Courtesy Letters5th Grade

Mandy Moore & Christen YorkECED 4300 C

Dr. Tonja Root

Prewriting - Drafting• Christen York• GPS: ELA5W1 The student produces writing that

establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals a satisfying closure. The student

a. Selects a focus, an organizational structure, and a point of view based on purpose, genre expectations, audience, length, and format requirements.

• PLO: Students will organize and write a courtesy letter to a friend, containing the appropriate parts.

Courtesy Letters• Courtesy letters allow you to

thank a person for a service or gift.

Graphic Organizer• The graphic organizer will help to

establish the content of the letter.–Who are we writing to?–Where do they live?–What are we thankful for?–When were we thankful?–Why were we thankful?

Draft

• The draft will be a modified graphic organizer.

• This will highlight the appropriate content for a courtesy letter.

York, C. (2009). Graphic Organizer for a Courtesy Letter. Unpublished graphic organizer, Valdosta

State University, Valdosta, GA.

• Who are we writing to?• Where do they live?• What are we thankful

for?• When were we

thankful?• Why were we thankful?

Dear (Who)______,

(Who)________(Where)___________________

Thank you so much for the (what)__________ that I received (when)______________. I really enjoy it because (why)______________.

Sincerely,Your Name________

SAMPLE COURTESY LETTER TO THOSE APPLYING. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2009, from Granite Schools: http://www.graniteschools.org/departments/schoolservices/schoolservicesmanual/Human%20Resources/Hiring%20Procedures%20and%20Related%20Forms/

04%20Sample%20Courtesy%20Letter%20to%20Transfer%20Applicant.pdf

Insert Date HereMrs. SmithElementary SchoolGranite School DistrictDear Mrs. Smith:

I have received your letter expressing interest in the 3rd grade position at Elementary School. All applicants were considered and screened through telephone calls, file review, and some interviewing. At this time, the position has been filled.Thank you for your application. I wish you continued success as a teacher in Granite School District.

Sincerely,John DoePrincipalSchool Name

Practice Activity for Grade 5• We will be filling in the graphic

organizer thanking the cafeteria workers for the delicious lunch that we had yesterday.

• We will fill in our questions first, and then we will fill in our sample draft.

Assessment Activity for Grade 5

• We will be using the letter format and create our own original thank you letter to someone who has recently given or done something for us. Remember to write all of the important pieces of a courtesy letter. This will be focusing mainly on content.

Revising - Editing• Mandy Moore• GPS: ELA5W1 The student produces writing that

establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals a satisfying closure. The student

a. Selects a focus, an organizational structure, and a point of view based on purpose, genre expectations, audience, length, and format requirements.

• PLO: Students will edit and revise a courtesy letter to a friend, containing the appropriate parts.

Courtesy Letters

• Numerous types–Informal–Formal–Business

Revising - Editing

• Revising–Format–Sentence Structure–Word Choice

• Editing–Punctuation–Spelling

Graphic OrganizerCourtesy Letter

Address and Date

OpeningBody (Message)

Closing

Signature

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Moore, M. (2009). Graphic Organizer for a Courtesy Letter. Unpublished graphic organizer, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

Example of a Courtesy LetterMr. John Doe Human Resources Manager Box 8776 Anytown, NY 01223 (Date) Dear Mr. Doe I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the interview Wednesday morning, and to confirm my strong interest in an entry-level position with your company. As we discussed, I feel that my education and background have provided me with an understanding of business operations which will prove to be an asset to your company. Additionally, I have always been considered a hard worker and a dependable, loyal employee. I am confident that I can make a valuable contribution. Again, I thank you for the interview and I look forward to meeting with you again in the near future to further discuss your needs. I will contact you by (date) to see if a decision has been made. Sincerely,

Rachel Jones

Thurmond, M. L. (2001). Cover letters and thank-you notes. Atlanta: Georgia Dept. of Labor, Employment Services.

Practice Activity for 5th Grade

• As a class, we will revise and edit their drafts written to the cafeteria workers.

Assessment Activity

• Students will revise and edit their draft to a friend.

• They must have all the appropriate pieces needed for a courtesy letters.