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Class 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: ________________________

Before you start

Every part of a school notice has a job. Take the parts of this one in turn and find out what each is called.

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  1. 1. The name of the school
  2. 2. The word NOTICE
  3. 3. The date
  4. 4. The heading
  5. 5. The body
  6. 6. The name and role of the writer

Notice how much of it is about who and when. A notice that does not say who put it up, or when, is one that nobody can safely act on.

  1. 1.Match each question a reader might ask to the part of a notice that answers it.

    • In a few words, what is this about?
    • What exactly must I do, and by when?
    • Whom should I go to about it?
    • Is this still current, or months old?
    • Which school or club put this up?
    • The name and role at the bottom
    • The date
    • The heading
    • The name at the top
    • The body

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

    Groups: A notice · A friendly letter

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

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

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

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

  5. 5.Which line would you write at the very bottom of a school notice?

    • a) Love, Ravi
    • b) With best wishes from Ravi
    • c) Ravi Menon, Sports Captain
    • d) Yours sincerely, Ravi

  6. 6.Write one word: A notice is written about its readers rather than to them, so it never uses the word "I". It is written in the ____ person.

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

    Groups: About them · To them

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

  8. 8.Which opening line suits a school notice?

    • a) I am so excited to tell you about the quiz.
    • b) All students of Classes 6 to 8 are informed that the inter-house quiz will be held on Friday.
    • c) Dear students, how are you all keeping?
    • d) Hello everyone, guess what!

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

  1. 1. In a few words, what is this about? → The heading; What exactly must I do, and by when? → The body; Whom should I go to about it? → The name and role at the bottom; Is this still current, or months old? → The date; Which school or club put this up? → The name at the top
  2. 2. 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
  3. 3. c) Who called and what they said.
  4. 4. who
  5. 5. c) Ravi Menon, Sports Captain
  6. 6. third
  7. 7. 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
  8. 8. b) All students of Classes 6 to 8 are informed that the inter-house quiz will be held on Friday.