Project

Writing an advice letter

Crystal Wu

Music

“22 school rules”

By Shui Mu Nian Hua

Growing up can be difficult.

If you meet problems, who will you turn to for help?

An advice columnist

Read the first letter(P.38) and answer:

1 Why does the father write the letter?

2 What does the father think about his son? (what are problems that the father thinks about his son?)

3 What is the father worrying about?

To ask for some help so as to help his son.

His son may fail at school or worse.

back

problems the father thinks about his son He refuses to do everything his parents ask him to do.

He refuses to spend time with them.

He is rude to them.

He wastes time watching DVDs, listening to foreign music, chatting in Internet cafes, playing games and surfing the internet.

He refuses to do his homework.

Read the second letter (P.38) and answer:

1 Why does the son write the letter?

2 What are his problems?

Because he had some problems at home, and he wanted to be helped.

His father doesn’t listen to him when he wants to do something or suggests an idea.

problems the son thinks about his father

His father shouts at him when he tries to talk to him.

When he refuses to listen to his father, his father shouts at him and they fight like crazy.

His parents always make him do things he doesn’t like.

They call him selfish and unloving when he wants to be alone.

His father gets very angry when he plays foreign music.

His father sends him to bed or tells him to study when he watches a DVD.

His father forbids him from meeting his friends at the Internet cafe.

1. 拒绝做……

2. 对某人粗鲁

as though/as if3. 似乎，好像

Chunks:

refuse to do …

be rude to sb.

4. 坚持做…… insist on doing …

5. 发疯似的 like crazy

7. 禁止某人做… forbid sb. (from) doing…

6. 打发某人睡觉 send sb. to bed

You’ve done a great job ！

Liu Wei’s blog

Today I had a fight with dad again. I’m the ______ ______ in the family, so everyone _______ me _____ ______. They buy me a lot of things, but that’s not what I want. And they think I’m ________ to them and don’t love them just because I _______ _____ spend time with them and when I have my _______ time,

I want to be ______ and they call me ________ and ________. I like watching DVDs and listening to foreign music which dad cannot __________. I like spending some time in Internet ______ , where I can either play games or chat _______. He has even ________ me ______ meeting my friends.

He thinks I’m _______ _________ time during this important ________ in my life.

At present, he _______ me my freedom. But I know he is worried that I may _______ at school. What am I to do now?

• Student A: Liu Wei (Son)

• Student B: Liu Zhenhua (Father)

• Student C: the host of Talk Time

Dialogue (group work) Your words( 你说我说 )

• Begin your dialogue like this:Host : Hello, everyone, welcome to “TALK TIME”. They are Liu Zhenhua and Liu Wei. We are here to talk about Liu Wei’s and his father’s problem. Liu Wei, first, tell us what your problems are.Son : …Host: I think you should…/If I were you, … What’s your trouble, Mr. Liu?Father: …Host: ….

Group work: Let’s have a talk!

I’m an advice columnist!I’m an advice columnist!

Write an advice letter!

1. To whom

2. Opening sentence

3. Body (Advice)

4. Closing sentence

5. From whom

(格式 )

1. To whom

2. From whom

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Dear Mr. Liu,

Yours sincerely/truly, Mr. Zhu

3. Opening sentences

1.I am very glad to hear from you/receive your letter.

2.Thank you for your letter.3.You have asked me for my

advice about … and I will try to make some suggestions.

4.I am writing in reply( 答复 ) to …

1.I am very glad to hear from you/receive your letter.

2.Thank you for your letter.3.You have asked me for my

advice about … and I will try to make some suggestions.

4.I am writing in reply( 答复 ) to …

4. Closing sentences

1.I hope you will find my suggestions/advice helpful/ useful.

2.At last, I hope I will be your best friend’s forever! Good luck to you!

3.Let’s keep in touch. I do hope to hear good news from you.

1.I hope you will find my suggestions/advice helpful/ useful.

2.At last, I hope I will be your best friend’s forever! Good luck to you!

3.Let’s keep in touch. I do hope to hear good news from you.

5. Body (giving advice)

Firstly,…; Secondly,...;Thirdly, …Firstly,…; Secondly,...;Thirdly, …

First,…; Second,...;Third, … First,…; Second,...;Third, …

First of all,… Then, …. At last,…First of all,… Then, …. At last,…

On the one hand,…. On the other handOn the one hand,…. On the other hand

To begin with,…Besides(in addition), …What’s To begin with,…Besides(in addition), …What’s more…more…

5. Body (giving advice)

We can use conjunctions or phrases to We can use conjunctions or phrases to make the letter bettermake the letter better..

平行 : as well as; not only…but also;

转折 : however; nevertheless; in spite of; otherwise

因果 : therefore; as a result; owing to;

递进 : besides; what’s more; furthermore; in addition; what’s worse

对比 : on the contrary; instead of; on the other hand;

平行 : as well as; not only…but also;

转折 : however; nevertheless; in spite of; otherwise

因果 : therefore; as a result; owing to;

递进 : besides; what’s more; furthermore; in addition; what’s worse

对比 : on the contrary; instead of; on the other hand;

Sample writing

Dear Mr. Liu, I am very sorry to hear that you have some problems with your son. Here I want to give you some advice, and I wish it could be helpful to you.

Dear Mr. Liu, I am very sorry to hear that you have some problems with your son. Here I want to give you some advice, and I wish it could be helpful to you.

Firstly, you should be not only strict but also kind to him. Treat him as an adult. You

mustn't always shout at him. Respect him and his advice. Maybe his advice is of value.

Secondly, you may try to enjoy what he likes, such as music and DVDs. Take more notice of what he thinks. On one hand, you can understand him further, on the other hand you can bridge the gap between you.

Thirdly, you can turn to your son's close friends for help. They can understand what your son thinks and needs better.

I believe you can solve the problem, and everything will go well. Good luck to you!

I believe you can solve the problem, and everything will go well. Good luck to you!

Let’s write！

Can you write an advice letter to Liu Wei now?

Write an outline for the body of the letter （ in class ）

Proofread （修改） the draft （ after class ）

Write the draft( 草稿 ) （ in class ）

Write a letter to Liu Wei

1. Polish(完善 ) your advice letter!

2. Everyone writes an advice letter concerning the problems in the BBS.

I am an advice columnist.I am an advice columnist.

Student: My English is poor.

Parent: How to deal with puppy love

Teacher: Students’ learning attitude

gets on my nerves( 令我头痛 ).

My English is poor!My English is poor!

唐杰：“要背的很多，很烦啊”

梅星宇：“记忆力差，背会后一会儿就忘了。”

王龙：“没有耐心去读阅读理解。”

Back

张天波：“做阅读不会的单词太多。”

王琳玲：“阅读文章的速度很慢”

周鹏鹏：“老师上课用英语说不能全听懂”