Basics of Letter WritingHora HedayatiIslamic Azad UniveristySouth Tehran Campus

Components of a Letter Sender’s address

Recipient's address

Date

Salute (Beginning)

Paragraph(s)

Ending

Signature

53 Down’s RoadEast Shilton, SH175PG

Peter Jackson22 Market SquareLancsMR21 2ST

21 September 2009

Dear Peter,

It was really nice to see you last week after such a long time. I very much enjoyed our chat and hope to meet you soon again.

Sincerely yours,Jack

Stages in writing a letter1. Pre-writing Stage: Analyze2. Writing Stage: Write3. Post-writing Stage: Check

Analyzing Consider the following:

Audience Purpose Situation

Gather information Outline

Audience Tone

Formal do not know the recipient

Salute: To whom it may concern:, Dear Sir/Madam Ending: Yours faithfully,

Know the recipient Salute: Dear Mr./ Dr./Ms./Mrs./Miss + Last Name Ending: Sincerely yours,/ Best regards,

Informal Salute: Dear + First Name Ending: Best wishes/ Best regards/Best/Yours/Love

Purpose Invite Complain Thank Request Apologize …..

Situation

What is the subject (Topic)? What happened that you are writing? What does the recipient need to know?

Gather Info. Have all your information at hand, such

as copies of previous correspondence on the topic

Consider what you should include in your letter based on the purpose of your letter

Outline

Organize the information you want to put in your letter in a logical order

Write Start writing your letter, including all the

parts

Check Ensure all parts of a letter are included Ensure your message is clear Ensure the tone of letter is appropriate Ensure there are no spelling mistakes Ensure there are no grammatical

mistakes Ensure you write your name at the end

Example You borrowed an important textbook

from a classmate last term. You now realize your classmate has returned home (another city) and you still have the book. Audience: a person I know, friendly

relationship Purpose: apologize, say what you will do or

ask what to do Situation: as described above, topic:

textbook

How to begin? Dear + First Name

How to start your message? Start with a friendly comment

What points to include Apologize-borrowed book for the exams Ask whether she needs the book for studies

now Suggest- send the book by the mail or send

money instead. How to end your message

Will wait to hear before deciding what to do How to end?

Best wishes

Practice- Task 1 You have received a letter from your

bank, asking you to acknowledge receipt of a new bank card. However, the card was missing from the envelope.

Practice- Task 2 You have seen an old friend at a party

after a long time. You want to stay in touch with him/her.