objectives of the organization.

5. Getting the message across efficiently depends on the skills of the communicator such as presentation skills, group facilitation skills and written communication skills. Successful communication also depends upon the capacity of the employees to understand the information. This requires providing the employees with some basic financial literacy like financial statements, sales, profitability, etc.

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A: Match the headings (a-f) to the paragraphs (1-5). Note that there is an extra heading.

Paragraph 1: _____ a. Method of communication Paragraph 2:_____ b. Frequency Paragraph 3:_____ c. Content Paragraph 4:_____ d. Advantages of good communication Paragraph 5:_____ e. Skills f. What is office communication?

B: What do the underlined words mean? Write the answer on the space provided.

1. Crucial (paragraph 1)______ a. enough 2. Sufficient (paragraph 2)_____ b. easy

c. important

C: Now answer these questions.

1. How can you exchange information at the workplace? a. ____________________ b. ___________________

2. Why is it important to communicate with employees?

a. __________________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________________

3. What is the purpose of having simple and clear ways of communication at work? ________________________________________________________________

D: Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? 1. What you say is not important when you communicate with employees.___ 2. The use of jargon makes communication more effective.____ 3. Regular communication at the workplace is good____ 4. It is good to meet with your employees at the end of the working day.____

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Reading answer key:

A:

1 F 2 A 3 C 4 B 5 E

B:

1 C 2 A

C:

1 a. presentations b. two-way communication

2 a. to ensure all objectives are achieved

b. To unite the activities of all employees

3 to make sure the information is understood by all

D:

1 F 2 F 3 T 4 F