A
T i n y T a s t e
Letters
What
- A format
used for communication between two people.
- There are
three main types of interest to Middle School students. These
are:-
- Personal
Letters;
- Formal
Letters;
- Letters
to the Editor.
PERONAL LETTERS
- Usually written
between friends and family.
- Often uses
colloquial language, and may include slang
and idioms.
- Can often
sound like an on-going conversation between the two people. They
catch up on news, report what they are planning on doing, share
gossip about mutual friends and acquaintances.
- Usually (but
not always) has the sender's address and other contact details
(phone number, email address) in the top right hand corner, together
with the date.
- The salutation
(greeting) can be quite informal - Hi Dear Pat, Gran, or nick-name.
- The first
paragraph often gets straight into the topic being discussed,
although some people write: How are you? I am well. I hope you
are too.
This is quite
boring and it's often better to start your letter with: Sorry
I missed you when you were in town last week! Or Have to
write fast because I'm going to the movies this afternoon. How are
you?
- Even personal
letters (very informal writing) needs to be broken up in to paragraphs.
It makes it easier for people to read. Each paragraph cane be
about a different topic:
- how you
felt about a movie you saw;
- what
you did on the weekend;
- what
plans you have for the school holidays;
- what
Tom said to Marion
- how you
felt when the cat died.
- A mistake
a lot of students make is that their letters are a series of questions
for the recipient (person who receives the letter) to answer.
Don't do this!! Tell the person things and ask only a few questions.
- The "signing
off" can be quite informal: Love, Penny. See you soon,
Brad
FORMAL LETTERS
- These are
written to businesses and clubs, perhaps to request sponsorship
for your cricket team or to thank them for support. Sometimes,
it's to complain about a product that has not worked properly.
- Usually formal
language is used, although colloquial language is acceptable.
DON'T use slang!
- Usually the
sender's address and contact details are in the top right-hand
corner of the page, although it is now acceptable to place them
against the left margin at the top of the page.
- The recipient's
(person the letter is going to) name, title (Secretary, Manager),
and address are written against the left margin, below the sender's
details.
- Sometimes
there is a reference topic, which is indented across the line
a little and can be underlined. For instance,
- Kambrook
Toaster M646
- Annual
General Meeting of Members
- 1st paragraph
- Be straight to the point and state WHY you are writing the letter
- what is it you want or what your problem is.
- 2nd paragraph
- Provide reasons or explanations about what you are requesting/saying.
- Last paragraph
- Conclude with what you would like to see happen and by when.
Also invite the person to contact you if they need more information.
- The "signing
off" is as follows:-
- If you
wrote Dear Sir/Madam at the beginning of the letter,
write Yours faithfully at the end.
- If you
wrote Dear Ms Bloggs at the beginning, write Regards
at the end.
- THEN
leave enough room for you to sign your name (a couple of centimetres)
and PRINT your name clearly.
- Don't forget
to SIGN your letter.
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
- These are
written to the Editor of a newspaper and appear
on the "Letters" page in the paper.
- They are
very short (usually only 50 - 80 words long) and very structured.
If you write too much, an editor will cut out the unnecessary
bits.
- These letters
express an opinion and are, therefore, are an example of an exposition.
They usually include emotive language to
persuade people to the particular view or idea.
- When writing
a letter to the editor as an activity for school, do NOT put your
address and contact details on the top of the letter.
- Start with
Dear Sir/Madam
- 1st paragraph
- Clearly state WHY you are writing the letter. I believe
that all dogs should be kept in fenced yards.
- 2nd paragraph
- Provide a reason for your view, with evidence if possible. Small
children are at risk of being bitten by dogs that are not safe
behind a fence.
- 3rd paragraph
- Provide another reason. Dogs that are not yarded can run
on the road and cause an accident.
- 4th paragraph
- Re-state your opinion, in different words. The council should
ensure that all dogs are kept in their own yards.
- The "signing
off" requires your first initial and your surname on one
line; with your suburb or town on the line below. Line it up with
the margin.
J.Bloggs
SMITHVILLE
|
