PERSONAL LETTER

Definition

A type of letter (or informal composition) that usually concerns personal matters and it is sent from one individual to another such as family members, relatives and friends, and love letters

Social Function

Letters are not only written to inform but to strengthen the bond between two people writing to each other.

Structure of Personal Letter

1. Date – This is the date when the letter is written.

2. Name, Address, City and Zip Code – these are name, address, city and zip code of the sender.

3. Salutation and Name of Recipient – The greeting usually starts with the word ‘Dear’ followed by the given name of the recipient or relationship and it ends with a comma. Two examples are shown: ‘Dear Ronald,’ ‘Dear Uncle,’

4. Introduction– This is the opening of a letter. It may include greetings like ‘How are you?’ Sometimes, you may refer to a previous letter.

5. Body– This is the main part of the letter. It includes the message that the writer wants to tell the recipient. It is often divided into paragraphs.

6. Closure– This part indicates the letter is going to end. The writer may ask the recipient to reply here.

7. Complimentary Close– This short expression includes a few words on one line. It ends with a comma. Some examples are shown below. ‘Yours sincerely,’ ‘Best regards,’ ‘Love,’

8. Signature– the signature of the writer

9. Postscript P.S

Language Features

Sentence Structure

1. Accuracy of grammar is important

2. Complete sentences are expected

3. Slang can be used

4. Use the contractions such as: I'll, I'm, She's

5. Use personal pronouns such as: I, We, You

6. Use active voice

Style

1. Language use may be personal like first and second person pronouns

2. Be warm

3. Use the person's name you are writing to

4. Vary sentence length

5. Write in natural, conversational style

6. Let your personality shine through in your writing

You can also read BSE Book page 63-67

8th Meeting: Comparing Analytical Exposition and Hortatory Exposition

Pay attention to these two texts.

Text 1

I strongly believe that mobile phones are necessary. My reasons for this belief are that these phones are convenient for business people who travel a lot, and they are handy for emergencies.

To begin with, mobile phones are necessary in the case of emergencies. For instance, if you fall down a set of stairs in a building and are badly injured and can’t reach a pay phone, it is handy to have one to use. Or, if your car breaks down in the middle of the night in a strange neighborhood, it would be dangerous to leave it in search of a public phone booth.

My other main reason is that mobile phones are convenient for business people. For example, if you are out of the state or even overseas and you have to contact a client to do some important work, it is useful to have one to use. By using a mobile phone, important information can be received. People can’t stay in an office all day waiting for their phone to ring. Some people have to go and do jobs or they will go out of business. You can even send faxes or messages and use the internet with your mobile.

In conclusion, I believe that mobile phones have now become a necessary part of every day life. Instant communication will ensure that information can be passed on with a simple press of a button. Whether this is to do with business or personal information or emergencies, it goes to show that they are necessary in the new millennium.

1. What type of the text above?

A. Narrative.

B. Report.

C. Analytical.

D. Explanation.

E. Description.

2. What tense is mostly used in the text?

A. Past tense

B. Simple present tense

C. Simple perfect tense

D. Present continuous tense

E. Past continuous tense

3. We usually call the last paragraph as………

A. Resolution

B. Reiteration

C. Conclusion

D. Recommendation

E. Twist

4. Why are mobile phones very convenient for business people?

A. They can contact clients

B. They can do some important works

C. They can receive some important information

D. They can send some data and surf Internet

E. They can run business by staying in and out office

5. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

A. The advantages cellular phones during the emergencies

B. The solution to do when your car breaks down

C. The danger to leave a mobile phone in the car

D. The differences of a mobile phone and a pay phone

E. The necessary equipment among neighbors

Text 2

Students’ Cheating

Students’ cheating is one of the biggest problems faced by teachers nowadays.

Despite the fact that teachers advise their students not to do dishonest acts during tests, some students still do cheating. There are many kinds of cheating that students do during the test or examination, such as looking other students’ work, put some notes under their clothes, write notes or formulas on their desks make hand signals or go to rest rooms to get the answers from their friends.

In my view, students who do cheating are committing a crime. It is a sort of taking something illegally. This crime causes negative results to the students. Students who always cheat deteriorate their mental capacity. Cheating acts also create dependence. They weaken their self confidence. Instead of preparing for the coming test, they are busy to organize notes on a piece of paper. If this awful habit continues, the students will lose their opportunity to develop their intellectual and mind.

Therefore, school should consider cheating as a very serious problem. School board and administration should go hand to overcome this matter. Honesty must be put in school’s vision. Harsh punishment must be applied to students who commit this crime.

1. What type of genre does the text belong to?

A. Analytical exposition

B. Hortatory exposition

C. Report

D. Description

E. Narrative

2. The part of the text which states what ought or ought not to happen is called…..

A. Thesis

B. Argument

C. Elaboration

D. Reiteration

E. Recommendation

3. What tense is mostly used in the text?

A. Past tense

B. Simple present tense

C. Simple perfect tense

D. Present continuous tense

E. Past continuous tense

4. What is mainly discussed in the text?

A. School policy

B. Harsh punishment

C. Cheating as a crime

D. Mental deterioration

E. Different ways of cheating

5. What will the school do to eliminate students who commit cheating?

A. Create a good vision

B. Select honest students

C. Make harsh punishment

D. Make students confident

E. Administer the school affair

By answering those questions, we can compare which text is Analytical Exposition and which one is Hortatory Exposition. But we must consider when we compose those exposition texts, the arguments that are presented should be only in one side, whether positive side or negative side.

Jadi, jika penulis memilih argumen setuju untuk disajikan berarti semua hal yang disampaikan harus dalam bentuk positive side terhadap topik yang dibahas. Tidak ada satupun pendapat yang menentang, mulai dari thesis hingga conclusion. Begitu juga sebaliknya, jika penulis memilih argumen tidak setuju, maka semua yang disampaikan harus dalam bentuk negative side, mulai dari thesis hingga conclusion

Now, let's start to create your own exposition.

The topic is: Is Going to School Necessary?

Silakan kamu kembangkan topik tersebut menjadi thesis yang menarik dalam satu paragraf.

7th Meeting

EXPOSITION TEXT

Tujuan pembelajaran:

1. Siswa dapat membedakan beberapa teks eksposisi berdasarkan fungsi sosial, struktur teks, dan unsur kebahasaan terkait isu aktual.

2. Siswa dapat menangkap makna secara kontekstual teks eksposisi berdasarkan fungsi sosial, struktur teks, dan unsur kebahasaan terkait isu aktual.

3. Siswa dapat menyusun teks eksposisi.

There are two kind of exposition text:

1. Analytical Exposition Text (teks eksposisi analitis)

2. Hortatory Exposition Text (teks eksposisi persuasif)

Let's discuss them one by one.

1. Analytical Exposition Text (teks eksposisi analitis)

Analytical Exposition is a text that elaborates the writer‘s idea about the phenomenon surrounding. (Dalam teks eksposisi analitis, penulis mengembangkan ide-idenya terhadap fenomena yang terjadi di sekitar melalui argumen-argumen yang disertai data valid).

a. Social Function

To convince the reader that the topics presented was an important topic to be discussed or gained attention by way of providing arguments or opinions that support the main idea or topic. (Tujuannya adalah untuk meyakinkan pembaca bahwa topik yang dibahas benar-benar perlu untuk diperhatikan. Oleh karena itu diberikan argumen yang disertai data valid agar pembaca lebih yakin lagi)

b. Text Structure

1) Thesis: Introducing the topic and indicating the writer’s point of view

Paragraf pertama disebut sebagai Thesis, penulis memperkenalkan topik yang akan dibahas melalui sudut pandang penulis. Contoh:

Most of teenagers need to go to school and there are a lot of schools over there. Nowadays, schools grow to offer plenty of choice; private and state ones. However it is a hard choice since there are many factors which need to be considered before making the selection. Some will be influenced by friends; because some friend got to certain school than we go to there too. Some prefer to choose certain school because of the closer distance. In fact, the primary decisive matter for selecting school is whether the school has been accredited or not. Why is important to choose an accredited school?

Kalimat bercetak tebal pada contoh di atas menunjukkan topik yang akan dibahas pada paragraf berikutnya.

2) Argument(s): Explaining the argument to support the writer’s position. The number of arguments may vary, but each argument must be supported by evidence and explanation

Pada argumen, penulis menyampaikan pendapat/opini yang berkaitan dengan topik dan menyertakan bukti yang kuat. Contoh:

Well, accredited schools have an edge over the unaccredited schools. This label of Accredited School has an impact in employment opportunities. As result, if there are two or more students with similar qualifications, the student who comes from the accredited school will have an edge over the other candidate. Student from an accredited school has more open door than student with an unaccredited one.

Paragraf di atas, kalimat yang bercetak tebal, menunjukkan ide utama paragraf dimana penulis menyampaikan argumennya bahwa sekolah yang terakreditasi memiliki keunggulan dibandingkan sekolah yang tidak terakreditasi. Penulis juga menyertakan kalimat pendukung yang merupakan bukti.

3) Reiteration: Restating the writer’s point of view / to strengthen the thesis.

We can use the following phrase to make conclusion in reiteration :

From the fact above …

I personally believe …

Therefore, my conclusion is …

In conclusion …

Paragraf terakhir (kesimpulan) berisi pengulangan thesis/ penguatan thesis. Penulis mengulang kembali thesis yang sudah disampaikan di paragraf satu dengan kalimat yang berbeda tanpa mengubah arti kalimat. Contoh:

Accredited school is not the only factor which will drive student’s success. Personality and characterization are very important too. However a student with good personality who comes from an accredited school is better than the others.

Kalimat bercetak tebal menunjukkan kesimpulan dari teks. Penulis memberikan penegasan ulang terhadap thesis yang disampaikan.

c. Language Features

• Using relational process

• Using internal conjunction

• Using causal conjunction

• Using Simple Present Tense

• Using compound and complex sentence.

• Use word that link argument, such as firstly, secondly, and reasoning through causal conjunction, such as in addition, furthermore, however, therefore.

2. Hortatory Exposition Text (Teks Eksposisi Persuasif)

Hortatory Exposition is a type of English text which represents the author’s attempt to influence the reader to do something or act in a particular way. In Hortatory Exposition Text, the authors give some opinions about certain things to reinforce the main idea of the text. (Teks eksposisi persuasif yang menyampaikan usaha penulis untuk mempengaruhi pembaca agar melakukan sesuatu seperti yang disampaikan oleh penulis).

a. Social Function.

Hortatory exposition is used to persuade the reader or listener that something should or should not be the case or be done. (Teks ini bertujuan mempengaruhi pembaca bahwa hal yang disampaikan oleh penulis harus atau tidak harus dilakukan)

b. Text Structure

1) Thesis : The writer point of view about the topic discussed.

Penulis menyampaikan topik yang akan dibahas berdasar sudut pandang penulis sendiri. Contoh:

A lot of people, especially young people, go through the day without having breakfast. Many people believe that it is not necessary, or they say that they donʼt have time for that, and begin their day with no meal. I believe that everyone should eat breakfast before going to their activities. The purpose of this paper is to show the importance of breakfast, especially for students.

Kalimat bercetak tebal merupakan thesis karena menunjukkan topik yang akan dibahas penulis pada paragraf berikutnya.

2) Argument(s): Series of argument which strengthen the thesis stated before.

Paragraf ke dua dan selanjutnya berisi serangkaian argumen yang disertai bukti valid untuk memberikan penguatan pada thesis. Contoh:

The first reason why you should eat breakfast before going to school is for your health. When you skip breakfast and go to school, you are looking for a disease because itʼs not healthy to have an empty stomach all day long. Itʼs very important to have a meal and not let your stomach work empty. All you are going to get is gastritis and a lot of problems with your health if you donʼt have breakfast.

Argumen yang diberikan menunjukkan pentingnya sarapan sebelum berangkat sekolah untuk menjaga kesehatan. Paragraf di atas juga menyampaikan bukti valid pentingnya sarapan untuk kesehatan.

3) Recommendation : The writer gives recommendation to the reader.

Recommendation berupa saran yang diberikan penulis agar pembaca melakukan sesuatu sesuai dengan yang disampaikan. Contoh:

You have to realize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and you cannot skip it without consequences for your health, your school and your defense mechanism. It is better to wake up earlier and have a good breakfast than run to school without eating anything. It is time for you to do something for your health, and eating breakfast is the better way to start your day.

c. Language Features

• Simple present tense

• There are several arguments that begin with, firstly, secondly, thirdly .

• It contain recommendation that begins with :

– In my opinion, it’s better …

– I think … should ….

– I think … should be ……

– For these reasons …. Should …

CHAPTER 1

OFFERS & SUGGESTIONS

Hello, Students. This first meeting will have a lot of fun. You will learn to use the expressions of offers and suggestions. Do you have any idea about it? Let's watch the video first, you can take a note while watching it.