English Writing

Part Four

How to Write Notes

Unit One

Characteristics of English Notes

Strong provisionality

Simple form

Informal language

Brief content

April 20, 2008

Dear Mike,

I hear that you are going to subscribe to an English newspaper. I suggest you try China Daily. This newspaper covers a wide range of topics, which can help to enlarge your knowledge. Besides, the language is concise and the writing style is interesting, which is beneficial to your English study. I hope with the help of the newspaper, you will make greater progress in English.

Sincerely yours,

Jack

Unit One

Types of Notes

Notes of absence Request (Asking for a favor) Message (Offering information) Invitation Appointments Apologies Congratulations

Notes of Absence

陈老师： 我昨天去昆明湖游泳患了感冒，不能去

教室上课，真抱歉。 今天早上我觉得头疼、还发烧，医生嘱

咐我需卧床休息两天。所以我写此假条，今明两日请假两天。望批准。

学生：王志刚 9 月 28 日

September 28Dear Chen, I’m sorry to tell you that I can’t go to classes today. I’ve caught a cold because I swam in the Kunming Lake yesterday. This morning I had a headache and also a high fever. The doctor advised me to stay in bed for two days. Now I’m writing to you to ask for two days’ sick leave including today and tomorrow. Yours respectfully, Wang Zhigang

亲爱的威廉斯老师： 请原谅李显同学今天上午不能来上您的

课。昨天在一次交通事故中他的右手受了重伤，今天上午到医院去换药并重新包扎伤口。他恳求我写此假条代他请假。请批准。

学生：李杰 6 月 8 日

June 8th

Dear Miss Williams,

Will you kindly excuse Li Xian’s absence from your lecture this morning? His right hand was badly injured in a traffic accident yesterday. This morning he will go to the hospital to get his hand bandaged and medicine changed once more. He begged me to write this note asking for leave instead of him.

Sincerely yours,

Li Jie

Notes of Requests

(Asking for a favor)

江老师： 我想借您的《英语应用文手册》用一两

天，可以吗？我的一位邻居想出国深造，让我帮他写一封询问信，我想借您的书参考一下。如果您能让我用用这本书，明天上午下课后到您办公室去取好吗 ? 谢谢。

学生：李玉明 12 月 10 日

December 10

Dear Mr. Jiang,

May I use your A handbook of Practical English Writing for one or two days? I want to use it as a reference book to write a letter of inquiry for one of my neighbors who is going to further his studies abroad but does not know how to write such a letter. If you can spare it to me, I will go to your office to fetch it after class tomorrow morning. Many thanks.

Yours ever,

Li Yuming

Unit One

Exercises

You are going to take TEM 4. Write a note to your friend or teacher, asking him/her to lend you some reference books and give you some advice on how to prepare for it.

Message Notes

(Offering information or help)

May 15, 2006Dear George, I’ve heard from the notice board that the university library is looking for a part time library assistant. It is a weekend job. I think it is suitable for you since you are free at weekends. It will be a good experience for your future job application, and it pays well. I hope you will take the interview and may you succeed. Yours sincerely, Li Ping

Unit One

Exercises

Before you leave university you want to sell your reference books about the postgraduate entrance examination. Write a note of about 50-60 words describing the condition of your books , how much you would like for it, and how you can be reached.

Notes of Appointments

& Invitation

Mar. 8thProf. Brown I'd like to know your comments on the outline of my paper before I begin my first draft. Could you please fix a time (I am free on Monday and Tuesday afternoons as well as Thursday and Friday) and leave a message for me with Ms. Liu in the department office? Thank you!

Zhu Jie

May 15, 2005Dear Mike, I’ve got two tickets for a concert given by a famous pop band at our University Hall at 7:00 o’clock this Saturday evening. I know pop music is your favorite, so I’d like to invite you to take part in the concert with me. I believe you will enjoy it. Please call me as soon as possible. Yours sincerely,

Li Ping

Unit One

Exercises

1. You want to buy an e-dictionary. Billy, one of your friends, knows a lot about it. Write him a note asking whether he can go to the department store with you and give you some advice.

2. There will be a seminar about the problem of global warming in the auditorium. Write a note to your professor inviting him/her to attend it.

Notes of Apologies

Wed. Mar.12Dear Prof. Brown, I would like to express my apologies for not being able to keep our 10 o’clock appointment for Mar. 16, for I have some urgent business to deal with out of town and won't be back until Mar. 17. I will ring you up as soon as I come back to arrange for another appointment. Yours sincerely, Zhang Ling

Unit One

Exercises

1. Your friend has invited you to go shopping together this Saturday morning, but you have something else to do. Write a note to him/her, apologizing for and explaining the decline.

2. You are Henry. You are returning by post a friend’s book you have kept for too long. Write a note to him/her, apologizing for and explaining the delay.

Notes of Thanks

May 15, 2005Dear Mike, I’m writing to tell you how grateful I am for your advice on my paper. It will be published next Friday on China Daily. It was very kind of you to give me the benefit of your experience. Please accept my warmest thanks. Yours sincerely,

Li Ping

Unit One

Exercises

You have won the first prize in the English Speech Contest. Write a note to your friend Mary to thank her for her help and encouragements.

Notes of Congratulations

May 15, 1996

Dear Jenny,

I am so glad to get the news that you’ve won the first

prize in the English Speech Contest. Please allow me to

extend my hearty congratulations to you.

You have been working so hard at English. And your

effort is really fruitful. I am proud of you.

I wish you future success and more awards!

Yours sincerely,

Xiao Ming

Unit One

Exercises

You have heard that your friend has passed the postgraduate entrance examination. Write a note to him/her, giving him your encouragements.

Notes of Consolation

June 18, 2007Dear Lucy, I am terribly sorry to learn of your illness. I can not still believe it. You looked healthy when I saw you last. Everybody in our class misses you so much and we are all expecting you will be fully recovered soon. Don’t worry about your lessons. We’ll help you. I hope that by the time this note reaches you, you will be feeling much better. And just take things easy, then you will get a quick and full recovery. Sincerely yours, Fenny ,

Unit One

Exercises

You have heard that your friend Jack has been injured in a car accident. Write a note to him giving him some consolation and encouragements.