❖ I know that this is extra work for you on top of your busy schedule, but if you could take a look, I really would greatly appreciate it. I just want it to be as close to perfect as possible. (Conclusion)
▪ Are you free next week?
Oral/Written
▪ May I ask of you a favor?
Oral/Written
▪ May I ask you a question?
Oral
▪ Do you have a minute?
Oral
▪ (You) Got a minute?
Thank you!!!
Writing Exercise
Use the Formal Business Letter format.
Write a letter for one of the following scenarios.
Scenario #1
❖ You work at KPMG. An important audit is upcoming. You are supposed to play an important role.
❖ You would not feel right missing this.
❖ So, you must ask your boss for time off and to assign someone else to handle the audit.
❖ Boss: Jeff Walters, Vice-President, KPMG, 1515 West Nanjing Road, Shanghai 200040
❖ I’m writing to you today because I’ve got a favor to ask of you. Well, I’m really sorry to bother you, but could you please help me revise my resume? (Thesis Statement)
❖ I’m hoping to begin applying for jobs soon, and I know that you are great at giving good suggestions. So, I thought of you first. (Persuasive Argument #1)
▪ Show that you are aware you are inconveniencing someone ▪ Show that you are not just wanting to use someone
❖ Examples
▪ I’m really/truly/so sorry (to bother/inconvenience you). ▪ I’m really/truly/so sorry (about this). ▪ Forgive me for disturbing you. ▪ Please forgive my imposition. ▪ Excuse me for approaching you like this. ▪ Please excuse me for bothering you. ▪ I hate to have to ask you (this). ▪ I beg your pardon.
▪ I don’t know if you have any time these days. Oral/Written
▪ I don’t know if I have any right to ask. Oral/Written
▪ It seems I am in need of your help again. Oral/Written
Favor
❖ Can/Could/Will/Would:
▪ you help me (out)? ▪ you do me a favor? ▪ you give me a hand? ▪ you lend me a hand?
❖ Can/May:
▪ I ask you something? ▪ We trouble you (for a minute)? ▪ I get you to help me (out)? ▪ I impose on you to lend me a hand?
❖ You have already asked your friends and family. The money is just not enough.
▪ Softer ▪ Less abrupt ▪ More polite
Lead-up Question
❖ Examples
▪ Are you busy later?
Oral
▪ Are you free now?
Oral
▪ Are you free later?
Oral
▪ Are you busy Thursday night? Oral/Written
❖ Sincerely yours, ❖ Scott
ONE MORE FAVOR
Dear students, I have a question I’d like to ask you. I hate to stop teaching you, but if you don’t mind, I think I should end this lesson now. May I please?
❖ Finally, as this is not work that relates to class, I would be happy to either take you out to dinner or spend a few hours teaching you Chinese as payment. (P.A. #3)
Scenario #2
❖ You are working at HP as a translator.
❖ You father/mother falls ill and needs surgery. However, you don’t have enough money to cover all the expenses.
▪ I’ve got a favor/question to ask you.
Oral/Written
▪ I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad/busy time. Oral
▪ I hope you weren’t having breakfast/lunch/dinner. Oral
Written Examples
Lead-up Question
Apology
Favor
❖ Dear Charles:
❖ How are you? I hope all goes smoothly with your classes this year. I really had fun being your student last year. You really taught me a lot. I hope we can still meet from time to time to continue to share ideas and further develop our friendship.
❖ Excuse me, is now a good time? OK, well, please forgive me for disturbing you, but I was wondering if I could ask you to fill out this form for me?
❖ Hey, are you busy? Well, I’ve got a problem. I don’t have any money right now. I hate to have to ask you, but if you don’t mind, would you please lend me some money to get home? I promise to pay you back in 2 weeks!
▪ I need to call in a favor/marker.
Oral/Written
▪ I’m in trouble.
Oral/Written
▪ You gotta help me.
Oral/Written
Apology
❖ Stated before making specific request for a favor ❖ Purpose is to:
3 Components
1. Lead-up Question or Statement 2. Apology 3. Favor
Lead-up Question/Statement
❖ Asked before making specific favor request
❖ Purpose is to make request:
❖ Don’t forget to say Please
Spoken Examples
Lead-up Question
Apology
Favor
❖ Hi! You got a minute? Well, I’m really sorry to bother you, but could you please lend me your bike today?