Eduqas GCSE English Language

Writing Tasks
Formal Letters
 Aims of this presentation

• introduce formal letter writing

• discuss features of formal letter writing
• revisit previous formal letter writing tasks
• share tips and look at how to write a successful formal letter
• consider sample plans and extracts
• provide full marked examples
• link to a revision sheet on formal letter writing
 Letter writing: how to plan

What do you need to know?

Audience
Who are you writing for/to? Think about what you need to consider when writing
to this person.

Purpose
What is your writing trying to achieve? For example, you may need to do one of the
following:
- give information
- express an opinion
- persuade someone
- make someone do something
 Letter writing: how to plan

Content
What are the main points you want to make?
Think about whether they are consistent and the order you want to present them in.

Register
What is the appropriate tone for your writing?
In a formal letter you would need to be polite but there is still room to consider whether
you are aiming for a specific tone. For example, are you aiming for forceful or
reasonable; will your tone include gentle humour or more biting sarcasm?

Format
What do you need to know about layout?
There are specific rules for formal letter writing. Do you know them? Pay careful
attention to the next few slides if you are unsure.
 Features: layout
The way you set out a formal letter is important and there are clear rules to
follow.

Look at the example below:

In an exam you may wish to indicate where the addresses would go on your page, rather than writing
them out in full. In a real life situation, it is important that you know how to do this properly and write
out all addresses in full.
 Features: layout

Opening and closing a letter:

The way you start a letter affects which ending you choose. Keep in mind the following:
Opening Closing Tips
If you don’t know the You should end Look carefully at:
name of the with: - the use of commas
recipient. - whether capital letters are used or not
E.g.
Dear Sir/Madam, Yours faithfully, Dear Sir/Madam,

Yours faithfully,
If you know the name You should end Look carefully at:
of the recipient. with: - the use of commas
E.g. - whether capital letters are used or not
Dear Mr Hollings, Yours sincerely, - the spelling of sincerely

Dear Mr Hollings,

Yours sincerely,
 Features: layout

Opening statement:
Make sure you give a clear opening sentence to establish your views:

E.g.

- I am writing in support of your proposal to use Fairtrade products in the school

canteen.

- I understand that you are considering a change to the timings of the school day. I am
wholly in support of this proposal.

- Your newspaper recently published an article describing plastic as ‘one of the biggest
problems faced by our planet.’ I wholly agree with this statement for a number of
reasons…
 Features: layout

Concluding statement:
Make sure you end clearly. You should be formal and sum up your arguments in a
convincing way.
E.g.

- It is clear that the school has a moral imperative to consider adopting these
proposals.

- I am convinced that a change to the school day will result in a happier and healthier
learning environment.

- In conclusion, I would like to thank you for drawing attention to the crisis we are
facing. It is only by increasing awareness of this issue that real change will occur.
 Formal letter writing tasks
Examples of past exam tasks:

The text below was part of an article in a This is part of a letter that appeared in a
teenage magazine: newspaper:
‘I’m fed up of reading about celebrities and ‘I can’t understand why we have pets. They can be
sports stars behaving badly. They do no good expensive to look after, they take up lots of time,
and a lot of harm. The worst thing is that children want them then get tired of them, yet if
teenagers are easily influenced to think they you dare to say you would never have a pet,
can copy them and behave the same.’ people think you are strange. I would never have
Write a letter to the magazine giving your one.’
views on the subject. Write a letter to the newspaper giving your views
on this subject.
Your headteacher has decided that there It has been suggested that reduced-price bus fares
should not be an end of year celebration such for young people should be scrapped to save
as a school prom or party. The headteacher money, but that free travel for over 65s should
believes it would just be an excuse for continue.
students to show off in an expensive way. Write a letter to your local newspaper giving your
Write a letter to your headteacher giving views on this proposal.
your opinions on this.
 Getting to grips with formal letter writing

Your headteacher has decided that there should not be an end of year celebration
such as a school prom or party. The headteacher believes it would just be an excuse
for students to show off in an expensive way.
Write a letter to your headteacher giving your opinions on this. [20]

To help you plan a response to this question, can you answer the following questions?

Question
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Make a list of the reasons that you agree or disagree.

Who is the audience for your letter?

What tone will you use?

 Getting to grips with formal letter writing

Your headteacher has decided that there should not be an end of year celebration
such as a school prom or party. The headteacher believes it would just be an excuse
for students to show off in an expensive way.
Write a letter to your headteacher giving your opinions on this. [20]

The questions that you

answered for the previous
slide will help you to create a
plan for this task.

You can use this template to

help.

A sample plan can be seen on

the next slide.
 Formal letter writing – sample plan
Your headteacher has decided that there should not be an end of year celebration
such as a school prom or party. The headteacher believes it would just be an excuse
for students to show off in an expensive way.
Write a letter to your headteacher giving your opinions on this. [20]
 Formal letter writing – sample extract
Your headteacher has decided that there should not be an end of year celebration
such as a school prom or party. The headteacher believes it would just be an excuse
for students to show off in an expensive way.
Write a letter to your headteacher giving your opinions on this. [20]

Look at the opening paragraphs to this answer then look back at the plan on the previous
page. Can you see how the plan has helped the student to write this answer?
 Formal letter writing – sample plan
Your headteacher has decided that there should not be an end of year celebration
such as a school prom or party. The headteacher believes it would just be an excuse
for students to show off in an expensive way.
Write a letter to your headteacher giving your opinions on this. [20]
 Formal letter writing – sample extract
Your headteacher has decided that there should not be an end of year celebration
such as a school prom or party. The headteacher believes it would just be an excuse
for students to show off in an expensive way.
Write a letter to your headteacher giving your opinions on this. [20]

Look at the middle section to this answer then look back at the plan on the previous
page. Can you see how the plan has helped the student to write this answer?
 Formal letter writing – sample answer

It has been suggested that reduced-price bus fares for young people should be
scrapped to save money, but that free travel for over 65s should continue.

Write a letter to your local newspaper giving your views on this proposal. [20]

The task above was set for Summer 2018. The following slides contain a marked
answer to this task. Read the answer and think about the comments made by
the examiner.

Make notes or annotate the work with details on:

1. The ways in which you could improve on the content.
2. How you would correct any errors – for example, look at the less/fewer rule.
Formal letter writing – sample answer
Formal letter writing – sample answer
Formal letter writing – sample answer
 Formal letter writing – sample answer

It has been suggested that reduced-price bus fares for young people should be
scrapped to save money, but that free travel for over 65s should continue.
Write a letter to your local newspaper giving your views on this proposal. [20]

The example that you looked at on slides 17 and 18 would have benefitted from
making more points and developing ideas more clearly.

Use the guidance on how to plan from the previous slides in this presentation and
plan your own answer to this question.

When you have a plan that you are happy with spend 25-30 minutes writing an
answer to this question.
 Revision sheet
Click on the link to the following revision sheet. You can print this off to help you when writing a formal letter:
 Letter Writing– (Some Useful Expressions):

Topic Shifters(in informal letters especially , for engaging reader):

· By the way,
· Incidentally,...
· Anyway,...
· Oh yes,...
· That reminds me...
· As I was saying before....

Conversation markers(in informal letters espcially , for engaging reader):

· As you well know,...
· I suppose,...
. Come to think of it,....
· Well,...
· Guess what,...
· I don’t suppose you've heard of it....
· Thank goodness...
 Letter Writing– (Some Useful Expressions):

Concluding remarks(in informal letters especially , for engaging reader):

· Do write often
. Do stay in touch
· We'll keep in touch
· bye for now
· Till we meet again
· Do send my regards to...
· Don’t forget to write...

Apologizing:
. I'm sorry about...
. I am sorry that...
. I'm very sorry about...
. I'm very sorry for...
. Please forgive me for...
. I'd like to apologize for...
. Please accept my apologies.
. Please accept my sincere apologies. (very formal)
 Letter Writing– (Some Useful Expressions):

Asking for Help:

. I'd be grateful if you could...
. I would be grateful if you could...
. I would appreciate it if you could...
. Could you please...
. I was wondering of you could help me.(informal)
. I would like to know...

Asking for Information:

. I am writing to enquire about...
. I am writing to find out about...
. What I am looking for is...
. I would like to know about/if...

Complaining / expressing dissatisfaction:

. I'm writing to express my dissatisfaction with...
. I'm writing to express my annoyance with...
. I am not happy about...
. ...was very disappointing.
 Letter Writing– (Some Useful Expressions):

Conveying regards:
. Please give my best regards to your family.
. Please pass on my best wishes to your wife and children.
. Please give my regards to your parents.

Expressing satisfaction:
. I was delighted to hear that...
. I was very happy to learn that...
. I was thrilled to find out that...
. I was glad to hear that...
. ...was very enjoyable.

Expressing concern / sympathy:

. I was sorry to hear about... (your accident/ illness)
. I am writing to express my concern about...
 Letter Writing– (Some Useful Expressions):

Giving bad news:

. I regret to inform you that...(semi-formal)
. I am sorry to tell you that...(informal)
. I regret to advise you that...(formal)
. I am afraid I have some bad news.(informal)

Giving good news:

. I am pleased to inform you that...(semi-formal)
. I am delighted to tell you that...(informal)
. I am happy to advise you that...(formal)
. I thought you might like to know that...

Giving reasons
This is because...
This is because of...
This is due to... (formal)
This is as a result of...(formal)
This is owing to...(formal)
 Letter Writing– (Some Useful Expressions):

Making suggestions:
. Would it be a good idea to...
. Perhaps it would be a good idea to...

Thanking:
. Thanks.
. Thank you.
. Thank you very much.
. Thank you kindly.
. I can't thank you enough.
. No words can express my gratitude.
. I am extremely grateful for...
. I very much appreciate your ______ing

Closing:
. I look forward to seeing you.
. I look forward to hearing from you.
. I look forward to meeting you.
 Finally…
We hope this resource has been helpful to you.

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