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Year 8 English — Writing a notice and a message

Set out a notice and a telephone message in their usual parts, and keep both of them short, factual and impersonal.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.A notice must be short. Which sentence gives the same information in the fewest words?

    • a) On the first Saturday of next month, which is quite soon, the trip will take place, so please note it down.
    • b) I would like to tell everybody that the trip is going to take place on the first Saturday of next month.
    • c) The trip will take place on the first Saturday of next month.
    • d) The trip, which everyone has been waiting for, is on the first Saturday of next month, as you will all be glad to hear.

  2. 2.Write one word: A good notice answers four questions — what, when, where — and, naming the people it is for, ____.

  3. 3.Which of these should a notice NOT contain?

    • a) The date it was put up.
    • b) The name of the person who issued it.
    • c) A greeting such as "Dear friends".
    • d) The place where the event will be held.

  4. 4.This is a school notice. Tap the part that says, in a few words, what the notice is about.

    Write the number of the part.

    123456

  5. 5.Sort each detail by whether it belongs in a telephone message.

    Groups: Belongs in the message · Does not belong

    • Your full postal address
    • The time the call came
    • What the caller wants done
    • The name of the caller
    • Your opinion of the caller's voice
    • A long description of the weather

  6. 6.Sort each line by whether it belongs in a notice or in a friendly letter.

    Groups: A notice · A friendly letter

    • All students going on the museum trip are informed that it has been postponed.
    • Venue: the school auditorium
    • Do write back soon and tell me everything!
    • Dear Meera,
    • Yours affectionately,
    • Interested students may give their names to the class teacher.

  7. 7.You take a telephone call for your mother while she is out. Which of these must the message include?

    • a) A paragraph about how your day went.
    • b) Who called and what they said.
    • c) Your own postal address.
    • d) A closing such as "Yours sincerely".

  8. 8.Sort each line by whether it is written about people or straight to them.

    Groups: About them · To them

    • All students are informed that the hall will be locked.
    • You must bring your own water bottle.
    • Please give me your name before Friday.
    • Interested candidates may apply at the office.

Answer key — Year 8 English — Writing a notice and a message

  1. 1. c) The trip will take place on the first Saturday of next month.
  2. 2. who
  3. 3. c) A greeting such as "Dear friends".
  4. 4. 4 — The heading
  5. 5. The time the call came → Belongs in the message; The name of the caller → Belongs in the message; What the caller wants done → Belongs in the message; Your opinion of the caller's voice → Does not belong; Your full postal address → Does not belong; A long description of the weather → Does not belong
  6. 6. All students going on the museum trip are informed that it has been postponed. → A notice; Dear Meera, → A friendly letter; Venue: the school auditorium → A notice; Do write back soon and tell me everything! → A friendly letter; Interested students may give their names to the class teacher. → A notice; Yours affectionately, → A friendly letter
  7. 7. b) Who called and what they said.
  8. 8. All students are informed that the hall will be locked. → About them; You must bring your own water bottle. → To them; Interested candidates may apply at the office. → About them; Please give me your name before Friday. → To them