邀请朋友参加生日聚会
【内容提示】
假设你是李华。你有一个朋友叫汤姆，下星期五（九月五日）是他的生日，你想为他庆祝一番。于是你写了好多封请帖给其他朋友，其中有两份是写给露丝和梁燕的。请你将这一请帖写出来，并替露丝写一个接受邀请的回帖，再替梁燕写一个拒绝邀请的回帖。要点如下：
①生日聚会从九点钟开始，一直到十二点；
②舞会结束以后切生日蛋糕；
③梁燕不能来的理由是她母亲有病。
【作文示范】
Inviting Friends to a Birthday Party
Invitation
Dear Ruth,
Next Friday, September the fifth, is Tom`s birthday. I thought it would be pleasant to have some of his friends here to help him celebrate. Will you come? We`ll have dancing from nine until midnight, and then cut the birthday cake!
Both Tom and I are very eager to have you here, so don`t disappoint us!
Affectionately yours,
Li Hua
August 31, 1998
R. S. V. P
Acceptance of the Invitation
Dear Li Hua,
Thank you for your invitation to join you at Tom`s birthday party on next Friday, September the fifth. I`m free for the party on that day, and will be glad to meet and talk with you about our friendship.
I will be at your home at nine sharp, and look forward to seeing you.
Cordially,
Ruth
Sept. 2
Apology for being unable to accept the invitation
Dear Li Hua,
I`m so sorry I can`t come to Tom`s birthday party. These days my mother has been falling ill, so I have to attend to her.
Thank you for asking me, Li Hua. I certainly hate to miss any of your parties. They`re always such fun!
Affectionately,
Liang Yan
Sept. 2
【写法指要】
当你要举办生日纪念、周末消遣性的便餐晚会时，可以通过电话或便函性请帖邀请客人。如果时间允许，最好是写信邀约。邀请信可以简短，但要真诚热情。写请帖的日期可以像写信一样写在左上角，也可像写请柬一样写在左下角。
三、便条
非正式社交书信统称为便条或便笺（notes）。它是用于家人、同事、邻居、朋友之间的一种应用文。前面书信类中的“感谢信”、“祝贺信’等有时也可称为便笺。
人们往往因有一些简单或紧急的事情需要临时告知别人，而由于某种原因无法与对方直接联系，这时便条就是沟通的工具。
总的来说，便条可分为两种：请假条（note asking for leave）和留言条（message note left）。
便条实际上是一种简易书信，谈的都是当天或三两天内的事。但它“麻雀虽小，五脏俱全”，包括除信内地址以外的各项内容，即日期、称呼、正文、结尾客套语、签名等。时间常常不写年月，只写日期或上下午，或几点钟。
便条一般是临时通知、询问事宜，往往是托人转交或在某一场合的直接留言，不需要邮寄，所以不用信封。写便条时要立求开门见山、三言两语把意思表达清楚，句式简单、用词随便，接近口语。
例如：
Nov. 5, 1999
Dear Mr. Li,
Because of an attack of the flu, I`ll not be able to attend today`s classes, for which I provide a medical certificate.
Your kind permission will be greatly appreciated.
Your student,
Wang Ming
该便条的汉语写法是：
亲爱的李老师：
我因患流感，今天不能到校上课。现交上医生证明。如蒙准假，我将不胜感激。
你的学生
王明
1999年11月5日