A Letter of Complaint

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A Letter of Complaint

• S.2 English

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A letter of complaint

• Formal letter
• Upset about something and want to complain about
  it

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Layout

• 8B, Block 15, Golden Court
• 5 Man Wa Road
• Shau Kei Wan
• Hong Kong
• 8th July 2005
• The Manager
• Brightwell Management Company
• 28 Long Street, Chai Wan
• Hong Kong
• Dear Sir,
• Re Complaint about Golden Court Shopping Centre
• I am writing to complain about
• Yours faithfully,
• Raymond Poon
• Raymond Poon

senders address
date
recipients title
recipients address
greeting
subject
closing signature senders name
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What do you need to write?

• Beginning
• reason for writing
• e.g. I am writing to complain about (NP).
• Body
• details of the complaint(s) Pay attention to
  tenses
• Ending
• ask for action

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Language and Style

• Be polite
• the recipient will take the complaint more
  seriously
• avoid using rude words or being too abrupt
• Are these sentences polite?
• I am writing to complain about that pig pen that
  you call a shopping centre.
• I was extremely disappointed with the food and
  service at the restaurant.
• I demand a full apology.
• Give me my money back now.

Impolite (pig pen)
OK
Impolite / too abrupt
Impolite / too abrupt
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Language and Style

• Make use of what you have learnt in Unit 10.
• Conditional sentences
• Talking about duty with should, ought to, have
  to, must
• Express listening p.38 Identifying examples
• You may also make use of other grammar items you
  have learnt this year.

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Useful expressions

• Opening lines
• I am writing to complain about .
• I wish to lodge a complaint about .
• This is a letter of complaint concerning

NP
complaint vs. complain noun vs. verb
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Useful expressions

• Suggesting actions
• Please see to this matter immediately.
• May I suggest that you .
• I believe that .
• Is it possible that ?

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Useful suggestions

• Closing lines
• I hope you will .
• We would welcome .
• I look forward to a prompt reply.

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A sample letter
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Dear Sir/Madam Re Complaint about Idling
Engines in DB I am writing to complain about
drivers who leave their bus engines idling whilst
waiting for passengers. I am very concerned about
this inconsiderate practice as it is contributing
to the air pollution problem in Hong Kong. As
most of the buses in DB use diesel fuel, this
means that a lot of harmful exhaust fumes
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are released into the air. The drivers leave the
engines idling when they arrive at the terminus
so that they can keep the air conditioning
running in the bus. However, I think this
practice is wasteful and unnecessary, especially
in the cooler months. Furthermore, because of
this overuse of air conditioning, I find that the
buses in DB are often too cold and therefore
uncomfortable. I hope that your company will take
some action to address this problem and stop
polluting our environment.
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Now it is your turn!!

• Think of an environmental issue which concerns
  you.
• Decide what action you would like taken.
• Write a letter of complaint in which you outline
  the problem and ask for action to be taken.
• Word limit 200-230 (OBSERVE THE LIMIT!!!)
• Type your letter and print it out.
• Refer to page 103 in the textbook for details.
• http//www.info.gov.hk/epd for the address of
  relevant government department.