Formal writing

10. A formal letter asking for information

You want to buy a mobile phone by means of the Internet, you’ve found a desired model, but you’ve got some questions the answers to which you can’t find in the advertisement. Write a formal letter asking for information. Use the example letter.

Marketing Director  Dymon Publications  2201 South Maple Street  Salt Lake City, UT 84797  U.S.A. Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to order ten (10) copies of the book, Touchy Situations: A Conversation Text for ESL Students. I recently came across this book at a local teachers' conference and was very impressed by its format and contents. Could you please send the books by express mail? I need them for class next Monday. Also, would you mind sending your latest catalog or brochure? Thank you for your prompt attention. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Best regards, Trent Chang

Useful expressions

Please . . .

Would you . . .

Could you . . .

Would you please . . . .

Could you possibly . . .

Would you mind (V+ing) . . .

Could you do me a favor?

11. Asking for information about the company

You are a student researching a computer software company for your class presentation. Write to Margaret Sims, the public relations director of the corporation you are researching, and ask for information about her company.

12. What to say to Bill Gates?

Write a letter to Bill Gates bill@microsoft.com.

13. Profession profile

Create your profession profile on the website www.oDesk.com.

Problem solving

14. How to download the apps on your new iPhone

People: 2 friends

Place: a cozy café with Wi-Fi

Time: 6 p.m.

One of the friends has his/her new iPhone but doesn't know how to download the apps he/she has seen on TV. The other friend explains that it's a simple process to download free or paid apps to a phone. He/she offers several ways to do it.

15. How to compile PDF files

People: mother and daughter

Place: a kitchen

Time: Sunday, high tea time

Mother explains that she has a problem and needs her daughter’s help. She has to email some documents but she was told to convert them into PDF. Mother doesn’t know what it is and how it can be done. Daughter explains that Portable Document Format (PDF) makes it possible to share documents between different operating systems and software programs. That's why it's a favorite among businesses. It may be the standard document format in your workplace. To save time or to tighten up your finished product, you can compile a PDF from existing non-PDF files, combine files to send via email, or add graphs and charts to finish a report. She also explains how to compile a PDF file. Mother thanks her daughter and tells her how much she loves her.

16. What to do about a wet laptop

According to studies by laptop insurance provider Protecsure, spilled liquid ranks among the top four causes of damage to portable computers. From that agonizing, slow-motion moment when the spill happens until the instant the liquid lands on your computer, you have just seconds to remove the battery and unplug the power adapter. The faster you do this, the better chance you have of avoiding a short circuit and saving your computer.

Situation:

People: 3 group-mates

Place: a hostel

Time: Friday, the 13^th

One of the group-mates (let’s call him/her an ‘unlucky person’) has spilled his/her tea on his/her laptop. The unlucky person managed to remove the battery and unplug the power adapter immediately. But what to do next he/she doesn’t know. He/she is in panic and phones to his/her friends. The 2 friends come to him/her and discuss what can be done in this case. They discuss the following possible actions:

to let it dry naturally;

to use a desiccant, such as the silica gel;

to remove the keyboard to reach all of the liquid;

to use 99 percent pure rubbing or isopropyl alcohol to displace the offending liquid;

to take apart the laptop and clean it.