MakingEnglishTeachingEasy

FORMAL LETTER
Senders Address

Date

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Recipients Address

Greeting Dear [Name .]

Subject of letter

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E.g. Waitress Position

Paragraph 1: Explain the reason why you are writing to them.

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Paragraph 2: Give more details about the subject of the letter.

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Closing Paragraph: Thank the person for taking the time to read the letter and give
your contact details if its necessary for them to contact you.

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Sign off:

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Yours Sincerely [if you know the persons name]

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Your full name

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Formal Letter Writing

1. Describe a situation you would use the following:
Personal letter
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Letter of request
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Letter of complaint
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Cover letter or letter of application
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2. When writing a letter, where do you write your address?

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3. Sometimes a letter contains a second address on the left-hand side of the page.
Which of the following letters does not need a second address written on it?
Letter of Application _____ Letter of complaint _____ Personal letter ______

4. In which situation would you sign off as follows?

Yours sincerely
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Yours faithfully
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Formal Letter Writing

Chat to you later
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5. Examine the list of phrases below and decide which are formal and which are informal. Write each phrase in the appropriate column:
Hi John
See you later
Yours faithfully
I enclose my CV
I am writing to request
Dear Sir/Madam
Bye for now
Yours sincerely
Tell him I was asking for him
Thanks for my invitation
Formal

Informal

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6. Do you think it is important to complain in writing? Give a reason for your answer.
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Formal Letter Writing

7. Why is it important not to be rude in a letter of complaint?
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8. In a letter of application, why is it important to give details of your skills and previous life, work and educational experience?
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Test yourself:
Put the descriptions below in the appropriate boxes on the
following page:

Recipients Address

Paragraph 1

Date

Sign Off

Subject of Letter

Closing paragraph

Paragraph 2

Senders Address

Greeting

Your full name

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FORMAL LETTER
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Formal Letter - Assignment Brief 1

Please write a letter of complaint using the following scenario

Marks will be awarded for the following:

layout/structure
content
tone
spelling, punctuation and grammar

Scenario-letter of complaint:

You recently bought an expensive jumper in a fashion store but when you
got home you realised it had a tear in it. You were shocked at the quality of
the jumper. You brought it back the next day with your receipt and asked for
a refund but the shop assistant said they can only change it for you. She
said you could choose anything you wanted to the same value. You explained that you did not want anything else in the shop but the shop assistant still would not give you your money back. You were annoyed as you
know that it is within your consumer rights to get your money back if a
product is damaged. You left the shop with the damaged jumper as you decided that it would be best to contact the stores head office instead.
Write a letter of complaint to the stores head office explaining the situation
and ask for your money back.

Remember!!!
As this is an imaginary scenario, you can make up the sender and recipients
address details and the date. You must also make up a name for the fashion
store. You may make up a receipt number.

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Formal Letter - Assignment Brief 2

Please write a letter of request using the following scenario:

Marks will be awarded for the following:

layout/structure
content
tone
spelling, punctuation and grammar

Scenario-letter of request:

You are a member of the fundraising team for the trip to Florida as part of
the DARE TO DREAM PROJECT in your local youth centre. This project is
really important for the young people in the centre as it gives them an opportunity of a life time to experience new things and to build new skills
such as team work, communication, organisational and people skills. As a
member of the fundraising team, it is your job to write to local businesses
asking for small donations.
In your letter you should:

Tell them why you are writing.

Explain what the Dare to Dream Project is and why it is really important for the young people in your youth centre.
Tell them how they can donate e.g. postal order/cheque to be sent to
Mary Street Youth Centre, 16 Mary Street, Dublin 1.
Thank them for taking the time to read your letter.

Remember!!!
As this is an imaginary scenario, you can make up the sender recipients address details and the date.

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Formal Letter - Assignment Brief 3

Please write a letter of application using the following scenario:

Marks will be awarded for the following:

layout/structure
content
tone
spelling, punctuation and grammar

Scenario-letter of application:

You are looking for a part-time job and saw the following advertisement in your local newspaper:
Waiter/Waitress Wanted:
Waiter or waitress wanted for busy Caf in Dublin City Centre. Applicant should have good Communication, Organisation and People
Skills. Experience an advantage but not necessary as full training will
be given. Please send letter of application and CV to Sarahs Caf,
Camden Street, Dublin 2.

You have eaten in this caf before and the food is excellent and you
have heard that they give their staff excellent training. Write a letter
of application applying for this position.
In your letter you should:

Tell them why you are writing

Describe what you are currently doing (e.g. education/work)
Give details of your skills and any previous related work experience
Tell them why you really want to work for them
Include your contact details and when you are available to start work
Thank them for taking the time to read your letter

Remember!!!
As this is an imaginary scenario, you can make up previous life, educational, work experience and skills.

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