Lesson 29 of 41 in the Test Ninjas TOEFL course: Write an Email, Writing. In Write an Email, doing all three requirements is only the start.
Test Ninjas Research · Updated October 1, 2026
Lesson at a glance
Detail
This lesson
Module
Write an Email (Writing)
English focus
Explaining with reasons, results and specific detail; polite proposals and requests (How about ‑ing, You could, I'd suggest ‑ing, Would you mind ‑ing, I'd appreciate it if you could) and softening them for a friend
Task skill
Developing each requirement into point, specific detail and reason or next step, so the reader can act
Time
About 55 minutes
Access
Included in the TOEFL plan
What this lesson teaches
In Write an Email, doing all three requirements is only the start.
Each point also needs something the reader can use: a real moment, a concrete reason (a fact, and often a date or a number), or a proposal that says who does what, and when or how.
This lesson teaches the English for explaining (because, so, which means), for turning vague words into specific details, and for proposals and requests a friend can say yes to (How about ‑ing, Would you mind ‑ing, I’d appreciate it if you could).
Then it shows you how to develop each requirement into a short paragraph.
By the end of the lesson, you can
Explain with a clear reason or result (because, since, so, which means, otherwise), and replace vague words (soon, fun, some problems, important) with a specific time, number, place or example.
Make proposals and requests with the right pattern after each frame (How about ‑ing, What if we …, You could …, I’d suggest ‑ing, Would you mind ‑ing, I’d appreciate it if you could …, and by for deadlines), and soften them for a friend without hiding what you want.
Develop each of the three requirements into a short paragraph (point → specific detail → reason or next step) that uses the situation’s facts, and end with a proposal the reader can accept.
What’s inside
Around the 3 teaching cycles below, the lesson opens with a quick check and closes with applied practice, a Check and a debrief. How every course lesson is built.
Teaching cycles in lesson 29
Cycle
Focus
What it teaches
Drills
Cycle 1
English
Explaining with specific detail
7
Cycle 2
English
Polite proposals and requests
7
Cycle 3
Task skill
Developing each requirement
8
Word bank
The 10 words and phrases this lesson teaches. They come from the real course questions you practice on in the Apply step, so you meet each one again in context.
check in (about) phrasal verb
to contact someone briefly to ask how something is going
I just wanted to check in about Friday’s rehearsal: are we still starting at six?
Goes with:
check in about the schedule / check in with someone
Word family:
check in with (someone); a check-in (noun): a short conversation to see how things are going
make a big deal of idiom
to treat something as more serious than it really is
It was only a small typo on the flyer, so let’s not make a big deal of it.
Goes with:
make a big deal of / out of something
Word family:
a big deal (noun phrase): something important; no big deal: not important
due adjective
expected or required by a certain time
The library books are due back on March 3.
Goes with:
due on / by + a day
Word family:
due date (noun); overdue (adjective): late
pay back phrasal verb
to return money you borrowed
Thanks for getting my coffee; I’ll pay you back tomorrow.
Goes with:
pay someone back (for something)
Word family:
repay (verb, more formal); repayment (noun): money you pay back
a hit (with) noun phrase
something that people enjoy a lot
The quiz round about movie songs was a hit with the new members.
Goes with:
be a hit with someone
Word family:
hit (verb): to strike; a big hit (noun phrase): a great success
would rather (not) modal phrase
to prefer (not) to do something
I’d rather not decide tonight; can we talk tomorrow?
Goes with:
I’d rather + base verb / I’d rather not + base verb
Word family:
would prefer (to); rather than
transfer verb
to move money from one account to another
I’ll transfer the money for the pizza to you tonight.
Goes with:
transfer money (to someone / through an app) / transfer a file
Word family:
transfer (noun); transferable (adjective)
booking noun
an arrangement to have a table, room or seat kept for you
I made a booking for six at the noodle place near campus.
Goes with:
make / change / cancel a booking
Word family:
book (verb); booked (adjective): full; rebook (verb)
within preposition
before the end of a period of time
Please return the signed form within five days.
Goes with:
within a week / within two days
Word family:
within walking distance; within reach
work for (someone) verb phrase
to be a good time or arrangement for someone
Does Thursday at 4 work for you, or is Friday better?
Goes with:
work for you / if that works for you
Word family:
work out (phrasal verb): turn out well; workable (adjective)
The takeaway: Every point needs something the reader can use: a real moment, a concrete reason (a fact, and often a date or a number), or a proposal that says who does what, and when or how.
In the full course
Developing each point is part of the full TOEFL course
Unlock all 41 lessons with the TOEFL plan, or try one of the free lessons first.
✓All 3 teaching cycles of this lesson, with 22 drills and feedback on every answer
✓The 10-word bank, each word with a recall drill
✓A walk-through, guided practice and a Check on Write an Email