Formal letter - V3

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Do you know what 'to shun' means?

1. Yes
2. No

Table of content

• Pen and notebook ready?
  
• Take notes on writing a formal letter
  
• Formal letter exercises
• End of class

How did you start your letter?

Top left corner: your address without your name

There is a space between my address and the date

Months with a capital letter and another space

Address of newspaper (+country)

Salutation: unknown, / known,

What do we write in the first paragraph?

Introduction

In the first paragraph, you present our reason for writing and your opinion about the topic

o There is space between the salutation and the introduction
o Start the introduction with a capital letter
o Introduce yourself in a formal manner
o Introduce the reason for writing the letter
o State your viewpoint on the issue

What does the body of our formal letter consist of?

Body / Main paragraphs

In the second and third paragraphs, you present your arguments/the problems, together with consequences/suggestions/results, in separate paragraphs.

o Include strong arguments which support your viewpoint on the issue and have backed them up with evidence (if necessary)
o Every argument has its own paragraph
o Write about all the points given in the assignment
o Show insight into the topic (in the test: Paper Towns)

You know the words connected to crime, punishment and the Mock Trial and you can write a story about criminal behaviour with those words.  

You know the word order in English.  

You can write relatively complex sentences.  

You can link sentences, paragraphs and ideas with linking words (but, and, so, therefore, however, although, despite, moreover, in addition, to conclude, etc.)

You can use the tenses, passive, and the First and Second Conditional in a text.  

You know how to write a letter of opinion. 

What is your last paragraph?

Conclusion

In the last paragraph you summarise your opinion or write it again using different words. You end with Yours sincerely, (if you do know the name of the person you‘re writing to), or Yours faithfully, (if you don‘t know their name) and your full name.

o Summarize your viewpoint in different words

o State what should be done about the issue / in the future

o State what the Editor should do with your letter, or whether you would like a response

o If you know the name of the person  you end with “Yours sincerely,” an empty line and your name
o If you don’t know the name of the person you end with “Yours faithfully,” an empty line and your name

Tips and tricks

Structure before you start writing

- What question do I have to answer / Which points do I have to make?

- What do I write in each paragraph?

- How many words do I roughly want to use in each paragraph?

Learn the standard openings and endings  

- Dear Sir/Madam,

- Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully,

Tips and Tricks

Avoid using contractions  or short forms

- I'm, don't, can't / I am, do not, cannot

Don't overcomplicate your language

- 'I believe these issues will lead to a problem' instead of 'the issues higlighted are indicative of future failings'

Do not make your point multiple times.

Think of equivalents for 'very', 'really', 'I think'

Name the two ways to end a formal letter.

True or False
A formal letter should always have a date.

1. True
2. False

True or False
You put the address of the person your writing to directly under your address.

1. True
2. False

True or False
You should begin a formal letter with Dear + first name + surname.

1. True
2. False

True or False
In formal letters you should use short forms.

1. True
2. False

Do you understand how to write a formal letter?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

Which is formal?

1. I thought I’d write
2. I am writing

I am writing to complain about the

1. terrible state of the yard
2. condition of the playground

Over the last two weeks, I have noticed

1. loads of rubbish
2. a great deal of litter

Which is formal?

1. I reckon
2. It is my opinion

Which is formal?

1. The boy in question
2. The boy I’m talking about

Which is formal?

1. it may be possible to
2. you could

I think that our school needs _____ security

1. better
2. more adequate

Rest of the lesson

Write a letter of opinion

Go to : Magister.me - Writing a formal letter - V3 Writing P3 - Exercise 2 Practice Writing Test (last exercise)

Choose a buddy to write with.