Now that you know how to identify the letter types, it is now time for us to go ahead and move in to
being able to outline a general letter.
So in this lecture, I'm going to explain to you exactly how to do that.
So first of all, let's talk about the method and strategy of outlining.
Outlining is extremely helpful.
It has so many benefits that will help you score seven plus on the rubric.
So let's go ahead and talk about the strategy.
You're only going to spend 1 to 2 minutes outlining.
That's it.
1 to 2 minutes and you have three task.
Task number one, you want to think of 2 to 3 details or ideas to discuss for your first discussion
point task to think of 2 to 3 details to discuss for the second discussion point and then task number
three.
Think of 2 to 3 details or ideas to discuss for the third discussion point.
Now at this time, you've already identified what type of letter you're going to write formal, semi-formal
or informal letter.
But for an outline, I just need you to complete these three tasks, and you can do it in 1 to 2 minutes.
The benefits of outlining are numerous.
I really, really recommend you do this every single time you're going to write a letter when you're
practicing and on the real exam.
Number one, it helps you to have organized sequence writing, high scoring letters, have controlling
ideas that flow from paragraph to paragraph.
Everything is connected.
Everything is organized.
Number two, if you do an outline, you will receive the benefit of coherent writing.
Outlining allows the test taker to produce coherent writing.
This is because you can look back at what's the next thing you're going to talk about and be able to
consider how to connect those ideas together.
Number three, which is one of the biggest benefits from outlining.
You learn to save time by writing faster.
All of you want to write faster and with more accuracy.
You only have 20 minutes to complete task number one.
If you outline, you'll finish on time every single time.
And number four, you can focus on how to say it.
English is your second language, and what you don't want to do is have to think of what to say and
how to say it within your 20 minute time period while you're writing.
You want to get the What to Say part out of the way in that way when you're writing.
You can focus on how to say it.
Then you can say, Well, I'm going to say this in a compound sentence.
And this next point I'll use a complex sentence.
You can just focus on how to say it.
So now let's go ahead and work together.
We're going to work together and outline some questions.
Now, of course, your outlines may have different information, different ideas or details than mine,
but the point is we're going to work together.
So I want you to take out a piece of paper and I want you to label it with letter type point number
one for your ideas for the first discussion point.
Point number two for your ideas for the the second discussion point.
And then point number three, I want you to set a timer for 2 minutes after I read the question.
You should complete your outline and then compare your outline to mine.
Okay.
So here is our first question.
Your local council is considering closing a local sports and leisure center that it runs in order to
save money.
Write a letter to the council explaining.
Give the details as to how you, your friends or family utilize this center.
Explain why the center is important for the local community.
Describe the possible effects on the local community if the center closes.
Now what you're going to do is on your piece of paper.
First of all, you make sure that you have your timer set because you're going to control your own clock.
I'm not going to pause the lecture for 2 minutes.
You need to stop the lecture.
Stop the lecture, go ahead and outline the question and then you can go ahead and see how I outline
the question.
But right now, stop the lecture.
Go ahead and do your outline.
And then you can compare to what I did.
Of course, if you have any questions about it, please feel free to ask me.
I love to be able to answer whatever questions you have about strategy and methods.
All right.
So go ahead and do your outline now.
Okay.
So the letter type is formal for my first discussion point number one, in terms of how my friends or
family utilise the centre they use, they use it for losing weight to control their diabetes and swim
team practice.
For the second distress discussion point about why it's important for the local community.
It's because we have bad weather, it builds connections and there are no other options.
And then from my third discussion point in terms of describe the effects, obesity, and it will take
funds out of the community.
So that's my outline.
That's my outline.
And your ideas might be different than mine.
All that matters is that the ideas that you have are limited, restricted to the to the discussion point.
Your ideas should not take you beyond the scope of the discussion point.
Let's go to our second question.
You and your family are moving to another country and have decided to contact a property agent for assistance.
You will say or ask, introduce yourself and your family.
That's discussion point one.
Describe the type of accommodation you hope to find.
Discussion point to give your preference for the location and accommodation.
Discussion point three.
So you're going to come up with two or three ideas for each discussion point.
So stop the lecture right now.
Set your timer for 2 minutes and do your outline now.
Okay.
Here are my ideas.
Semi-formal letter type discussion point one Introducing myself.
Lawyer, wife as a doctor three kids.
Discussion point number two in terms of the type of accommodation two storey, three bathroom garden,
five bedrooms, and then giving my preference for the location.
The word accommodation should not be there.
In the third part, give your preference for the location.
Inner city.
Near parks.
Near schools.
Now, of course, your ideas might be different than my ideas.
That's perfectly fine.
Just as long as your ideas connect to the discussion point.
This is going to help you to not have to think about what you want to say and only focus on how to say
it.
And you'll write faster.
Here's number three.
One of your friends had a birthday celebration, but you missed it.
And you forgot to tell your friend that you couldn't attend.
You should say apologize for missing the birthday celebration.
Explain why you missed it and didn't tell your friend.
Say what you would like to do to say you are sorry.
Go ahead and stop the lecture now and do your outline.
All right.
And here is my example.
Letter type is informal discussion point one.
Sorry didn't tell you feel bad discussion point two reasons were work, extended duties and discussion
point three to make it up.
Dinner and a movie.
Let's move into our next question.
We're going to write a letter to your manager about a computer system problem that you have encountered
and say, describe the problem, two or three ideas you're going to write.
How is it affecting your work?
Two or three ideas?
What needs to be done about it?
Two or three ideas.
Och, set your timer on 2 minutes.
Stop the lecture and begin now.
So here is my outline for this question semi-formal because we're writing to our manager discussion
point one.
The problem was with the Monitor's software poor configuration.
How is it affecting my work?
Productivity, no access to PC, not meeting deadlines.
What needs to be done?
New PC.
New software.
Call it or give me a one week extension.
All right.
Let's move to the next question.
You're going to write a letter to your friend about your plans to go out with him or her.
And another friend on a small picnic include the following in your letter where you plan to go, what
arrangements you already made.
What helped you need from your friend with this picnic?
You have 2 minutes to do your outline.
Stop the lecture and begin now.
All right.
So this is an informal letter discussion point one for me where we plan to go.
Yellowstone National Park, discussion point two.
What arrangements have I made?
I checked the weather, called the entry call for the entry fee, reserved the place and ordered the
food discussion.
Point three I need help with blankets, drinks, music and driving.
I need a lot of help.
I need a lot of help from my friends.
Okay, so of course, your ideas might be different than my ideas.
And again, that's okay.
Our next question, you did a bus tour with other people.
However, you were not satisfied with the bus service.
Write a letter to the bus company about your journey and say what the problem was with your tour while
you were not satisfied.
Suggest how the bus company can improve OC set your timer on 2 minutes.
Stop the lecture.
Begin your outline now.
OC Here is my example.
Letter type is formal discussion point one the problem air conditioning.
My drivers spoke poor English was driving fast.
I was not satisfied because I was needing information from the driver and brochure.
The brochure claims certain things they didn't give me and discussion point three suggests how the bus
company can improve.
They can test English pre test the bus conditions.
So I really hope you did a great job on your outlines.
I hope this was good practice for you.
Outlining is the key to scoring very well.
Coming up next, we're going to talk about the letter writing process and then we're going to work on
writing introductions.
Thank you very much for joining me.
As always, take care and study hard.