Functional Writing 1 - Letter, Emails, Blogs, Text & Articles

Seite 1

To understand the importance of genre, purpose, audience, and style when approaching functional writing tasks.

To understand how to structure a formal letter, informal letter, diary entry article, blog and email.

To analyse samples of functional writing.

To write competently in a range of text forms.

Before approaching any functional writing task it would be useful to think about GAPS

G enre – form of your text; letter, article, blog etc.

A udience- who will be reading your text?

P urpose – why are you writing? Could be to explain, describe etc.

S tyle – formal or informal. How does G, A & P affect the way you write?

Informal Letter Structure

Address,

Address,

Address.

Date

Dear ____________,

Body: One idea

Body: One idea

Body: One idea

Closure,

Signature

Informal Letter Sample

13 Red Street,

Long Road,

Dublin 1.

20th May 2021

Dear/Hi Paul

It has been so long since I have heard from you. How are you? I have been missing you so much. Things are not the same without you here. I hope you are enjoying your new school and that the other kids are nice to you. I am writing because I miss you but also to tell you something funny that happened. Mr. James the history teacher ……….. I was thinking that you could come visit me next month. My parents are on holidays so they could collect you. I have a few ideas of what we could do such as …….

Write back soon,

Sam Smith

Formal Letter Sample

13 Red Street,

Long Road,

Dublin 1.

20th May 2021

Tesco,

15 Main Street,

Drogheda,

Co. Louth

Dear Sir/ Madam,

My name is Sam Smith, I am writing to inform you that I am extremely dissatisfied with the customer service I received in your store on Sunday last.

Details of dissatisfaction

X

X

What you expect them to do about it.

X

X

Yours sincerely (if you know the person) Yours faithfully (if you don’t know the person),

Sam Smith (Sign with full name)

Informal Letter Dear - Hi Sam

Formal Letter Dear - Sir/ Madam

Diary Entry

A diary is an account of personal experiences, through which we are given insight into the world of the writer.

A diary includes life events as well as thoughts, feelings, and reflection. Usually written chronologically

Descriptive

Historically, diaries have revealed information about life in different times.

Diary Entry Sample

First person narrative

Private thoughts and feelings

Create a sense of immediacy

Chronological

"I've reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, and I can't do anything to change events anyway. I'll just let matters take their course and concentrate on studying and hope that everything will be all right in the end."

February 3, 1944

"It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquillity will return once more"

July 15, 1944

Article

An article could be for a newspaper in the form of a news report or it might be a feature article. A news article must provide certain information. (Remember language of information) The most important information must come first and the least important last.

News Report

Headline Catches attention. Gives clear indication of what the story is about.

By line Writers name/area of speciality

Lead Opening section, includes the most important information. Answers most of the questions we may have (5W’s 1H)

Body Details

5. Quotation Can be from an expert, involved body or a bystander. Can add accuracy and relatability

Feature Article

While a news report may most likely be on an event, a feature article or opinion piece tends to centre around people and issues, focusing on human interest stories and being more opinionated.

Remember language of information, and persuasion.

These types of articles can also be entertaining and humorous.

Personal experience can be used. The tone should reflect the topic.

Blog

When writing a blog remember:

A blog about a personal issues or event should be written in diary style.

A blog can also be written to share an opinion, view on an issue, offer advice, share a topic of interest

A blog about a topic should be written it in the style of an article.

E-mail

From: samsmith@gmail.com

To: vodafonecustomercare@gmail.com

Date: 20th May 2021 Subject: Connection issue

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to complain about the service issues I have been having recently. For the past two weeks my internet connection has been less than satisfactory. It has been weak and at times non existent. It is very important for my connection to be stable as I work from home and I have two teenagers who need internet access for school. I would appreciate it if you would look into this issue for me.

Kind Regards,

Sam Smith

You have decided to write a response to President Higgins statement in the form of Letter, Email, Blog post, Newspaper report, another gene of your choice.

You choice should state:

1) what need to happen to bring about the change that President Higgins describes.

2) Suggest ways that you and other young people can help to make this change.

Which genre would you choose to write in? Briefly explain why.

Letter – personal, handwritten/typed , facilitates a direct conversation between individuals.

Email- quick and easy way to communicate, possibility of a faster response in this modern age.

Blog post – reach a wider audience, easy to post on many platforms.

Newspaper report – reaches a wide readership, might gain more attention being published in a traditional medium.

What need to change to allow young people to help

Older people must value the opinions of young people

Processes must be put in place to obtain views of young people

Irish Government need to find ways to include the voice of young people

National drive to encourage young people to speech and reach out

Other ideas ?

Ways for young people to help make change happen

Write letter to Organisations/ local TDs

Petitions on views

Join a club for young people

start blogs /social campaign around an issue you feel strongly about

Other ideas?