Formal Letters: Writing with Purpose

Formal Letters: Writing with Purpose

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to write a formal letter with clarity and purpose.

Introduce the learning objective and make sure that students understand what they will be able to do at the end of this lesson.

What do you already know about formal letter writing?

What is a Formal Letter?

A formal letter is a letter that is written for official or business purposes. It follows a specific format and tone.

Explain the concept of a formal letter and its purpose. Highlight the importance of using the correct format and tone.

Components of a Formal Letter

A formal letter typically includes a sender's address, date, recipient's address, salutation, body, closing, and signature.

Explain each component of a formal letter and provide examples for each. Emphasize the importance of including all necessary components.

Formatting a Formal Letter

A formal letter should be formatted with one-inch margins, single spacing, and a professional font such as Times New Roman or Arial.

Demonstrate how to format a formal letter using a word processing program. Encourage students to pay attention to spacing and font choice.

Tone and Language

A formal letter should use a polite tone and appropriate language. Avoid using contractions and casual language.

Encourage students to use formal language and avoid slang or informal expressions. Provide examples of appropriate language to use.

Writing the Letter

When writing a formal letter, make sure to state the purpose clearly and concisely in the opening paragraph. Use subsequent paragraphs to provide supporting details.

Provide students with a sample topic and have them write a formal letter using the components and format discussed in the lesson.

Closing the Letter

End the letter with a polite closing such as 'Sincerely' or 'Best regards,' followed by the sender's signature and typed name.

Explain the importance of a polite closing and demonstrate how to sign and type the sender's name.

Review and Practice

Review the components and format of a formal letter, and practice writing a letter using a different topic.

Provide students with another sample topic and have them write a formal letter independently. Circulate the room to provide feedback and answer questions.

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.