An Interactive PowerPoint by Lanni Maszerowski ( ) Click here to start the PowerPoint!

So You WantTo Write a Letter?

An Interactive PowerPoint by Lanni Maszerowski

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Writing aFriendly Letter

Writing a Business Letter

Sending Your Letter


Watch a Demo Video

References >>

Writing a Friendly LetterClick on a number (inside the circles) to learn more about that part of the letter.

Click on the “Main Menu” icon to go back to the previous menu.

Click icon to add picture

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1 College Circle

Geneseo, NY 14454

September 22, 2009Dear Lizzie,

I got a call from Mom yesterday, and she told me the craziest thing. Something about you going on a school trip to the Bahamas? That is so cool! I’m so proud of you little sis!How is college treating you? I cannot believe you are a freshman now! I still picture you sitting in class at our old high school. You know what I miss most about BHS? The homework! Or, the lack thereof. I bet you know what I mean, Miss College Student!

I’m writing you a letter in order to practice using my skills writing “friendly letters.” A friendly letter is a letter sent to a friend or relative. Sometimes it’s called a “personal letter.” I like them because they give me something to look forward to receiving in the mail every once and awhile. I hope you can write me back so won’t be so sad to see my mailbox full of junk mail!

Love, Lanni

P.S. Say hi to your new bunny Rexie for me!

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Think you know your

stuff? Take the QUIZ!

Heading

The heading includes your address and the date. Write the heading in the upper right-hand corner, about an inch from the top of the page.

The purpose of this is to provide a return address in the event the letter and envelope get separated.

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1 College CircleGeneseo, NY 14454September 22, 2009

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SalutationThe salutation is a way of saying hello to the person you are writing to. It usually begins with the word Dear and is followed by the person’s name.

Write the salutation at the left-hand margin, two lines below the heading. Make sure that you end the salutation with a comma.

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Dear Lizzie,2

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Having trouble with thinking of a person to which to send your

friendly letter?

Click here for a helpful list!

Friendly Letter Recipients A family member (parent, sibling, grandparent, cousin, etc.)

A friend

A classmate

Your favorite author (use the author’s website to find the address)

Your favorite celebrity (the address may be more difficult to find)

Your teacher or past teachers

A pen pal (ask your teacher if your school has a pen pal program)

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Body

The body of the letter contains the thoughts and ideas you want to share. Begin writing on the second line after the salutation. Keep the paragraphs short for easy reading. Make sure to indent new paragraphs.

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I got a call from Mom yesterday, and she told me the craziest thing. Something about you going on a school trip to the Bahamas? That is so cool! I’m so proud of you little sis!How is college treating you? I cannot believe you are a freshman now! I still picture you sitting in class at our old high school. You know what I miss most about BHS? The homework! Or, the lack thereof. I bet you know what I mean, Miss College Student!I’m writing you a letter in order to practice using my skills writing “personal letters.” A personal letter is a letter sent to a friend or relative. Sometimes it’s called a “friendly letter.” I like them because they give me something to look forward to receiving in the mail every once and awhile. I hope you can write me back so won’t be so sad to see my mailbox full of junk mail!

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TIPS FOR WRITING

Writing GuidelinesBefore you start...

Make a list of the main ideas you want to include in your letter.

If this letter is in response to one you have received, be sure you answer any questions.

If you want, include some of the following: jokes, newspaper clippings, something that has happened to you recently, etc.

Writing Write your first draft freely

and naturally.

Write as though you were face-to-face with your friend or relative, sharing experiences, stories, and information with that person.

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Revising & Editing Be sure your sentences

read smoothly.

Include enough details to make your ideas clear, interesting, and fun to read.

Check for spelling and grammar.

ClosingThe closing is a way of saying good-bye. Write your closing two lines below the body of the letter. Capitalize only the first word and follow the closing with a comma. Here are some examples of closings:

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Love,4

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Love, Sincerely, Your friend, Respectfully, Regards, Keep in touch,

Signature

The signature is the final part of a friendly letter. Write it beneath the closing. Your first name is usually enough, unless the person you are writing to doesn’t know you very well.

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Lanni5

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P.S.A postscript is an afterthought that you write at the end of a letter.

The letters P.S. stand for the Latin words post (meaning “after”) and script (meaning “write”).

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P.S. Say hi to your new bunny Rexie for me!6

BACK

A postscript is optional.

Knowledge Check!So you think you are ready to write a friendly letter? Quiz yourself first to make sure you’ve

mastered the important details.

Click icon to add pictureClick icon to add picture


BACK Click here to start the quiz!

Salutation

Signature

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a component of a friendly letter?

D Footing

A

B

C

Heading

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are part of a friendly letter, and pick from the

choices that are still left.

Click here to go try the question again.

Correct! Great job!You remembered that the parts of a friendly letter are the heading,

the salutation, the body, the closing, the signature, and the postscript.


Click here go onto the next question!

It provides a return address in case the envelope is lost.It tells the mail carrier where to send the letter.

Question 2

What is the purpose of writing your address at the top of your friendly letter?

D It is cut out by the recipient and put on the return envelope.

A

B

C

It is for decoration.

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are not the purpose, and pick from the choices

that are still left.


Correct! Great job!You remembered that the purpose of putting your address in the heading

is to provide a return address for the recipient in case they lose the envelope. Everyone wants people to reply to their letters, right?



Regards, Toodles, Respectfully,

Sincerely, Love, Cya later,

Question 3

Choose the answer that has three proper closings.

D Rock on, Sincerely, Your friend,

A

B

C

Love, Keep in touch, Your friend,

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that have closings that you do not recognize learning about, and

pick from the choices that are still left.


Correct! Great job!You remembered that closings should be polite and proper. Should

we use slang and internet lingo in our closings? You know the answer to that!


You have finished the knowledge check!Click here to go back to the main menu.


Click on a number (inside the circles) to learn more about that part of the letter.



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Think you know your


1 College Cir.Geneseo, NY 14454September 22, 2009

Dr. Kevin McGowan, SuperintendentBrighton Central School District2035 Monroe Ave.Rochester, NY 14618

Dear Dr. McGowan:

I am a substitute teaching assistant in your district. I am writing to inform you of the dates that I will be available to substitute, and I have attached a calendar with these dates for the reference of the sub caller.

I am not a full time employee because I am a junior at SUNY Geneseo. I am majoring in Childhood Education; working for BCSD has provided me with opportunities to learn more about teaching and children, and I truly appreciate it. My dream is to teach at French Road Elementary School. I hope you consider me in the future. Thank you for attention, see you in December!Sincerely,Lanni MaszerowskiLanni Maszerowski

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Heading

The heading gives the writer’s complete address, plus the date.

The purpose of this is to provide a return address in the event the letter and envelope get separated.

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1 College CircleGeneseo, NY 14454September 22, 2009

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Inside AddressThe inside address gives the name, title, and address of the person or organization you are writing to.

If the person has a title, make sure to include it. (If the title is short, write it on the same line as the name, separated by a comma. If the title is long, write it on the next line.)

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Dr. Kevin McGowan, SuperintendentBrighton Central School District2035 Monroe Ave.Rochester, NY 146182

If you are writing to an organization or business, but not a specific person, begin the inside address with the name of the organization or business.

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SalutationThe salutation is the greeting. Always insert a colon after your salutation.

Use Mr. or Ms. Plus the person’s last name. Do not guess at Miss or Mrs.

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Dear Dr. McGowan:3

Don’t use gender-specific references in the salutation of a business letter when you don’t know the person’s name. For example, instead of “Dear Sir:”, use “Dear Sir or Madam:”

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BodyThe body is the main part of the letter. It should have single-spaced paragraphs with double spacing in between each one. Do not indent the paragraphs. If they letter is longer than one page, make a heading on the second page. List vertically the reader’s name, Page 2, and the date at the top left-hand margin.

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I am a substitute teaching assistant in your district. I am writing to inform you of the dates that I will be available to substitute, and I have attached a calendar with these dates for the reference of the sub caller.

I am not a full time employee because I am a junior at SUNY Geneseo. I am majoring in Childhood Education; working for BCSD has provided me with opportunities to learn more about teaching and children, and I truly appreciate it. My dream is to teach at French Road Elementary School. I hope you consider me in the future. Thank you for attention, see you in December!

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TIPS FOR WRITING

BACK

Writing GuidelinesBefore you start...

Think about your goal or purpose. In one sentence, write out your reason for writing—what you want your reader to know or do.

Gather your information. List the details you will need to include in your letter. Then think about the best way to present them.

Writing Beginning – Introduce your

subject and reason for writing.

Middle – Present all the important facts and details in short, clear paragraphs.

End – Explain what action you would like your reader to take.

BACK

Revising & Editing Be sure your sentences read

smoothly.

Make sure your letter states what you want the reader to do.

Check for spelling and grammar.

ClosingThe closing ends the letter politely. Write your closing two lines below the body of the letter. Capitalize only the first word and follow the closing with a comma. Here are some examples of closings to use for a business letter:

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Sincerely,5

Sincerely, Yours sincerely, Yours truly, Respectfully, Regards,

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SignatureThe signature, including the writer’s handwritten and typed name, makes the letter official.

To leave room for a signature, skip two lines and sign the letter after it is printed.

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Lanni MaszerowskiLanni Maszerowski6

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Knowledge Check!So you think you are ready to write a business letter? Quiz yourself first to make sure you’ve

mastered the important details.




Hello Ms. James!

Dear Ms. James:

Question 1

Which of these salutations is correct?

D Dear Miss/Mrs. James:

A

B

C

Dear Ms. James,

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are not correct salutations, and pick from the



Correct! Great job!You remembered that the salutation of a business letter starts with

“Dear” and ends with a colon.



Writing

Reading & Writing

Question 2

What stage of the writing process would this quote best fit into?

“Make sure your letter states what you want the reader to do.”

D Publishing

A

B

C

Revising & Editing

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure the quote doesn’t apply to, and pick from the



Correct! Great job!You remembered a major part of revising and editing is making

sure that your letter addressing the reason for writing in the first place.



Use gender-neutral titles and salutations.

Use polite and respectful language.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT something to keep in mind when writing a business letter?

D Including your address is optional.

A

B

C

Skip a line between each paragraph and do not indent.

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are things to remember when writing a business

letter, and pick from the choices that are still left.


Correct! Great job!You remembered that including your address is very important, as are using respectful language, using gender-neutral titles, and skipping a

line between paragraphs.



Sending Your LetterClick on a number (inside the circles) to learn more about that part of

sending a letter.



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JEANNE DUPRAU

237 SANTA MARGARITA AVE

MENLO PARK CA 94025

LANNI MASZEROWSKI

1 COLLEGE CIR

GENESEO NY 14454

Think you know your


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Envelope

Choose an envelope that will fit your letter without having to fold the paper incorrectly. A sheet of 8.5”x11” paper uses a standard business envelope.

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1) Fold the bottom third of the letter up, and crease.

2) Fold the top third of the letter down, and crease.

3) Insert the letter into the envelope.

AddressThe destination address is written in the center of the front of the envelope.

There are two acceptable ways of addressing the envelope, traditional form (uses upper- and lower-case letters along with punctuation) and the new form that is preferred by the postal service (all caps and no punctuation).

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JEANNE DUPRAU237 SANTA MARGARITA AVEMENLO PARK CA 94025

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TRADITIONAL FORMJeanne DuPrau237 Santa Margarita Ave.Menlo Park, CA 94025

NEW FORMJEANNE DUPRAU237 SANTA MARGARITA AVEMENLO PARK CA 94025

Return AddressThe return address is written at the top left-hand corner. The return address is very important. If you do not use enough postage, the letter will be sent back to the return address. It also gives the recipient your address to send a letter back to.

There are two acceptable ways of formatting the return address, as there is with addressing the envelope.

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LANNI MASZEROWSKI1 COLLEGE CIRGENESEO NY 14454

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TRADITIONAL FORMLanni Maszerowski1 College Cir.Geneseo, NY 14454

NEW FORMLANNI MASZEROWSKI1 COLLEGE CIRGENESEO NY 14454

Postage4

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Letters are mailed by placing postage stamps in the top right corner of the envelope.

As of September 2009, it costs 44¢ in postage to mail a standard letter. A standard letter must weight 1 ounce or less, so if you are trying to mail a letter with more than 5 sheets of paper in it, you should have someone weigh it for you at the post office.

Make sure that your stamps add up to at least 44¢ when you mail a letter. For example, you could use a 33¢ stamp, a 10¢ stamp, and a 1¢ stamp. A Forever Stamp’s value increases over time so

that one Forever Stamp will always mail any standard letter. At this time they are worth 44¢, but when the cost of mailing a standard letter increases, the value of Forever Stamps will increase too.

Forever Stamps


Mailing ItThere are many ways to mail your letter.

1. You can put it in your home mailbox if you have one. Don’t forget to put the flag up! This flag tells the postal carrier that there is mail to pick up.

2. If you do not have a home mailbox, you can hand it to your neighborhood’s postal carrier in person.

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3. You can drop it in any blue U.S. Mail Box.

4. You can have your teacher send it using the school’s mail room.

5. You can bring your letter directly to the post office and put it in the “Outgoing Mail” box.

Knowledge Check!So you think you are ready to send your letter?

Quiz yourself first to make sure you’ve mastered the important details.




10¢

5¢

Question 1

If you had a 37¢ stamp and two 1¢ stamps, how much more in postage would you need in order to send a letter?

D 3¢

A

B

C

1¢

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try to remember how much it costs to send a letter, eliminate the choices that are far from your

guess, and pick from the choices that are still left.


Correct! Great job!You remembered that it costs 44¢ to send a letter!



Handing it to a FedEx employee.

Putting in a a blue U.S. Mail box.

Question 2

Which is the following is NOT a way to send a letter?

D Bringing it to the Post Office and putting it in the “Outgoing Mail” box.

A

B

C

Placing it in your home mailbox with the flag up.

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are ways to send a letter, and pick from the



Correct! Great job!You remembered that to mail a letter, it has to be put somewhere where a U.S. mail carrier can pick it up and send it on its way. If you hand it to a

FedEx employee, they won’t know what to do with a letter that has postage on it for the U.S. mail.



New form

Either are acceptable

Question 3

What form of writing an address is preferred by the postal service?

D Neither are acceptable

A

B

C

Traditional form

Oops—not quite!


Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers you are sure are not correct and pick from the choices that are

still left.


Correct! Great job!You remembered that the Postal Service prefers the new form for writing

addresses. Both are acceptable, but you will have a lesser chance of having your letter returned to sender due to errors in reading the address

on the envelope if you use the new form!



Click to start the video. Additional clicks will pause and unpause the video.

Note: This shows me typing a letter I actually wrote in 7th grade. Any spelling mistakes in the letter were corrected after I proofread my letter in Writer’s Workshop. Can you spot the

edits I would have made for my final draft?

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Writing a Letter in Word: Demo Video

References Getty Images. (2009, September). Retrieved

from http://gettyimages.com.

Sebranek, P., Kempe, D., & Meyer, V. (1999). Write source 2000: A guide to writing, thinking, and learning. Wilmington, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

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An Interactive PowerPoint by Lanni Maszerowski ( ) Click here to start the PowerPoint!