4.1.1

Letter

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Letters

Letters are addressed to individuals or organisations. The type of letter that you'd write your friend is very different from the audience for the cover letter to a job application.

Formal letters

Formal letters

  • Formal letters, as you would write for a job application should use a formal tone.
  • If you don't know the specific person that you're writing to, then using a formal mode of address (Dear Sir/Madam) and signing off (Yours faithfully) is a good idea.
  • You should use formal language and avoid colloquial language.
More informal letters

More informal letters

  • If you are writing to someone you know well, you can be less formal, but letters are usually more formal than text messages.
  • You could use an informal mode of address and start the letter with Dear Paul, or Dear Peter, or Dear Mr. Evans.
  • You could sign off with Best Wishes, or All the best.
  • A letter to someone you know will be less formal.
  • However, using varied sentence lengths and different DAFORESTER techniques can show your skills to an examiner.
Features of a letter

Features of a letter

  • The correct use of two addresses.
  • The date that you're writing the letter.
  • Awareness of audience - a formal/informal mode of address (e.g. ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Hi Mum’).
  • Paragraphs that flow well into each other.
  • A logical structure.
  • An appropriate sign off.
Formal and informal sign offs

Formal and informal sign offs

  • Formal: If you start with ‘Dear Sir’, end with ‘Yours faithfully’.
  • Formal: If you start with ‘Dear Mrs. Dale’ (i.e. their surname), end with ‘Yours sincerely’.
  • Informal: This depends on your audience. If you start with ‘Hi Mum’, you could end with ‘See you soon’ or 'Lots of love'.
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1

Key Terms

1.1

Key Terms

1.1.1Key Terms - Nouns, Verbs & Sentences1.1.2Key Terms - Sentence and Clause Types1.1.3Key Terms - Words, Sounds & Language1.1.4Key Terms - Types of Language1.1.5Key Terms - Images, Symbols & Mood1.1.6Key Terms - Mood & Feelings1.1.7Key Terms - Other Techniques1.1.8End of Topic Test - Key Terms
2

Language Devices

2.1

Language Devices

2.1.1Metaphors2.1.2Similes2.1.3Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning2.1.4Personification2.1.5Pathetic Fallacy2.1.6Puns & Oxymorons2.1.7Hyperbole & Emotive Language2.1.8Alliteration2.1.9Sibilance2.1.10Onomatopoeia2.1.11Recap: Language Devices2.1.12End of Topic Test - Language Devices
3

Writing Structure

3.1

Writing Structure

3.1.1Narrators3.1.2Paragraphs3.1.3Tense3.1.4Present vs Past vs Future Tense3.1.5Foreshadowing3.1.6Structure3.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Structure
4

Section B: Reading & Writing

4.1

Writing Formats

4.1.1Letter4.1.2Reports & Essays4.1.3Journal/Diary Entry4.1.4Speech4.1.5Newspaper Article4.1.6Leaflet4.1.7Review4.1.8Travel Writing4.1.9End of Topic Test - Writing Formats
4.2

Writing to...

4.2.1Writing to Inform4.2.2Writing to Inform - Example4.2.3Writing to Explain4.2.4Writing to Explain - Example4.2.5Writing to Persuade4.2.6Writing to Persuade - Example4.2.7Writing to Argue4.2.8Writing to Argue - Example4.2.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue4.2.10Writing to Advise4.2.11Writing to Advise - Example4.2.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
4.3

Acronym of Techniques - DAFORESTAR

4.3.1Direct Address4.3.2Alliteration4.3.3Facts4.3.4Opinions4.3.5Repetition4.3.6Exaggeration (Hyperbole)4.3.7Statistics4.3.8Triple (Rule of 3)4.3.9Emotive Language4.3.10Rhetorical Questions4.3.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER
5

Section C: Writing

5.1

Writing Task

5.1.1Discursive Writing5.1.2Narrative Writing5.1.3Descriptive Writing5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Task

Practice questions on Letter

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    If you start a letter with __‘Dear Madam’__, what should you end with? Multiple choice
  2. 2
    If you start a letter with __‘Dear Mr Smith’__, what should you end with? Multiple choice
  3. 3
    If you start a letter with __‘Dear Rosie’__, what are you most likely to end with?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    When should you use a formal or informal tone when you're writing a letter?True / false
  5. 5
    Features of a letter:Fill in the list
Answer all questions on Letter

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End of Topic Test - Writing Structure

Reports & Essays