Professional texts
Practice Flashcards
formal letter
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All Flashcards in Topic 2.2
Below are all 67 flashcards for this topic. Sign up free to track your progress and get personalized review schedules.
2.2.114 cards
formal letter
a professional text to someone in a role you don't know personally — to request, complain, apply or suggest
salutation / greeting
the opening line: 'Dear Mr Patel,' or 'Dear Sir or Madam,'
opening line
the first sentence, stating why you are writing: 'I am writing to…'
body
the middle paragraphs that develop your message, one idea each
closing line
a polite sentence before signing off: 'I look forward to your reply.'
sign-off / valediction
'Yours sincerely,' (named) or 'Yours faithfully,' (Dear Sir or Madam)
regarding
about; concerning (a formal way to introduce a topic)
I would be grateful if…
a polite, formal way to make a request
I am writing to…
the standard formal opening that states your purpose
I look forward to hearing from you.
a standard polite closing line before the sign-off
When do you write 'Yours sincerely'?
When the greeting NAMES the person, e.g. 'Dear Mr Patel,'.
When do you write 'Yours faithfully'?
When the greeting does NOT name the person, e.g. 'Dear Sir or Madam,'.
Which register suits a formal letter?
Formal, polite and impersonal — no slang, no chatty exclamation marks.
Name the three Paper 1 criteria.
A Language (12), B Message (12), C Conceptual understanding (6).
2.2.213 cards
a report
a formal text that presents facts/data on a topic and gives recommendations
aim / objective
the purpose of the report, stated near the start
findings
the facts or data discovered, often from a survey
survey
a set of questions used to collect data from a group of people
respondents
the people who answer a survey
recommendation
a suggested action, stated impersonally
register
how formal or informal the language is; a report is formal and impersonal
impersonal
written without I/you; uses passive or "it is…" structures
How do you open the Aim of a report?
"The aim of this report is to…"
How do you present a finding impersonally?
"It was found that…" / "According to the survey…"
How do you give a recommendation in a report?
"It is recommended that…" — never "I think you should…"
What is the standard report structure?
Title → Aim → Findings → Recommendations → Conclusion.
Which register suits a report?
Formal, neutral and impersonal — objective, data-led, no "I".
2.2.313 cards
proposal
a formal plan put forward for others to consider and approve
to propose / to put forward
to suggest a plan or idea formally
to justify
to give reasons that show why something is a good idea
benefit
a good result or advantage that a plan would bring
to implement
to put a plan into action
to approve
to officially agree to something
feasible
possible to do; realistic and practical
the authorities / management
the people with the power to say yes or no
What is the purpose of a proposal?
To put forward a plan, justify it with reasons, and ask an authority to approve it.
Name the conventions of a proposal.
Title, formal opening, aim, justified body, call to act, formal sign-off.
What register suits a proposal?
Formal and persuasive — full forms, no slang, polite requests to an authority.
How do you open a proposal formally?
"Dear [reader], I am writing to propose that…" then "The aim of this proposal is to…".
How do you close a proposal?
A call to act ("I kindly ask you to approve this proposal") + "Yours faithfully, [name]".
2.2.414 cards
a set of instructions
a text that tells the reader how to do something, step by step
the title (in instructions)
a heading that says what the reader will make or do ("How to make…")
a step
one action the reader has to carry out, in order
the imperative
the command form of a verb: peel, add, stir, serve
what you need
the list of things or ingredients required before you start
a warning / a tip
advice to be careful or to get a better result
Before you start, you need…
the phrase that introduces the things required
First,… Next,…
sequence connectors that start and continue the steps
Then,… Finally,…
sequence connectors that continue and close the steps
Be careful with…
the phrase that gives a safety warning
Which register does a set of instructions use?
A command register — the imperative (peel, add, serve); precise, ordered and direct, never tentative.
Name the five parts of a set of instructions.
Title → what you need → numbered steps → tip/warning → encouraging close.
Which criterion rewards the instructions' conventions?
Criterion C (Conceptual) — title, list of what's needed, ordered steps, a consistent command form.
Give two sequence connectors for the steps.
"First,…" and "Next,…" (also "Then,…", "Finally,…").
2.2.513 cards
essay
a formal piece of writing that argues a debatable topic and reaches a reasoned conclusion
debatable topic
an issue people can reasonably disagree about
argument
a reason given to support or oppose a point of view
for and against
the arguments on each side of a debate; the pros and cons
to weigh up
to consider both sides carefully before deciding
introduction / body / conclusion
the three parts of an essay: frame the debate, argue both sides, give a reasoned opinion
register (of an essay)
formal and impersonal — objective, no chatty greetings
to maintain (that)
to state firmly that something is true
to enforce (a rule)
to make sure a rule is obeyed
How do you open an essay?
Impersonally, framing the topic as a debate: "There is currently a debate about whether…"
Name two argument connectors.
On the one hand… / On the other hand… — also: however, moreover, therefore.
When do you give your opinion in an essay?
Only in the conclusion, and you justify it: "In conclusion, I believe that… because…"
What makes a body argument 'developed'?
It adds a reason or example ('because…', 'since…'), not just a bare claim.
Topic 2.2 study notes
Full notes & explanations for Professional texts
English B exam skills
Paper structures, command terms & tips
Want smart review reminders?
Sign up free to track your progress. Our spaced repetition algorithm will tell you exactly which cards to review and when.
Start Free