Business Chain Emails/ Letters Writing Game

Teachers’ Instructions
Choose one of the emails below and photocopy one per student. Ask students to look at the whole letter without writing anything and discuss the function of the letter, e.g. Email/ Letter A is an apology replying to a complaint. Tell them they are going to write this letter/ email, but working as a whole class and only writing one line at a time.

Students fill the gaps in the first section, and fold along the dotted line so the next person can’t read what they have written. They then pass it to the next person in a circle (you might need to help pass if from the last person to first). They then fill in the second part of the one they have received, fold, pass to the same person as then open them up, read them, usually laugh and finally discuss as a class or in pairs if they make sense and are good emails. Repeat with one or more of the other versions if you wish.
————————————————————————————————————-
Worksheets
EMAIL/ LETTER A
Re: ________________________________
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Dear ______________________ (choose the name of a famous person)
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Thank you for your letter of ___________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

I am sorry about/ that  ___________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

This was because ___________________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

To make up for this we would like to offer ______________________. Please let us know if this is acceptable.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Alternatively, it might be possible for us to __________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Please let us know by _____________________ which of these you would prefer.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

If you have any further questions or problems, please contact _______________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Yours sincerely
……………………………………………………………………………………..
_____________________

______________________ (sign and write name of another famous person)

——————————————————————–
EMAIL/ LETTER B
Re: ________________________________
……………………………………………………………………………………..

————————————————————————–

Dear ______________________ (choose the name of a famous person)
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Thank you for inviting me to _________________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

I am afraid I won’t be free on ________________ at _________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

This is because  I will be _________ing ________________________ at that time.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Why don’t we ____________________________ instead?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

If this is okay with you, can you __________________________ me
by _________________?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Hope to _________________ you soon

……………………………………………………………………………………..

All the best/ Yours/ Yours faithfully/ Yours sincerely/ Cheers

……………………………………………………………………………………..
_____________________

______________________ (sign and write name of another famous person)
……………………………………………………………………………………..

——————————————————————-
EMAIL/ LETTER C
Re: ________________________________
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Dear ______________________ (choose the name of a famous person)
……………………………………………………………………………………..

I am writing to you because I need some information about ___________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

I tried looking for this information on/ in ___________________, but could not find what I was looking for. I hope you can help me with this.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Could you please tell me if it’s true that ___________________________?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Could you also please inform me of any changes in _______________________?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

On a different topic, can I ask for the latest news on __________________?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

My final question is: _________________________________________?
If you can give me any information on any of these it would be a great help.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Yours sincerely
_____________________

______________________ (sign and write name of another famous person)

——————————————————————–

EMAIL/ LETTER D
Head of Human Resources, ________________________________ Ltd/ PLC
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to apply for the position of ___________________, ref no. ___________…
……………………………………………………………………………………..

… which I saw advertised in ______________ of _______________ (date)
.……………………………………………………………………………………..

I am particularly interested in this job because I have many years’ experience of ______________________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

In the future I am looking for a job where I can ________________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

People generally say I am a very __________________________ person.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

If you need job references, please write to ____________________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

I am available for interview _______________________________ (give dates/ times)…
……………………………………………………………………………………..
… and can start work ________________________ (give dates/ times).
If you need any more information please do not hesitate to contact me.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully

_____________________

______________________ (sign and write name of a famous person)
……………………………………………………………………………………

PDF version for easy printing: BusinessEmailsConsequences