Technical WritingWhere Formula is King …Letters, Notes, Instructions, Poetry

Bold: Darkened letters for focus Italics: Slanted letters for focus Captions: Tiny text below a picture -

informational Footnotes FONTS Outlining Headings Subheadings

Textual Features

Letter Writing – don’t end up in the Dead Letter Office!

When you send an email or write a hard copy letter, there are formulas you need to keep in mind. For different types of letters there are different formulas -- these are like recipes for different cakes.

Every hard copy letter needs a return address (you) and an address for the person you are writing to = the addressee

A formal business letter puts these in different areas than an informal friendly letter does.

Heading:

Greeting:

Body:

Closing:

Signature:

More Letter Writing ingredients, like eye of toad

October 31, 2013 [date]

Ed English777 Writing Class Lane [addressee: name and address] Write City, GA 00000

Dear Mr. English: [greeting—note the colon]

The 1st paragraph of a typical business letter states main point of the letter. Has a friendly opening; then the purpose of letter. Use a couple of sentences to explain purpose, but no details until next paragraph.

In 2nd paragraph, state supporting details for purpose. May use facts, background information, or personal story. May write two more paragraphs to support reasons, requests, or information.

A Moldy (Model) Formal Letter - Part 1

In the closing paragraph, summarize purpose and why it’s important. However, if the purpose is informational, close with thanks for the reader's time or if friendly ask how reader is doing and say bye.

Sincerely, [closing: Best wishes, etc.]

Lana Letter

Lana Letter [signature] 123 All A's Road [sender: name+address] New Unit Town, GA 12345

A Moldy (Model) Letter - Part 2

Everyone is glad to get a “Thank you” after sending a gift or doing a special taskfor someone else.

Use a tone that is calm and truly grateful—no jokes please—unless the reader is your best friend who understands your humor.

Use the name of the person who did the good deed; say what you are thankful for—don’t make your reader guess; close with a hope for your reader to have a good day, week, etc.

Thank you [Note] for the CANDY!

Dear Mummy,

Thank you for the candy you sent me for Halloween! I wish I could visit you, but I am swamped here… Soon maybe I could have you for dinner at my house.

I hope you have a great holiday with all your goblins and ghosts around you helping with the hot chocolate.

All the best wishes,

Victor

Thank you [Note] for the CANDY!-2

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Formal Greeting

Greeting punctuated correctly with a colon and correct opening: Dear or To

Greeting punctuated correctly with a colon but lacks correct opening: Dear or To

Greeting does not have correct punctuation but has correct opening: Dear or To

Greeting lacks punctuation and greeting

Written to Friend, Family, etc.

Letter follows prompt -addressed to one of the choices on the board.

Letter follows prompt -addressed to one of the choices on the board.

Letter does not follow prompt -addressed to other person

Letter does not follow prompt -addressed to no one

Letter body Written about favorite class with details, using strong verbs

Written about favorite class with details, but not strong verbs

Written about favorite class but without details

Not written to the prompt at all

Formal closing End with closing -Sincerely, regards, Best wishes--comma -- your name on the next line

End with closing -Sincerely, With regards, Best wishes but no comma -- your name on the next line

End with closing that’s informal like Bye and no comma but your name is on the right

No closing

Letters--Last Will & Rubric

Seriously, the first idea you must understand is that emails are never really deleted.

Schools, parents, the police, and any IT person can and do recover emails.

Do NOT send any emails unless they would be fine on the front page of a newspaper or sent to your mother.

REMEMBER—On the Internet, someone is always watching your keystrokes!

Emails—they Never die!

EMAILS—the Undead• When you send an email, it is also vital to remember a person cannot see your face and cannot hear the smile in your voice.

• So if you are making a joke or teasing, even a little, add an emoticon of a

smiling face -- .

• If you are sending to a teacher or future employer, use correct spelling

(spellchecker works), formal language [no slang], use complete sentences,

and intelligent vocabulary.

How do you write instructions for others?

Write carefully; make sure you include all steps, even the ones EVERYONE should know!

USE: (Signal) Sequence words (first, next, then…)

Transitional words (therefore, however, and…)

Include all equipment or materials needed to follow instructions

Instructions: How to’s …

Instructions: How to’s … ExampleHow to make a WITCH’s brew.FIRST gather Ingredients: dead frog eggs, swamp water, sweat of cow, tongue of bat; black berries; poison ivy

Next get rusty black kettle and set it over bon fire at midnight during the new moon;Then begin stirring slowly after the owl hoots 3 times—Stop when the whippoorwill calls.

Last serve to all monsters, zombies, and vampires.

Haiku: Cinquain: Biopoem: Acrostic: Limerick: free verse: Tanka: Couplets: Quatrain:

Poetry by formula

rhythm, repetition, alliteration, onomatopoeia, simile,

metaphor, personification, hyperbole

Poetry by formula, Elements