A Formal Letter

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo k
• Leerjaar 4

Writing a Formal Letter

What is a formal letter?

When do you write a formal letter?

- Job interview

- Information request

- Sending a complaint

- Professional communication

- Writing to someone who has authority over you 

- Writing to an older person

How do you write a formal letter?

- There is a fixed structure of a formal letter

- The language use is formal

* What is formal language?

What is formal language?

Formal vs Informal

* Formal letters DO NOT have abbreviations!

Gebruik geen afkortingen!

* DO NOT use contractions!

Gebruik geen samenvoegingen zoals She's of He'd.

* DO NOT use first-person pronouns such as I or We 

Gebruik geen persoonlijke voornaamwoorden zoals Ik of Wij.

Who are you writing to?

1. Someone you know :

Dear John,

2. Someone you know only the last name of:

Dear Mr./Mrs. Smith,

3. Someone don't know:

Dear Sir/Madam,          

                                                            Mind the comma!!

How to start... address and date

Your own (eigen) address

Recipients (ontvanger) address

Date

Start, first body text

Start:

Dear (Mr. Mrs.) Ms. Smith,

witregel

Start van de tekst (introductie):

My name is Mrs. Ritzema and I am writing you with a complaint. 

Last week, I bought a PC keyboard at your store and unfortunately it is not working correctly.

second body text and end

witregel tussen eerste en tweede alinea (paragraph)

Yesterday, I went back to your store at Central street to return the keyboard. The clerk at your store told me to write this letter of complaint. I would like my money back or a new keyboard that works.

witregel tussen tweede alinea en afsluiting

Yours sincerely,

witregel tussen afsluiting en naam

Mrs. M. Ritzema 

Give it try!

You will receive a worksheet.

This letter is an example.

Write a letter of complaint. 

Situation: You ate at KFC and you found a bug in your food! You want to be compensated for your food and distress. 

Hand in your letter at the end of the lesson.