A Formal Letter

Read how to write a formal letter to help you write your letter.

What is the purpose of the letter?

Form of letter - an information letter from the head teacher

Audience (who it is aimed at) - parents

Address of writer

Use punctuation

DATE

Address of school (or business)

Dear Parents (greeting),

1. Write a short introduction and explain why you are writing.

2. State your points in separate paragraphs.

You can:

• give a reason or some evidence to back up your point of view.
• write an explanation or some comments to strengthen your argument.

3. Write a conclusion. Summarise the main points of your message again.

• Use ‘Yours faithfully’ for Dear Sir or Madam. Use ‘Yours Sincerely’ for Dear Mr or Mrs

You may want to state the opposite view and argue against it.

• ‘the head teacher is proposing to... but I disagree... because...’
• ‘you say that... but I think...’
• ‘the school intends to... In my opinion...’

Now write a formal letter to the head teacher, saying what you think about the new school timetable. You are writing to argue. Remember to write in paragraphs - each new point in a separate paragraph.

We say, give your point, include evidence and make comments (PEC). Give your point, include evidence and explanation (PEE).

Example

3 Oakhill Drive,

Rushford,

RT45 4DF.

23/09/2020.

Dear Mrs. S. Green,

I am writing to complain about...

Firstly, I would like to point out that 10am is much too late to start the school day. Schools, that have experimented with a late starting time, have found that children stay up late watching TV and lay in next morning. They get up at the last possible moment. Their parents will be out at work and they won’t get any breakfast. Medical experts state that hungry children who have not had sufficient sleep, will not be able to concentrate at school. It would be better if they went to bed by 9pm, so they can arrive at school next morning at 7am and eat breakfast before they start lessons...

Write a recount, story or diary entry about the first day at your ‘new school’ with its different sort of timetable.

Here are some ideas to help you.

1. Introduce yourself and your schoolmates. Build up characters.

• Describe the setting of the school.
• What is the new head teacher like?
• What changes does she intend to make to the timetable?
• Why?

2. Describe the first day of the new timetable.

• Describe what you did on the first day.
• Include some details about the different subjects.
• Explain what happened: arriving at school, in assembly, classes and outings.
• What problems occurred?
• Was there a major complication?
• What happened?
• Build up tension or suspense?

3. Think what could happen.

• What was the outcome of the first day?
• How were the problems resolved?
• What did the pupils think?
• What did the teachers think?
• What did you say to your family?
• What did you write in your diary?

Use your imagination to think up some interesting details. Try using humour.