Write an Email: Templates
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Writing Section (2026 Version)
Summary
The lesson focuses on the strategic use of templates for the TOEFL exam's email writing tasks, emphasizing how templates can enhance writing speed, naturalness, and structure while underscoring the importance of original content.
- Templates are collections of ready-made phrases organized by function, designed to provide a starting point for writing tasks.
- While templates assist with the formulation of sentences, they cannot substitute for the substance of the message, which must be developed through skills like inventing details, choosing the right tone, and using a mix of sentence types.
- The lesson includes a downloadable guide with phrase menus for five different task types, highlighting the adaptability of language needed for various contexts.
- An example email to Dr. Kwon requesting a summer research position illustrates how to effectively combine template phrases with original content to create a formal, polite, and specific request.
- Practicing with templates involves initially writing with phrase menus open, then gradually moving towards writing without them to develop a personal style.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to Templates
00:30
The Role of Templates in Writing
01:42
Applying Templates to Email Tasks
02:21
Example Email Construction