Assignment A
You will write a formal email to a famous person.
It can be anyone. It is your choice. You need to include a subject line, a greeting, THREE paragraphs, and a closing. · In the first paragraph, you will briefly introduce yourself. · In the second paragraph you will tell the person how you are connected. · In the third paragraph you will make a request. Use the Planning Sheet to create your first draft of the email. The first draft is due at the end of class on Monday, May 9th. |
Things to remember
Subject line
The subject line should summarize the main point of your message. It should be short and easy to understand. Greeting Start your e-mail with a greeting in order to create a friendly tone. If the receiver is your senior, or if you are in doubt, it is best to use the person’s surname together with an appropriate title. e.g. Dear Mr. Depp, (Remember that there is NO SPACE between the person’s name and the comma.) Introduction paragraph Include your name and any other important identification information. e.g. Let me introduce myself. My name is Takayuki Katou. I’m a student at Kanda University of International Studies, Japan, majoring in International Communication. Add any other information about yourself that you think might be relevant. Connection paragraph How are you connected with the famous person? What have they done that makes you like or respect them? How have they affected your life? When did you become a fan of their work? Why? Add any other information about your connection to the celebrity that you think might be relevant. Request paragraph What do you want the celebrity to do for you? You should describe your request clearly. As you have studied in class, the larger the imposition and the greater the social distance between you and the celebrity, the more polite your message should be. The longer a request, the more polite it is. The higher the imposition, the longer the request Pass me the salt. Pass me the salt, please. Could you pass me the salt? Could you pass me the salt, please? I was wondering if you could pass me the salt? I was wondering if you could pass me the salt, please? If possible, I was wondering if you could pass me the salt? If possible, I was wondering if you could pass me the salt, please? Closing It is important to close your e-mail with a short phrase that leaves your recipient feeling positive or hopeful. e.g. I’m looking forward to hearing from you in the future. or I appreciate you taking the time to read my long e-mail. You should end your message in a polite way. e.g. Yours sincerely, or Best regards, Don’t forget to include your name at the end of your closing, with at least one empty line between your closing and name. e.g. Yours sincerely, Scott Sustenance or Best regards, Scott Sustenance |
Marking Rubric