POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN WRITNG YOUR E-MAIL

1. CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION

INTRODUCTION
 Opening remarks, which may include: (i) a thank you for
your key pal’s last e-mail, comments on his/her News,
(ii) apology for a delay in replying, (iii) questions about
recent events, (iv) the reason why you are writing (you
don’t have to include all these items

 Background information of a special date or celebration

MAIN BODY  Main characteristics of the special date or celebration

How you feel about the special date or celebration

 General comments (positive and/or negative aspects)

on food, clothes and costumes, date of the event, the
relevance of the event to our country. (You don’t have to
comment on all these aspects; select those which are
the most relevant to you).
 Recommedation (explain why you think your friend
CONCLUSION should come to Brazil to celebrate with you or not)

 Closing remarks, which may include: (i) a request to

your key pal to write to you later, saying his/her opinion
about the invitation to celebrate with you, (ii) the reason
why you must end the e-mail, (iii) greetings to your key
pal’s Family/friends (you don’t have to include all these
items)

2. LANGUAGE
 You should use informal language and short forms (e.g. don’t, I’m) in e-
mails to friends.
 You normally use present tenses and a variety of adjectives to describe
the celebration and make your comments more clear to the point
 Useful language to give background information of the special day or
celebration:
- The celebration takes place in Salvador/São Paulo/ Rio de Janeiro
- People use to wear... / People use to dress up as a…/ People like a lot to….
- The party/celebration/special day finishes in…
 Useful language to finish an informal email:
- Take care, Best, Bye for now, All the best, Cheers, best wishes

 Connectors:
- contrast ideas: although, but
- express reason: as, because, since
-express consequence: so ... that, so
- sumarize ideas: to sum up, All in all, on balance
- express time: before, after, while