New
New
Year 10
AQA

Conceptualising letter-writing and understanding the letter form

I can explain why people might use letter writing and understand how to structure a letter.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Conceptualising letter-writing and understanding the letter form

I can explain why people might use letter writing and understand how to structure a letter.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. We might use formal letters for professional matters relating to employment or complaints.
  2. We might use informal letters for emotional matters such as thank you notes.
  3. We might use letters because it shows a personal touch and a certain level of care and attention.
  4. Formal letters have a specific form.
  5. A formal letter should include your address, the date, the recipient’s address, a salutation and sign off.

Keywords

  • Recipient - a person who receives something

  • Salutation - a greeting in words or actions, or the words used at the beginning of a letter or speech

  • Sign off - conclude a letter, broadcast or other message

  • Formal - done in accordance with convention or etiquette; suitable for something official

  • Informal - having a relaxed, friendly or unofficial style, manner or nature

Common misconception

Some people might think that letter writing has no place in modern society.

While other forms of communication have overtaken letter writing in popularity, letter writing is still necessary for many professional purposes.

You might draft the main body of the letter for Task B together if you feel that would be helpful for the class and then they can add in the rest of the structure to show their understanding of the form.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
'A written, typed, or printed communication, sent in an envelope by post or messenger' is the definition of a ...
Correct Answer: letter
Q2.
When applying for a job is traditional to include a __________ letter.
complementary
Correct answer: covering
commiserating
Q3.
'Done in accordance with convention or etiquette; suitable for something official' is the definition of which word beginning with 'f'?
Correct Answer: formal
Q4.
'Having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style, manner or nature' is the definition of which word beginning with 'i'?
Correct Answer: informal
Q5.
Which of the following is a situation that might require a formal letter?
Correct answer: resigning from your job
reconnecting with a friend
Correct answer: lodging an official complaint
writing a thank you note
Q6.
'A person who receives something' is the definition of which of the following?
Correct answer: receipient
donor
instigator

6 Questions

Q1.
In a formal letter, the recipient's address goes ...
on the right hand side
in the middle
Correct answer: on the left hand side
Q2.
In a formal letter, the date goes ...
Correct answer: under the sender's address
under the recipient's address
under the salutation
Q3.
'A greeting in words or actions, or the words used at the beginning of a letter or speech' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Correct Answer: salutation
Q4.
Which of the following is a salutation that you might use in a formal letter if you know the name of the recipient?
Dear Sir or Madam,
Correct answer: Dear Ian Smith,
Correct answer: Dear Mr. Smith,
Q5.
'To conclude a letter, broadcast or other message' is the definition of which two-word phrase beginning with 's'?
Correct Answer: sign off, sign-off
Q6.
Which sign off would you use in a formal letter where you used the name of the recipient?
Correct answer: Yours sincerely
Kind regards
Yours faithfully

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