How to Write Formal Letters.ppt
- 1. Functional Skills English Level 1 & 2 How to Write Formal Letters Deu t sch e Sch u l e Los An gel es En gl i sh Depa r t m en t
- 3. What is a formal letter? • Usually written to people you don’t know • E.g. Written to: • Complain • Apply for a job • Reply to a formal letter you have received
- 4. Style / Language • Not personal • Need to give information in the shortest, clearest way possible • Use language that is clear • Avoid contractions. (I´m, you´re…etc)
- 5. Structure • Beginning = introduction • Middle = main body • End = conclusion
- 6. Writing & Organising a Formal Letter • Brainstorm • Plan layout • Organise ideas • Plan introduction, main body & conclusion • Proof read, edit and redraft
- 7. Layout
- 8. Brainstorming • Brainstorming is a way of getting your ideas down on paper • It doesn’t matter what you write at this stage • Just jot your ideas down about the topic
- 9. Formal letter brainstorm might include: • Reason you are writing • Info you want to get • A complaint • A request • What you want to happen next
- 10. Greetings... • Dear Sir or Madam • Dear (Name) • To whom it may concern.
- 11. Endings... • There are also only 2 ways of ending a formal letter. • These are related to your greeting... • What are these endings?
- 12. Endings... • If you use: • Dear Sir or Madam • Always use – Yours faithfully • Dear (Name) • Always use – Yours sincerely
- 13. Introductions • Important part of letter! • Only 1 paragraph long (or 3 to 5 sentences) • Introduces yourself • Needs to set the tone of the letter • Lets the reader know what you are writing about • Think about why you are writing
- 14. Main Body • Brainstorm usually gives you ideas for main body • Introduction leads into these ideas • Conclusion finishes off • A way of planning your main body would be to plan what you are going to write in each paragraph • Main body in a formal letter is usually quite short and to the point
- 15. Conclusions • The end of the letter • Only 1 paragraph long (3 to 5 sentences) • To let the reader know you have definitely finished your letter • Think about what you want to say at the end
- 16. Letter Plan: • Introduction: • Paragraph 1 – telling them why you are writing, details of complaint: place, date, product, Issue. • Main body: • Paragraph 2 –3- Give more details /Separate by ideas. • Conclusion: • Paragraph 4 – what you want to happen next.