Mastering the Art of Formal Letter Writing

Mastering the Art of Formal Letter Writing

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to write a professional and effective formal letter.

Introduce the learning objective and set the expectation for the lesson.

What do you already know about writing formal letters?

Definition of a Formal Letter

A formal letter is a type of professional communication, typically used for business and official purposes.

Explain the definition of a formal letter and its purpose.

Format of a Formal Letter

The format of a formal letter should include the sender's address, date, recipient's address, salutation, body, closing, and signature.

Explain the format of a formal letter and highlight each element with examples.

Salutation

The salutation is the greeting at the beginning of the letter, such as 'Dear', followed by the recipient's name and title.

Explain the purpose and importance of a salutation and provide examples of appropriate and inappropriate salutations.

Body Paragraphs

The body of the letter should be concise, informative, and relevant to the purpose of the letter. Use formal language and avoid contractions.

Provide tips on writing effective body paragraphs and emphasize the use of formal language.

Closing

The closing should be polite and respectful, such as 'Sincerely' or 'Regards', followed by the sender's name and signature.

Explain the purpose and importance of a closing and provide examples.

Example of a Correct Formal Letter

Include a real-life example of a formal letter that follows all the rules and guidelines discussed in the lesson.

Show an example of a correctly written formal letter and highlight the important elements.

Example of an Incorrect Formal Letter

Include a real-life example of a formal letter that has errors or does not follow the rules and guidelines discussed in the lesson.

Show an example of an incorrectly written formal letter and highlight the errors and areas for improvement.

Interactive Exercise

Create an interactive exercise where students can practice writing a formal letter using the guidelines discussed in the lesson.

Provide clear instructions and guidelines for the exercise and allow time for students to complete the task.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Provide a list of common mistakes to avoid when writing formal letters, such as using informal language, being too verbose, or not addressing the recipient properly.

Highlight common mistakes and provide tips on how to avoid them.

Review and Recap

Summarize the key points and takeaways from the lesson.

Recap the main points and encourage students to ask questions or seek clarification if needed.

Homework Assignment

Assign a homework task where students can practice writing a formal letter using the guidelines discussed in the lesson.

Provide clear instructions and guidelines for the homework task and set a deadline for submission.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.