In the minds of ESL exam candidates, e ssay writing is one of the most daunting tasks they are required to complete, regardless of the level of the exam, the administering body or the ease with which they themselves use the language. The same applies to students who are asked to write an essay by their teachers at school. In the previous sample essays posted on the blog, the main point I stress is the need to become acquainted with this form of writing (as opposed to writing a letter, review or report, for instance), to get a feel of what authorial voice is and how to organize and progressively express the arguments you wish to make in a coherent manner. Unfortunately, the best way to prepare for exam writing or learn how to write good essays for school is to read as many essays from as many sources as possible, then write as
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This is a short letter of complaint aimed at helping ESL/EFL candidates at B2 level tackle a writing task which asks them to write a letter or email complaining about a product or service.
Before you read any sample dealing with complaints, you might find it helpful to take a quick look at some useful phrases to include in these kinds of letters, which I gathered in an earlier post of mine (click on the image below) on how to write letters of complaint.
In this post, we'll be dealing with a complaint about a product. Read the rubric below, making sure you underline key words before brainstorming for ideas.
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You bought a box of your favorite chocolates (Fine Saveur) at your local supermarket yesterday. On opening it, you were shocked to find that the box, which should have 20 chocolates, had five chocolates missing and two of them had not been wrapped in foil like the rest. Write a letter to the manager of the chocolate company, Fine Saveur, complaining about it. |
First, let's look at some notes you should have before starting to write:
- Introduction:
- box of chocolates (brand name): Fine Saveur
- where I bought it: Supersave supermarket, Volos, Greece
- when I bought it: yesterday, March 16
- Main Body:
- problem 1: 15 chocolates instead of 20
- price paid for this brand is more expensive; quality is expected
- didn't anyone check the boxes?
- problem 2: two of the chocolates weren't even wrapped
- who is responsible to check each box? Didn't they do their job?
- chocolates were no longer fresh
- Conclusion:
- refund or replace the box
- make sure this mistake isn't repeated / ensure other customers aren't disappointed
Once you've made these brief notes, now you can proceed to writing the letter or email. Here's one way you could write it:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to complain about a box of chocolates that your company produces, Fine Saveur, which I bought from my local Supersave supermarket in Volos, Greece, yesterday afternoon, March 16.
The first problem I noticed was that the box did not have the twenty quality chocolates it is supposed to have, which is completely unacceptable for the amount of money we have to pay for it. In fact, there were five chocolates missing, something which has never happened to me before.
The other problem has to do with the wrapping. All twenty of your chocolates are wrapped with foil to keep them fresh, as your box says on the cover. In the box I purchased, however, two had not been wrapped and were therefore no longer fresh. Why was the box not checked before it was sealed?
I am extremely disappointed with the quality inspection your company should have carried out and ask that you rectify this oversight. I would like a full refund or that you replace the box of chocolates to compensate for this error. I would hate to see this mistake repeated and more consumers have to face the same disappointment I felt.
Yours faithfully,
Anne Russell
Remember: when you're writing to someone whose name you don't know, you must open with "Dear Sir/Madam," and close with "Yours Faithfully," followed by your full name.
For more sample letters, essays, stories, etc., click on the image below.
