Notice and Message Writing
ICSE Class 7 · English · Chapter 11
What this chapter covers
- Short writing with a big job
- Notice writing: heading, date and issuing authority
- School notices
- Message writing
- Posters
- E-mails
- Planning, drafting and checking
Key points
- Notices, messages, posters and e-mails are functional writing: short, clear and set out in a fixed layout.
- A notice gives information to a group; it has the institution's name, the word NOTICE, the date of issue, a heading, a body and the issuing authority.
- The body of a notice answers what, when, where, who and what to do, in a formal, impersonal tone and about 50 words.
- The date of issue and the date of the event are different; write both in full.
- A message passes on information from one person to another, with the date and time, in reported speech, in about 50 words.
- A poster uses a slogan, a picture and a few short lines to catch attention and persuade; it may speak directly to the reader.
- An e-mail needs a clear subject line, a suitable salutation, short paragraphs and a closing; texting shortcuts do not belong in it.
- Plan, draft, revise and edit even the shortest piece of writing.
Questions answered
Name the six parts of a notice in the correct order.
Name of the institution, the word NOTICE, date of issue, heading, body and issuing authority (name, signature and designation).
What is the difference between the date written below the word NOTICE and the date given in the body?
The date below NOTICE is the date of issue, the day the notice is written and put up. The date in the body is the date of the event the notice is about.
Why must a notice name the issuing authority and the designation?
So that readers know the notice is genuine and know whom to contact with questions.
Suggest a suitable heading for a notice about a change in the timing of the school bus.
One possible heading is "CHANGE IN SCHOOL BUS TIMINGS". Any short, specific heading in capitals is correct.
Why does a found notice give only a general description of the item?
So that only the real owner, who can describe the item fully, is able to claim it.
Change into a message: your uncle phones and says, "I am coming to Varshapur on Friday. I will stay with you for two days."
One possible body: "Uncle called. He said that he was coming to Varshapur on Friday and would stay with us for two days." Any body that uses reported speech and keeps both facts is correct.
Why should a message record the time as well as the date?
The reader needs to know how long ago the call or visit happened, especially when the message asks them to do something by a certain time.
Give two differences between a notice and a poster.
A notice informs in a formal, impersonal tone with full sentences; a poster attracts attention and persuades with slogans and commands. A notice has a date of issue and no picture; a poster usually has a picture and needs no date of issue.