Writing Emails
FoundationA good email has five parts: subject line, greeting, purpose, details, and a polite sign-off.
- Email in five parts: subject line → greeting → purpose → body → polite sign-off
- Keep the subject specific: Question about question five, not just Question
- State your purpose in the first line: I am writing to ask about… / I am sorry to trouble you, but…
文體小知識：Short, clear and polite.
§Text Passage
1To: Miss Ho (our form teacher). Cc: Sam Lee (class monitor, 1A). Subject: Question about question five of the English homework.
2Dear Miss Ho, I am Amy Cheung from Class 1A. I am sorry to trouble you, but I do not understand question five of yesterday's English homework. The question asks us to describe a photo with the present continuous tense, but I am not sure when to add 'is' or 'are' to the verbs. I have read the notes on page twelve twice, yet I still cannot find the answer. My classmates say your explanations are always clear, so I hope you can help me. Could you please explain it to me after school tomorrow? I am free from three thirty to five o'clock, so any time is fine for me. I have attached a photo of my work to this email so that you can see my attempt.
3Please also cc my class monitor Sam so that he knows about the problem, because he offered to help me revise first. If you are busy tomorrow, I can also come on Thursday or Friday after school. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your reply. Best wishes, Amy Cheung (Class 1A)
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
To: Miss Ho (our form teacher).
收件人：何老師（我們班主任）。
Cc: Sam Lee (class monitor, 1A).
副本：1A 班班長李森。
Subject: Question about question five of the English homework.
主旨：關於英文功課第五題的疑問。
Dear Miss Ho,
何老師：
I am Amy Cheung from Class 1A.
我是 1A 班的張美欣。
I am sorry to trouble you, but I do not understand question five of yesterday's English homework.
不好意思打擾你，但是我不明白昨天英文功課第五題。
The question asks us to describe a photo with the present continuous tense, but I am not sure when to add 'is' or 'are' to the verbs.
那道題目要我們用現在進行式描述一張相，但是我不肯定什麼時候要在動詞前面加 is 或者 are。
I have read the notes on page twelve twice, yet I still cannot find the answer.
我已經看了第十二頁的筆記兩次，但仍然找不到答案。
My classmates say your explanations are always clear, so I hope you can help me.
同學都說你的講解很清楚，所以我希望你可以幫助我。
Could you please explain it to me after school tomorrow?
可不可以明天放學之後和我講解一下？
I am free from three thirty to five o'clock, so any time is fine for me.
我三點半到五點都方便，任何時間都可以。
I have attached a photo of my work to this email so that you can see my attempt.
我已經在這封電郵附上我的功課照片，讓你可以看到我怎麼做。
Please also cc my class monitor Sam so that he knows about the problem, because he offered to help me revise first.
麻煩順便抄送給班長 Sam，讓他也知道這個問題，因為他說會先幫我溫習。
If you are busy tomorrow, I can also come on Thursday or Friday after school.
如果你明天不有空，我星期四或者星期五放學都可以來。
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your reply.
多謝你抽時間看，我期待你的回覆。
Best wishes,
祝好，
Amy Cheung (Class 1A)
1A 班 張美欣
1Summary 重點摘要
A good email has five parts: subject line, greeting, purpose, details, and a polite sign-off.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Email title.
Dear / Hi.
Main message.
Best wishes.
To field.
File attached.
Carbon copy.
Write back.
3Step by step Steps
- SubjectMake it specific: Question about question five of the English homework — the reader knows the matter at one glance, not just Question.
- GreetingDear + title: Dear Miss Ho. If you do not know the name, Dear Sir or Madam. Open with who you are: I am Amy Cheung from Class 1A.
- BodyOne idea per paragraph: P1 explains the problem (question five; is or are with the present continuous); P2 gives the arrangements (cc Sam; Thursday or Friday as back-up).
- Sign-offThank you for your time, and I look forward to your reply. Best wishes, Amy Cheung (Class 1A) — closing line, full name, class.
- State the purposeFirst paragraph, politely: I am sorry to trouble you, but I do not understand question five. Say exactly where you are stuck so the teacher can help.
- Polite requestsCould you please + verb, and offer your free time: Could you please explain it to me after school tomorrow? I am free from three thirty to five o'clock.
- Attachment and ccAlways mention files: I have attached a photo of my work. Copy people in: Please also cc my class monitor Sam so that he knows.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Task: you do not understand question five of the English homework (when to use is / are in the present continuous). Write an email to your form teacher.
- Step 1: Write a specific subject line — Question about question five of the English homework (not just Question).
- Step 2: Greeting + introduce yourself — Dear Miss Ho, I am Amy Cheung from Class 1A.
- Step 3: State your purpose in the first line and explain the problem — I am not sure when to use 'is' or 'are'.
- Step 4: Make a clear request with a convenient time — Could you please explain it after school tomorrow? I am free from three thirty to five o'clock.
- Step 5: Close politely — Thank you for your time… Best wishes, Amy Cheung (Class 1A).
- Answer: Subject: Question about question five of the English homework
Dear Miss Ho,
I am Amy Cheung from Class 1A. I am sorry to trouble you, but I do not understand question five of yesterday's English homework. I am not sure when to use 'is' or 'are' with the present continuous tense, and I cannot find the answer in my notes. Could you please explain it to me after school tomorrow? I am free from three thirty to five o'clock. I have also attached a photo of my work.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your reply.
Best wishes,
Amy Cheung (Class 1A)
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Where do you write the email title?
Q2How do you start an email?
Q3What is the main message?
Q4What do you add at the end?
Q5What is an attachment?
8Recap Recap
- Email in five parts: subject line → greeting → purpose → body → polite sign-off
- Keep the subject specific: Question about question five, not just Question
- State your purpose in the first line: I am writing to ask about… / I am sorry to trouble you, but…
- Request with Could you please…? and offer a convenient time: I am free from three thirty to five.
- Cc the right people (class monitor Sam) and say so if you attach a file: I have attached…