Practical Writing Invitations 1. Invitation cards 2. Invitation letters

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Practical Writing Invitations 1. Invitation
cards2. Invitation letters

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1. Invitation cards

• The following is a typical wedding invitation
  card. Notice that it very clearly states who is
  getting married, where and when, and how and when
  to reply. The letters RSVP indicate that a reply
  is expected.

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Sample
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Task 1

• Using the above card as a sample, write a wedding
  invitation card for a future wedding between two
  of your friends. Make it realistic by using
  correct names of people and places. But the
  wedding does not have to be in a church, it may
  be in a restaurant or a hotel instead.

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Key

• The honor of your presenceis requestedat the
  marriage ofWang FangandZhang Jun330 p.m.
  Saturday the eighth of OctoberGolden Sun
  Hotel188 Zhongshan RoadChangsha,
  HunanReception follows in hotel ballroomRSVP
  by September 20th on enclosed card

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Invitation cards to a party

• To invite people to a party does not require a
  fancy card unless the party is very formal. But
  the information should be very clear and
  specific, and it should also be clear whether an
  acceptance of the invitation is required. If so
  the letters RSVP ("Reply Sent Very Promptly" in
  English, or "Repondez s'll vous plait" in French)
  is sometimes used.

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Sample 2
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Task 1

• ???
• Write an invitation card to a party for
  graduating seniors at your campus. Include local
  details to make it interesting and realistic.

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Key to Task 1

• June 24,
  2003Dear Friends,?All Civil Engineering
  students and faculty, as well as their families
  and guests are invited to come to the lawn in
  front of the Civil Engineering Building this
  Saturday immediately after the Commencement
  Ceremony to honor the graduating seniors. Snacks,
  coffee, tea, and varied soft drinks will be
  provided by our office. No RSVP
  Cordially
• Li BingDean

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2. Invitation letters

• A sample invitation letter to an Alumni
  gathering. Notice that all the key facts the
  alumni must know to decide whether to attend the
  reunion are included, and that its very clear
  what they should do next if they decide to
  attend. They know who is invited to the reunion,
  who else is welcome, when the event will occur,
  how long it will last, how much it will cost,
  when and how to reply, and how to ask any further
  questions they may have.

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Sample

• 5th REUNION OF THE CLASS OF 1992
• Dear Classmates Time certainly flies! It has
  now been five years since we graduated. As
  members of the Reunion Committee, it is our great
  pleasure to invite you to our Fifth Reunion the
  first weekend of June of the current year. You
  and your spouse, if you have one by now as we do,
  are cordially invited to join us on the campus
  and celebrate our friendships and successes. Free
  housing will be available in the dormitories, but
  if you would prefer off-campus housing, or if you
  have children, inexpensive housing will also be
  available at the Happy Valley Hotel. The only
  cost for those living on campus will be for the
  meals and the entertainments. The meals will
  include dinner on Friday, three meals on
  Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. The
  entertainments include a folk music concert on
  Friday evening and a dance on Saturday evening to
  the lively music of our classmates band, The
  Happy Valley Rockers. Baby-sitting services will
  be available on Friday and Saturday evenings if
  you need them. Please fill out the enclosed
  registration card and return it to us by May 15th
  if you plan to come. Call us at 777-7777 or email
  us at jjjhvc_at_happynet.com if you have any
  questions.
• Sincerely, John
  and Jane Jones, Reunion Committee,
  Happy Valley College, Happy Valley, USA

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Task 2

• You are on the committee for the 10th reunion of
  the Class of 1992 at Happy Valley College. Most
  of your classmates will now be married and many
  of them will now have children. So you may want
  to have more family events at your reunion. Write
  a letter inviting your classmates to this event.
  Follow the advice provided before the sample
  letter for the 5th reunion. Try not to use the
  exact words of the above letter if you can think
  of different ones.

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Key to Task 2

• 10th REUNION OF THE CLASS OF 1992
• Dear classmatesFive more years have gone by,
  and its time for our 10th reunion. Surely you
  all remember the great time we had at our 5th
  reunion. Were still on the Reunion Committee and
  its our pleasure to invite you back to Happy
  Valley again for the first weekend in June. Some
  of the events will be the same, such as the meals
  and the dance on Saturday, when the Happy Valley
  Rockers will again entertain us. Instead of the
  concert on Friday well have a magic act to
  appeal to the kids. Lunch on Saturday will be a
  family picnic followed by outdoor games if the
  weather is nice. If it rains well move to the
  gymnasium. Baby-sitting services will still be
  provided in the evenings. We have also arranged a
  special family discount for the rooms at the
  Happy Valley Hotel. To register for the reunion
  please fill out the enclosed card and return it
  to us by May 15th. Call us at 777-7777 or email
  us at jjjhvc_at_happynet.com if you have any
  questions.
• Sincerely, John and
  Jane Jones, Reunion Committee,
  Happy Valley College, Happy Valley, USA

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Task 3

• Suppose you've received the invitation to the 5th
  Reunion at Happy Valley College. Either John or
  Jane Jones is your former roommate, so you 'd
  like to include a short note about recent events
  in your own life with the card accepting the
  reunion invitation. What will you say?

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Key to Task 3

• Dear (John/Jane), You're right. It seems like
  only yesterday that we graduated together. I'm
  glad you're married, but I'm still single. At the
  reunion I must tell you about my own romantic
  experiences. Maybe you can help me decide whether
  there's a wedding on my horizon. Do you have any
  children yet? Can I meet them at the reunion? If
  not, please bring lots of photos. Give my
  regards to (Jane/John).
  Your old roommate,
  (Gabriel/Gabrielle)

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Task 3 Write a reply to the invitation to a
party according to the following information.

• Here you are asked to write a reply to an
  invitation to a friend's 21st birthday party. For
  many Americans, this is an important birthday.
  However, you can't attend the party because you
  have to meet your aunt at the airport at that
  time.

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Key to Task 3

• Dear _______________,Thanks for inviting me to
  your 21st birthday party. Now that you're finally
  old enough to drink, I hope you have a great
  time. Unfortunately I need to meet my aunt at the
  airport, and take her to my parents' house for a
  big dinner. Maybe I'll catch up with you later in
  the evening. Congratulations and best wishes.
  Regretfully yours,
• _______________

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Thank You