Homework, 24th November, 2016

Hi, 

As always, this homework is due on Monday. 

Last night you watched a programme on the BBC about the role of women in society which you found offensive. You are going to write a letter complaining.

You can use the following address:

Head of Programming

The BBC

Media City

Salford

SA1 4TH

Below is an example of a similar kind of letter you can use to help you, and below that, a guideline sheet:

Maggie Simpson

122 Evergreen Terrace

Springfield

SP1 8YH

14^th December, 2020

The Editor

Top Gear Magazine

13 Sunrise Road

London

W4 8GH

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to express my disapproval about an article I read in your magazine last week. The article was about the poor quality of the roads in Mexico.

As someone with Mexican heritage myself, I have to say I found the article to be extremely offensive, as it was very negative about Mexicans. Instead of focussing on the roads, the main argument of the article seemed to be that Mexicans are bad drivers because they are stupid, and, while this might be true about some Mexicans, it is equally as true about some English drivers, and is certainly not true of all Mexicans. To suggest that it is, actually borders on racism, because you cannot make judgments about an entire race of people based on the behaviour of a few.

I think it would be a very good idea for your journalist to rewrite the article in a more positive light, focussing more on the poor quality of the roads and the fact that not a lot of money is spent on maintaining them which is, after all, what the article was supposed to be about.

I hope you will take my suggestion on board and, if you wish to contact me regarding this issue, please use the address above.

Yours faithfully,

Maggie Simpson

Generic letter of complaint structure

Your address, e.g.: Mr Quillfeldt 12 Bishop’s Avenue London SW6 6EG

The date in long form, for example: 15th September, 2015

Start Dear Sir/Madam if you don’t know their name or Dear Mr or Mrs, followed by their surname if you do.

In the first paragraph write one or two sentences explaining why you are writing. This paragraph doesn’t need to be very long. You can start: I am writing to you to express my disappointment about …

In the second paragraph, start by being positive, but then go on to explain what it is you are complaining about. For example: Overall, I thought the programme was very good, however …

In the third paragraph, explain what the consequences of the negative experience were. For example: As a result of this, I had to spend several days in hospital …

In the fourth paragraph, outline how you think the problem should be resolved. For example: I am sure you will agree that some form of compensation in is order …

Sign off Yours faithfully if you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to, or Yours sincerely if you do.

Write your full name.

Homework, 17th November, 2016

This week, I would like you to read the letter written by Nigel Farage (just to be clear, he didn't actually write it!) then answer the following 10 mark exam-style question:

How does Nigel try to convince us that he is not a racist, that the article he read is biased and that Brexit is good for Britain?

Nigel Farage

132 Hammond Street

Sutton

SU8 9IK

16^th November 2016

The Editor

The Guardian

34 Jermyn Street

London

WS2 8HG

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you in response to an article I read in your publication last week entitled Brexit – The Facts. I will say straight away that I was, quite frankly, appalled by the article, for the reasons laid out below.

Firstly, whilst I acknowledge that there are several quite convincing arguments in favour of Britain staying in the European Union, most notably among them that there are certain benefits to being part of a free trade zone, the article seemed to suggest that there are no credible reasons whatsoever to leave, which couldn’t be further from the truth. As a supporter of Brexit, I have to say I found the level of bias in the article almost offensive, especially in its portrayal of Brexiteers such as myself as racist and backwards.

In actual fact, I and many of my friends are well-informed on the subject and, whilst the opportunity to take back control of our borders is undoubtedly a tempting proposition, our reasons are more to do with the economy than immigration. When Britain finally comes out of the EU, we will be in a very strong position to negotiate new trade deals with any one of the many hundreds of non-EU nations from around the world, something we are not currently able to do due to regulations which, to put it bluntly, are strangling small business owners.

On the issue of immigration, I have already stated that taking back control of our borders is of paramount importance if we are to avoid the population spiralling out of control, but this does not mean that I believe we should have no immigration whatsoever; indeed, my wife is an immigrant from Germany, and I have friends from all over the world who have come to our great country to work and contribute.

Your article failed to mention any of the positive factors around Brexit, however, and is further evidence of the liberal bias that exists in the mainstream media. I don’t expect you to do anything about this, of course, because you have an agenda and you are going to keep pushing it come what may, but I simply couldn’t read an article like that and keep quiet about it.

Yours faithfully

Nigel Farage

Homework, 10th November, 2016

Howdy, 

This week I would like you to read the letter below, then answer the questions that follow. 

This is due on Monday, 14th, 2016

Phillip Smith

12 Bishop’s Avenue

Fulham

SW6 6EG

16^th December, 2015

The Editor

TV Choice Magazine

17 Cardinal Road

London

W1 7YG

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you to express my views on the topic of reality television, following an article I saw in your magazine last week.

Reality television is a controversial subject which divides opinion. On one side there are people who think it is very boring and silly, and isn’t even very real because many of these programmes are based on unrealistic situations, for example I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, in which celebrities who aren’t even that famous are put on an island and forced to survive, which is a situation most people will never find themselves in. Then there is Made in Chelsea, in which rich Londoners have conversations in expensive bars about their relationships, which is clearly scripted and most people who live in London don’t live that kind of life anyway.

My feeling, however, is that, although reality television might not be very realistic, it has a place on television because it is entertaining and can be quite educational. I’m a Celebrity, whilst it might be quite over the top in places, does give us a view into people’s minds, so, although we may not learn very much about survival techniques, we do learn about people, and, as we are surrounded by people everyday, I would argue that this is actually more useful. It is also very entertaining, as there is just something interesting and often quite funny about the things the celebrities say and do, especially when they are arguing with each other, so it works in the same way as a comedy.

For these reasons, I believe that reality television has a place in our society and I hope there are enough people who agree with me to keep it going.

Yours faithfully,

Phillip Smith

Reading task

1. Scan through the letter to find and underline the following words (some of the words appear more than once):

·         Controversial

·         Unrealistic

·         Famous

·         Relationships

·         Scripted

·         Entertaining

·         Educational

·         Techniques

·         Interesting

2. What is the overall purpose of the letter?

3. In the first line, what word could have been used instead of ‘express’?

4. Does the second paragraph confirm that the person who wrote the letter is anti-reality television?

5. How do we know this?

6. Based on how it is used in the first line of the second paragraph, what does the word ‘controversial’ mean?

7. What, according to the letter, are the two main problems with I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, as far as some people are concerned?

8. Which word in the second to last line is used to tell us that Made in Chelsea isn’t actually real?

9. What are the two main arguments in favour of reality television that are put forward in the third paragraph?

10. What, according to the third paragraph, can we learn from watching I’m a Celebrity?

11. Re-write the last sentence of the third paragraph, which begins ‘It is also very entertaining …’ in your own words.

12. What is the overall conclusion of the letter?

13. Looking at the letter as a whole, why are the first and fourth paragraphs so much shorter than the second and third?

Writing task

Some people argue that, with programmes like Game of Thrones and Westworld, there is too much violence on television. Write a letter to the editor of a magazine (you will need to make up the name and address of the magazine) giving your views on this topic.

Homework, 3rd November, 2016

You recently broke your arm and are now recovering in hospital. Your best friend has written you a letter wishing you a speedy recovery. Write a reply. You can use the guideline sheet (see HW folder) to help you. You can write it on a computer and print it out, or by hand on a piece of lined paper. You should aim for around 350 words. 

Below is an example of an informal letter. This is the kind of thing you are aiming to write. 

Samwise Fair

67 Rake Street

Chelsea

SW5 8UG

1^st November, 2016

Dear Nan and Grandad,

How long has it been? Three years? How have you been? Grandad, how have you been after the greenhouse fell down? Have you managed to get a new one yet? Nan, have you got any new knitting projects on the go?

I am writing to you to tell you what I would like for Christmas. I feel a bit bad about this because I haven’t seen you for so long, but mum and dad said you really wanted to get me something. So, what I would like is a memory foam pillow. I need one because I have been having trouble with my neck, and apparently memory foam is good for this. You can buy them on Amazon for around £25.99. If you could get me one of those, that would be great. If you can’t find one, or if it’s a little bit too expensive, then you can get me some Lego. You might be thinking that I’m a bit too old for that, but there are Lego sets for all ages now. I would love anything from the Star Wars range. Some of the stuff is quite expensive, but there are cheaper sets you can get for around £10. Again, you can get these on Amazon, or in most toy shops. They even have specialist Lego shops, which are quite fun to visit if you fancy a day out of the house.

Anyway, I have to go now because I’ve got loads of revision to do for my exams, which are coming up soon. I’m really looking forward to seeing at Christmas.

Lots of love,

Samwise