The formal email is one possible format of the expository section of English A Paper 2. Below is a sample of the question style and a possible response.
While the question assesses the student's ability to understand and express expository writing clearly, it also assesses the formatting of the formal email. Students should ensure they use the provided information and include the "To" and "From" email addresses as well as the subject line. The subject line should be short and directly linked to the purpose of the email. Note, that the email includes a clearly stated thesis statement and topic sentences. Transition words are used to aid the fluidity of the prose and in this case further emphasis the vocabulary of the strategy required i.e. process analysis.
Question:
Study the situation presented below and then answer the question that follows.
Your principal has expressed to you that she is unhappy with her grades of the upper school students thus far and wants to drastically improve them. However, she is not sure what she should do or what would be the most effective way for her to encourage students to work on improving their grades. In the capacity of president of the student council it is your duty to assist in matters such as this. Write an email to the principal outlining the best way for her to encourage students to improve their grades.
Your answer will be assessed on how well you
formatted your email
selected relevant and complete information
organized and expressed the information in your email
used appropriate grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.
Your email MUST be in continuous prose.
Response:
To: msmith@gmail.com
From: jjones@gmail.com
Subject: Improvement of Students’ Grades
Dear Mrs. Smith,
The students council has recognised the need to collaborate with you and the rest of the staff to improve the grades of the upper school students at Maracas High School. As President of the Student Council, I would like to suggest that the school initiate a blended learning approach, a student based study club and a practice of termly awards to encourage these students to improve their grades.
Firstly, incorporating a blended learning approach to teaching would encourage students to improve their grades. Blended learning encourages students to become more independent and active in their own learning. While teachers would continue to impart knowledge and provide feedback in the classroom, students would be expected to continue their own research by way of the online platform. Students would also have the advantage of engaging with the material in different forms to better match their personal styles of learning.
Secondly, student based study groups have been shown to improve the grades of students. Students may feel more comfortable expressing their misunderstandings to peers than to teachers. Working together fosters healthy social interaction while allowing students to constantly trade information and learn with and from one another. As a regular practice, students would therefore reinforce what is learnt and subsequently improve their grades.
Finally, termly awards offer incentives for ambitious students to improve their grades. When students come to understand that they will be awarded for their hard work, they will become more interested in their performance. This would be especially true if the given awards were monetized or offered experiences appreciated by students of that age. While we all work for the sake of exam preparation an award offers immediate satisfaction for a job well done.
The student council is of the belief that using a blended learning approach, student based study groups and termly awards would greatly encourage the upper school students of Maracas High School to improve their grades. We are committed to working diligently with you to ensure the success of the program.
Sincerely,
Justin Jones
President
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