ace english grammar 8

Formal Letter of Complaint We already know how to write a formal letter. Let us see how to write a formal letter in order to register a complaint. We can write a letter of complaint to a company or person regarding a faulty product or service. We must keep the following points in mind. Put together all the relevant details about what you are complaining about. For instance, if it is a faulty product, we must mention the date of purchase, model number, warranty period and any other relevani information. 2. The letter should follow the standard structure of a formal letter that we have already learnt. Write proper salutations, addresses and subject line. 5. The body of the letter can have two to three paragraphs. ln the opening paragraph, give the details about the product/service and what prompted your complaint. In the following paragraph(s), you can talk about the steps you have taken so far to resolve the mater. 4. In the final paragraph, you should conclude by requesting the company to take suitable action. Flere you can put down your expectations (refund / replace lhe product. etc) from the company S. Although it is a letter of complaint, remember to keep calm and stay focused on the actual problem. Traditional or modern format: As you know, letters can be written in the modern formot (addresses and subscription aligned on the left side) or in the troditionolformot (addresses and subscription indented to the right side). Punctuation, The addresses can be written with punctuation marks, that is with a comma after every line, with the last line ending in a full stop. They may also be written without any punctuation marks. ln that case, the date too should not have any punctuation marks. IT;194

Itr I I l,l:r' ,il. Ll.:ri' iI i:i '.:i, i:] .., llc--r r Sz, Arcot Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai - 60009r 15 July 2o2o Ms Preeti Dora Customer Service Manager Microbook Pvt Ltd Chennai Subiectr Microbook Funtab tablet (battery issues) Dear Madam, I am writing to you to express my dissatisfaction with the product mentioned above. My father and I purchased this product lasi week (g July, zozo) from Chroma Electronics Store, Egmore, Chennai. From the first day itsell we have been experiencing battery issues with the product. As soon as we brought the tablet home, we put it on charging. After charging it for two hours, the tablet only showed a.z\" battery. When we tried to get the tablet replaced the next day, the Chroma store manager told us that it could not be replaced. As the product was under warranty, he asked us to leave it at a Microbook service centre for repair. At the service centre, we were told that since the product was not even a week old, we should get it replaced or repaired at the Chroma showroom itself. For the last one week, my father and I have been doing rounds of the Chroma showroom and different service centres, but to no avail. On account of all the time we have wasted and the treatment we have received so far, we are no longer interested in getting the tablet repaired. I am writing to you to request for a full refund for the product ({7ooo) or a replacement with a brand new model. I look forward to hearing from you at the earliest. Yours sincerely, Suchitra Pillai IL l 195

x. -./ @ W.it\" fo.rnal letters of complaint as instructed. t. You are N Kipgen from Sikkim. You recently bought an electric iron from Sama Home Appliances. The iron is not working to your satisfaction. Write a letter to the manager of the store requesting him/her to replace the product. Do mention the date of purchase, model number and other relevant details. 2. You are Rohit Dutta from Kolkata. You had booked a cab from Relaxi Cab Services to go to the airport. The vehicle that was sent was too small for your luggage. The driver not only arrived late, but was also rude to you. He also oueriharged you by two hundred rupees. Write a letter of complaint to the customer services manager of,the,cab company, requesting her / him to refund you the extra money and take suitable action against the driver. 3. You are Asif Khan. You had hired a travel agency to book your tickets for Vietnam. The travel agency has booked your tickets ind the hotel siay for the wrong dates. Write a letter of complaint to the agency to express your dissatisfaction and the inconvenience.caused to you, and request them io redo the bookings as per the dates you had mentioned earlier. You are an avid conservationist and are disturbed by the irresponsible manner in which the people of your town throw garbage. Write a letter to the concerneo authorities suggesting simple but effective ways of waste disposal which will not harm the environment and will also keep the town clean. 5. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper appealing to the general public to contribute generously to the Chief Minister's Earthquake Relief Fund. 6. The drainage system in your locality is very poor. The slightest of ralns create severe waterlogging and manholes overflow frequently. Repeated requests to the local Municipal office have not yielded any results. Write a letter to the editor of pcirika about this. You are the proprietor of a garments showroom and are writing a letter to Rangila Cloth Store to place an order for ten bales of mercerised cottJn cloth, Formal emails An email is usually considered more informal than a letter, but we can also use it to send a formal letter or a letter of complaint, where necessary, We must use both grammar and punctuation accurately in our emails. We usually use the same style and format as a formal letter while writing a formal email. III196

From, sanjay.sanya [email protected] To: ed ito r@da ilyt im es.com Sub.ject: flabitat under Threat Dear Sir, The Okhla Bird Sanctuary. Delhis biggest bird reserve, is located along the banks of Yamuna across 4oo hectares of prime habiiat near Noida. The Natural f.listory Society has declared it an important bird area, with more than 33o documented species. Bui this haven for birds is under threat. Even as construction eats away the peripheries, encroachments have come up in various parts of the habitat. Although the upkeep of the sanctLrary rests with a multitude of agencies, this problem still pers sis. It is heart-breaking to see blatant destruction of this habitat and I hope that publishing this letter in your newspaper wil draw more people to this cause. Thanking you, Yours tru 1y, Sanjay Sanyal L Write an email to a trave bureau complaining about a bus tour that was organlzed by them. Use the words in the box. bus started late - fooil very oily - stomach upset - AC on the bus did not work - guide could not speak English - did not visit any other place excepr the Taj Mahal other tourist spots too in Agra, returned to the hote late - would iike refund on the ticket - did not get what was promised 2. You bought a refrlgerator two weeks ago from Aditya Home App iances. But it is not working to your satisfaction and you suspect that there is a manufacturing defect in the product. Write an emal to the dea er asking him for an immediate replacement since your refrigerator is stil within the warranty period. You cou d quote the bill numb'er and the date of purchase as Tefe' ence. I 151

^--.ry ry You have recently bought a mobile phone from Global Phones. However, the battery seems to need recharging every few hours. Write an email complaining to the customer care division of the company. Mention the bill number and the date of purchase as reference. Write an email to the Dean-Admissions, State University of New York, to check about the status of your application to their student exchange programme. 5. Write an email to the help desk at your email service provider complaining about the amount of spam or junk mail'that is pouring into your folder. 6. Send an email (5o-8o words) to your hostel warden informing her that you willjoin a week later than stipulated due io a medical emergency in the family. 198

27 Writing a Story A good story must have- a clear plot (the beginning, a problem or an issue that develops, how that rssue is resolved and the ending) 2. characters 5. dialogues and conversations 4. an endrng First, write an outline for the story, before you develop Into a story. Give your story a suitable title, too. There are certain techniques you can use to get your reader's attention ar the beginning of the story, but these should be used carefully. you shouro use some kind of topic sentence but it does not necessarily have to give away the story right from the beginning. lt should say something significant and interesting that you riill go on to elaborate or explain in the rest of the paragraph. You can begin ,with a bang', plunging directly into the action, or you can begin with a description of the scene or central character, thereby setting the scene for the subsequent action. You can use direct speech, dialogue or even monologue in stories. Thrs can oe a gooo way to convey someone.s thoughts or feelings without constantly using Ae soid or sAe fhought, which can get a bit tedious. fll Write stories as instructed. t. Write a story beginning with this line-Good /riends qre olmost qs importont os fomilg. z. Write a story about a farmer who digs up something very precious on his land. 5. Mr Clarke from England arrives in your hometown with his family. Write a story about their experiences during the first few weeks there. affi



28 Writing a Report A report is different from an essay in that a report is always factual, and does not contain any personal opinions. Here are some of the features of a report. t. A report is written in formal and impersonal language. 2. lt reports an incident, an event or the findings of a survey. 3. lt is mostly written in the past tense. The use of the passive voice a lso encouraged. It is short and only gives relevant information, The title is short and formal. Here is a sample report. Annual Sports Day The fifteenth Annual Sports Day of Rishi Public School was held on 6th and 7th August. To prepare for the event, the sports field was cleared of rubble, tracks were repainted and large awnings were set up on two sides of the field. On one side, the students and the judges were seated, while the other side was reserved for parents and the food stalls. This year's edition saw a higher number of participants than the previous year. There were 57 events including races, throws, jumps and team sports. The younger participants took part in special events such as three-legged race, spoon race and sack race. The chief guest for the event was IAS Shennaz Ahmed, also an alumnus of the school. Kavita Roy was adjudged the best athlete among the girls and Lalit Sahni among the boys. The school kabbadi team got special recognition for winning the inter-school kabaddi competition last month. Ms Ahmed commended the organisation team for putting up a great event and applauded the students on their excellent performance. [ilI 201

Write reports as instructed. ai; nffit. Your-school recently organis:e:d:;a::,fi,.,t\",:'::1il:tT[ iJj j:,.f;\"., ;* iJ,,,l\"T \", #''',liffitfr5Mand eartheuak*sai\"i;ilH;;:ff :,:\";:;,ilx,:1.fi . :\"g'.li: :n, 1.,\"fua,cultural event at comrunily i :rtff ',*'d{,},.\"\"TfJfi trfgfr 5,tf ,:',;fi\",t];,.,ilH;;: t r-- t m2 D ln Bc lni ort tor Cor Surr agal \\-,rncl .ch 'dreL,- . ens . ens

The aim of a speech is to convey information to the audie\"\"\" ,n tor,\"\"t {interesting manner. Ilere are some guidelines- \" \"na Clarity: Be extremely clear about what you are saying. Make your sentences as simple as possible so that the audience understands. Remember to pause at the right places to let your words get through to the audience. Research: Why are you making your speech? Are you presenting information about a new technology? Are you persuading people to do something? What kind of audience are you going to have? What is their age group? Do they already know something about ihe subject? You need to have this background in mind while drafting a speecn. Writing a draft Draft your speech in this order. lntroduction The introduction has to be interesting, motivating and clear. The audience should immediately understand what you are going to talk to them about. Body The body should contain the content of your speech. Do not use too many figures or quotations. The audience can read up all that. What the audience needs is someone to make understanding easier for them. Conclusion Sum up all your points quickly and conclude, emphasising your views on the subject again. You may also request the audiences active participation in resolving an issue. Once you have completed writing, . check the grammar and the language of the speech. o decide how to address the a udience. This will depend on your target audience, that is, ladies and gentlemen. ensure that you have used personal language, for example, l, you, we and us. ensure that you have used questions to set up a tonversation' with the listeners. III 203 ::,.'. ''

Here is a sample speech, Yiolence on TV and itr impact on children Television, we thought, was invented for entertainment. No longer, I regret to say. It is now only a tool that breeds violence. What is the most violent scene that you have seen on television? ls it murder? An assassination? A war film? We think we have forgotten them, but those images are in our memory forever, What is the harm, you ask? The harm is that we are affected by the violence in more ways tnan one. Art imitates Iife and life imitates art. Children tend to imitate these violent scenes blindly without understanding the dangers. Will we be able to live in such a society ruled by violence? Let's pause for a while and think. Should we be passive and allow the idiot box to sow the seeds of violence in young minds, day in and day out? Let's all vow, here and now, to put an end to this. Let's vow not to watch channels and television shows which encourage violence in the name of entertainment and action. Write speeches as instructed. r. Write a speech on the topic, Helmets should b e compulsorg for riders of scooters ond motorcacles. You can use the words in the box. prevents injury - heavy traffic - uncomfortable - not cool - compulsory abroad - India - not compulsory - adopt it ourselves - to keep us safe - safety more important than being fashionable - light helmets for cycles needed 2. Draft a speech on your views about keeping the beaches clean. 3. Write a speech to encourage the students of your school to donate their old things to the flood victims in Guiarat. IIffi III

30 Writing an Essay In an argumentative essay, our aim is to persuade or convince the readers about a particular idea. For a given topic, we have to consider both sides of the argument, then choose one side for our essay and convince the readers about the same, using logical and consistent arguments. We must be armed with facts and adequate background information before writing an argumentative essay. Argumentative essays have an introduction, a body where the argument developed, and a conclusion. How to write an argumentative essay t. Make sure you understand the given topic completely. Gather all the relevant information about the topic, both for and against, and take a side. z. Jot down a rough plan for all the paragraphs in proper order, as the sequence in which you present your ideas is equally important. 3. Write a first draft. f4ake sure the language is formal, clear and concrse. Double-check the draft for any grammar mistakes or logical inconsistencies. 4. Write the final copy of the essay, and re-check it one more time. You may highlight or underline important points in the essay. l{ere is a sample of an argumentative essay. Shoule.l schooi uniforms be abolished? The necessity of school uniforms has been often debated. Although adhering to a school uniform policy has its pros and cons, I believe that there are more advantages to it than disadvantages. Our clothing defines our social status and vice-versa. lf uniforms were to be abolished, it will lead to a lot of social anxiety and peer pressure for students who cannot keep up with the latest fashion trends. lt will lead to formation of cliques, and further divide the students. Having a uniform eliminates this anxiety of having to 'fit in' based on appearances. IJL[ffi 205

Moreover, it is also much more economical to buy two or three sets of a uniform for one entire school year than having to buy new clothes every month. School years are the most formative years of onet life, and it is important for the students to channel all their energies towards productive pursuits. lf uniforms were abolished, a lot of time and energy would be spent on deciding what to wear every day. Having a uniform removes this distraction completely, leaving the students free to pursue their ialents and hobbies. flowever, many believe that uniforms inhibit self-expression, and that they create a strict enyironment. I believe that uniforms remove unnecessary distractions and help students express themselves better through what they do and how they carry themselves instead of what they wear. Uniforms instill a sense of unity among the students and enable them to focus on learning, Overall, lthink uniforms offer many advantages. They create an equal environment, prioritise learning and character deyelopment over appearance, and prove to be much more economical. lthink uniforms should not be abolished. o Write argumentative essays for or against these topics. l.s hould children be allowed to use smartphones? z. Should zoos be abolished? 3. Should exams be compulsory? 4. Should celebrities appear in advertisements? Narrative Essay Narrative essays are usually written from the perspective of the writer in the first person singular, that is, l. llowever, writers do use third person pronouns (he, she or it) occasionally. What we use is most often dependant on whose ooint of view is being stated in the narrative. lf it's our own slory, use l; if it,s a story about what happened to a friend or group of friends (including ourselves), use sire or he or we, as appropriate. Since a narrative essay is always a reflection of a personal experience of the writer, it often takes the form of a story or a recount. When it takes the form of a story. it is important to have in mind the model of a storv- o Plot (or what is happening) o Character (who were present) ITTE m6 I-I

E o Setting (where it happened) r Climax (the most dramatic eyent or moment or an important realisation) o Ending (how the incident resolved itself; how it concluded) Narrative essays are told from a writer's point of view, so a lot of details, both emotional and sensory, are provlded to get the reader involved in the elements of the story. The use of appropriate words and releyant verbs and adjectives, converts a dull narration into a compelling one. The opening statement of a narrative essay often introduces the writert point of view. The conclusion would confirm the same. l{ere is an example of a short narrative essay. Shaken Last week there was an earthquake while we were in school. At that time we were in our classroom on the fifth floor, so we felt it quite strongly. Earthquakes are common in Taiwan, but not everyone reacts to them in the same way. When the earthquake hit, the doors, lights, curtains, bookshelves and television monitor started to sway. We all felt a wave going through us. Some people just looked around and said, \"Oh. An earthquake.\" lt did not bother them at all. But other people were not so calm. One girl screamed and fainted in her seat. Two boysjumped up and ran for the door. The teacher fell on her knees and started praying. I did not think the earthquake was so scary, but it was obviously very frightening for some people. I have to admit lthought that not everyone is like me. @ W.it\" n\"r.\"tive essays on these topics. L My first experience of an amusement park z. My first pocket money g. The biggest mistake I have ever made 4. The most embarrassing moment in my life III m7 III

31 Writing an Article Newspaper articles require a style of writing that is different from the style used to write stories. A typical newspaper artisle contains five parts- t, Headline This is a short, attention-grabbing mention of the event. lt should be accurate and in the present tense. 2. Byline This tells us who wrote the story. 5. Lead paragraph The first sentence needs to be short and dramatic in order to surorise the reader. This part has all the who, what, when, where, why and how in it. A writer must be clear from the start. He has to find the answers to these questions and out the facts toeether first. 4. Explanation After the lead paragraph has been written, the writer must decide what other facts or details the reader might want to know The writer must make sure that he/she has enough information to answer any important questions that a reader might have after reading the headline and the lead paragraph. This section can also include direct quotes from witnesses or bystanders. 5. Additional Information This is the least important information. So, if the news article is too long, this part can be shortened without rewriting any other part and can include information about a similar event.

Dol and Don'ts Keep the article brief-try not to bor:e your reader and do not make the article - too comolicated to understand. t. Find new ways to describe familiar people and events. z. Search for a new and different type of story or account-make your story stand out. 5. Use various tools, that is, the passive voice, humour, descriptive language, rhetorical questions and alliteration, wherever you require the specific effect. l\"lere is a sample article. Support ban on smoking in public HICI.I I twdrl News /ndio Many smokers will probably see a total ban on smoking in public places as an attack on their freedom. But anyone with any concern for the environment should support this move. A cigarette contains over 4,ooo substances of which more than 40 are known to cause cancer in humans or animals. Smoking is responsible for death even after one quits smoking. lt also pollutes the air for non-smokers who could get ill. Some studies indicate a link between passive smoking, heart disease and lung cancer. In India, the poor, especially children, suffer from respiratory illnesses because of indoor air pollution, largely due to the use of bio-mass-based fuel for cooking in tiny homes. Many of them die from this before they are five years old. On the other hand, reports tell us that about tt: million people smoke tobacco, while 96 million use tobacco products, and in t996 aloae, S,oo,ooo Indians died from tobacco-related illnesses. Then we also have children who start smoking at a very young age which is really unfortunate, lf you have ever complained about the foul quality of air and the choking sensation you feel on the roads, remember that smoking is a part of air pollution too. III 2M EII

Write articles as instructed. t. There has been a finding that most persons in their twenties consider that exercising their voting right is a waste of time. Write an article to express your views on the issue. You are concerned about the importance given to cricket in your country and the neglect suffered by other sports. Write an article for the sports page of a national daily to voice your concern. Suggest suitable remedies. 5. Fast food is quick and easy to make. lt is also delicious. But how good is it for our health? Write a newspaper article expressing your views on fast food, quoting examples wherever required. India is a land of cultural diversity and we are proud of it and all the religious festivals we enjoy. Write an article for your school magazine about the festivals of India. 5. By zolS, India will be amongst the countries facing severe water shortage. You are extremely alarmed about it and terrified of the future world without water. Write an article for the local newspaper expressing your views on whether we are doing enough to save water and what we ought to do, II AO III

oI* Orient wlBlackS\\an sraiilill, Comd' tiIsoristcihooonls qAtonCdmEohEkonesgsltirhehepGolerraoohtremniansrgeacnoidiof nCgsorolndmpeoronriltoiinorngsfiwomriplhSlecG,hofruoolnm, ioms noodrs, eeVinoogcfooegbiignuhglol.rbyEo,ooCckhosmbfooprroeCkhloessncssoeiosrenlt-u8llythpolot noinmesd ond Composition. ,_) These books provide o thorough knowledge of grommorwith revision or conceprs ol every stoge. The vocobulqry seclion oirns ol word building while ihe cornprenenston oncl composilion sections leoch reoding ond writing skils respectivelv. Key Feotures .:' Well-siruclured ond groded syllobus ond simple Deloiled grommor explonotions in cleor * ODrieIntGBlaI cTkSAwanL longuoge a Plenty of exomples lo illuslroie grommor concepts .! Voriely of inleresling exercise formois for drill ond proci;ce .:. Fun ond engoging Grqmmqr Aclivilies ocross units lo rnoke grommor eorning fun ond enjoyoble .l Cyclic exom sly e revision of key concepls for review ond consolidotion .:. Addiiionol exom-sfyle crqmmqr proctice worksheets t.t tor C osses 6-8 .:. Colourf ul illustrolions to enhonce underslcrnding of the lext Speciol exercises for.orol proctice ol every level .l Dedicoied Vocqbulory seclion io develop Ruency Comprehension seciion io test reoding skills .:. Composilion section thol includes o ronge of writing oclivities, models ond odequote proclice lo fulfi exominotion requiremenls .l Teochers Smorl Books (Closses l-B) with onswer key, inleroclive teoching modules ond much more 6lm . 33r _00 Orient BlackSwan