FORMAL LETTERS

Letter Writing

1. To understand what is included in a formal letter and in particular what is involved in writing a letter of application for a job.

Learning Outcomes

Word Association

Letters

Letters

Formal Informal

Addresses (to & from) Date Dear Sir or Madam Ending in Yours Faithfully or Yours Sincerely

Formal language Getting to the point

• Paragraphs• Use punctuation carefully

in the right position• Varied adjectives (do not

repeat words)• Connectives

What is in a formal letter

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to express my interest in one of your

vacancies.

Hello there!I’m really interested in one of the jobs you’ve got going!

I have accumulated a varied set of experiences in this field. For instance...

tbh mate I’ve never done this before but I promise I’d be good at it.

I achieved a grade A in GCSE English, a subject that I continued to A-Level with success.

I didn’t pass my English at school, despite the fact that I speak it, but my Mum reckons I can do anything I put my mind to.

In terms of work experience, I spent a year working in advertising at Brantley Marketing Inc.

I worked at loads of jobs that are even worse than this one, so I suppose I’d enjoy it.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for considering my application.

Get back to me via MSN or Facebook chat because nobody sends letters nowadays, yeah?

Yours Faithfully, Laterz,

Checklist 1. Address- think of an address you could send it to (top right). 2. Your address (top left). 3. Salutation (Dear Sir, etc.) 4. Main body (what you will include, what you will tell them about etc.)

5. Goodbye (Yours Sincerely/Yours Faithfully)

Checklist Formal opening: Dear sir

Dear madam

Dear Mr Jones

Dear Prime Minister

Formal closure:Yours faithfully

Yours sincerely

Yours truly

Date of letter

Your address

Address of person you’re writing to

Formal opening

Body of letter

Formal closure

Main Body of Letter What should you put in the main body of the letter?

Opening paragraph – give the reason why you are writing:

Dear Headteacher, I am writing to express my concern about ...

This should be brief. You will go into details in the rest of the letter

Task Apply for your dream job!

- mention your skills - education – are you good at a particular subject? - extra curricular activities

Informal Letters

Opening Paragraph – ask about person’s life/health Each paragraph deals with one main idea The writer should share personal information Informal and friendly closure and signature E.g. I’ll write again soon. Love, Marie.

Addresses

23, Dart View Ave.,

Arklow,

Dublin 56.

10 September 2014

Abbreviation point after every abbreviated word

Comma at the end of the line

Full stop at end of last line of addressLeave a space of one line between address and date

Comma between number and street name

You are applying for a job at Mr. Ollivander’s wand shop. Make sure you use your checklist!! Should be 1-2 pages long!

Homework