The new date is April 18.
새 날짜는 4월 18일입니다.
Bad news: the fact first, then the reason. Readers stop at the first clear sentence.
02 The note they forward · 8 min
Bad news in four lines
If the new date is in paragraph three, the director replies to paragraph one, which was an apology, and the date never moves in the record.
Objective
Put the fact before the reason, and stop before the situation essay.
On the exam
This is coherence. TOEFL writing does not reward a long approach to the point. The point is the point. Reasons come after, in sentences a rater can find.
Don't translate it like this
Don't say
Unfortunately the situation is very complicated and we hope you understand.
Say
We can't move the launch to March. The parts arrive April 2. The new date is April 18.
Unfortunately plus a hope is not the news. The news is the date.
Phrases
Read them aloud. Listen if you want a model. Nothing is recorded.
We can't move the launch to March. The parts arrive April 2.
출시를 3월로 당길 수 없습니다. 부품은 4월 2일에 옵니다.
Can't, then the reason. Do not bury it under “I hope you understand our situation.”
The goal makes sense. The date doesn't.
목표는 맞습니다. 날짜가 안 맞습니다.
Keep the part you can accept. Name the part you can't.
So the decision is April 18. I'll send the note.
그럼 결정은 4월 18일입니다. 제가 메모를 보내겠습니다.
Say the decision out loud. If nobody corrects you, you have agreement.
In the room
The date slips
Parts will not arrive in time for a March launch. You have to say so.
You
We can't move the launch to March. The parts arrive April 2.
You
The new date is April 18.
Director
Can we cut scope instead?
You
The goal makes sense. The date doesn't. I'd push the date, not the scope. I'll send the note.
What would you say?
All three have to be right to close the lesson.
Answer every question, then check.