Writing Letters

Friendly letters have five parts:

• The Heading• The Salutation (greeting)• The Body • The Closing• The Signature

The Heading

• The heading can include your address and the date. In casual, friendly letters (such as the one you will write me) your address is not necessary.

508 Bluebird StreetClarksville, OhioJanuary 5, 2004

Heading

The Salutation (greeting)

• Dear_________. The blank is for the name of the person you are writing. After you write the person's name you put a comma ( , ) .

508 Bluebird StreetClarksville, OhioJanuary 5, 2004

Greeting

Dear Susan,

The Body• The body of the letter is the

information you are writing in your letter.

• For your letter assignment, I will tell you what each paragraph should tell me.

508 Bluebird StreetClarksville, OhioJanuary 5, 2004

Body

Dear Susan,

I hope you will be able to come and visit next month. We are planning a special visit to the museum. My mom will call your mom later this week to make all arrangements. Be sure to bring your swimsuit when you come! We’re planning an afternoon trip to the lake.

The Closing• The Closing: In the closing

the first letter of the first word is capitalized and you put a comma after the last word.

Some examples of closings are: Sincerely, Your friend, Love, Very truly yours,

508 Bluebird StreetClarksville, OhioJanuary 5, 2004

Closing

Dear Susan,

I hope you will be able to come and visit next month. We are planning a special visit to the museum. My mom will call your mom later this week to make all arrangements. Be sure to bring your swimsuit when you come! We’re planning an afternoon trip to the lake.

Your friend,

Your Signature

• This is your name. It goes under the closing.

508 Bluebird StreetClarksville, OhioJanuary 5, 2004

SignatureDear Susan,

I hope you will be able to come and visit next month. We are planning a special visit to the museum. My mom will call your mom later this week to make all arrangements. Be sure to bring your swimsuit when you come! We’re planning an afternoon trip to the lake.

Your friend,

Allison

INTRODUCTORY LETTER ASSIGNMENT

English I Honors

The Assignment…

• Write me a thoughtful, clearly organized letter.

• Proofread and polish before turning in.• Typing is not required, but it is a plus.• Be honest and thorough – this letter will be

confidential.

Paragraph 1 – Personal Information

• Tell me about yourself!• Ideas:

– What did you do this summer?– What is your family like?– How was the last school year for you?– Extracurricular activities?– How you spend free time?– How would friends/family describe you? – What are your goals?– What is important to you?

Paragraph 2 – Your History as a Reader and a Writer

• Describe yourself as a reader. Do you enjoy reading?

• What books have you read this year? Discuss why you did (or did not) read.

• What school-assigned piece did you most enjoy? Why?

• Briefly describe yourself as a writer. • What motivates you as a writer?• What kinds of writing do you most enjoy/are you

best at?

Paragraph 3:YOURSELF AS A STUDENT

• How do you learn best? What motivates you to learn?

• Briefly describe yourself as a student outside of English. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• What do you think are essential qualities of an effective class?

• What goals/hopes do you have for English this year? How can these be achieved?

• What fears/anxieties/concerns do you have about English at this time?

Paragraph 4:CLOSING THOUGHTS

• What else should I know about you in order to help you learn and grow in English this year?

• Do you have any questions about me or the course that you would like to have answered?

• Anything else—a joke, a favorite quote, a random fact, a book/movie/album/restaurant recommendation, an original pet name, your favorite flavor of ice cream, whatever. Be creative!

Due Date

• A Day – Tuesday, August 28• B Day – Wednesday, August 29