WRITING PERSONAL LETTERS_TOPIC 14_ENGLISH LANGUAGE FORM 1

WRITING PERSONAL LETTERS

WRITING FRIENDLY LETTER

A letter is a message that is written down or printed on a paper and usually put in an envelope and sent to somebody.

There are two types of letters:

i.            Friendly/personal letters.

ii.          Business/official letters.

FRIENDLY LETTERS/PERSONAL LETTERS

Friendly letters are those that are written to friends, relatives (brothers, sisters, aunts, uncle) or parents. They are therefore written in a free and easy manner. Their styles are like talks touching on many private or family topics.

PARTS OF FRIENDLY LETTERS

i.            The writer’s address – written at the top of the right corner of the paper.

ii.          The date – written below the sender’s address.

iii.        Salutation/greetings – it is written on the left hand side of the paper below the date. E.g. Dear father, My dearest Asha, Dear Mother, Dear Juma etc.

iv.         The main body – it is the communication goal or message. It is advised to avoid the use of difficult words.

v.           The ending of the letter – it is written in the middle of the page. A line below the last line of the main body of the letter. Eg. Yours sincerely, Your son, Yours ever etc.

vi.         The signature – it consists of the writer’s name or names and initial or signature. If the letter is typed the writer’s signature is very important. Start with the signature the below the signature write your name.

STRUCTURE OF THE FRIENDLY LETTERS
                                                                                  The writer’s address                                                                                   The date

Salutation

     The body of the letter – the communication/message

                            The ending of the letter

       The signature

        Full name

Example:
                                                                  LUGUFU BOYS HIGH SCHOOL                                                                      P.O.BOX 12,
                                                                UVINZA-KIGOMA 
                                                                28^th NOV, 2016

Dear Chidomole,

I hope you are doing well, on my side I am fine too.

We both have holiday next month. What do you say to a trip to Mahale National Park? We could start early the journey. If you agree, I will arrange the picnic and be around at a quarter to six on 12^th Dec 2016. Bring your camera with you.

                      Yours sincerely,

                      Shabani Mbande

EXERCISE

1.  Write a short letter to a friend telling him how you play your favourite games assuming that he knows nothing about it.

2.  Write a letter to your former friend who got transferred to another school last term. Tell him or her about the progress you have made in your studies, the part you have being taking in sports and other activities that have taken place at your school sine his/her transfer.

BUSINESS/ OFFICIAL LETTERS

Official letters are those which are written using specific rules/orders.  These include letter of application, letter to the government offices (headmaster, head of school etc), letter to the newspaper etc.

PARTS / ELEMENTS OF OFFICIAL LETTERS

        i.            Sender’s address – it is written on the right hand side top corner of the paper. It shows the postal contact of the letter writer.

        ii.            The date – it is normally placed immediately below the sender’s address. This shows the day of the month in a year on which the letter is written.

       iii.          The receiver’s address – it is placed on the left hand side corner just below the date. It is used to show where the letter goes.

       iv.          The salutation – the salutation in official letter is normally very brief. It is usually make of just two words i.e. Dear Sir/Madam. It is placed on the left hand side corner just below the receiver’s address.

       v.           The heading/title of the letter – it is the one that state the topic about which the letter is written. It should be written in capital letter and should be underlined.

      vi.          The body of the letter – it is the heart of the letter. It is advised to be very keen when you are writing the body of the letter. It consists of Opening paragraph, description paragraph (describe your recent qualification and experience), the intention paragraph (to say the aim of the letter), the ending paragraph of the body of the letter.

       vii.        The ending of the letter – it is usually written in the middle of the page below the body of the letter. We end letters with words like: Yours sincerely, Yours Faithfully etc.

      viii.        The signature and the name – official letters should be signed. It is the principle that you sign the letter and write your full name under your signature.

STRUCTURE OF OFFICIAL LETTERS 
                                                                                  Sender’s address                                                                                         Date

Receiver’s address

       
Salutation

                                          The heading of the letter

         The body of the letter/The main body of the letter

                             Ending of the letter

The signature

Full name

Example:

LUGUFU BOYS HIGH SCHOOL,

P.O.BOX 12,

UVINZA – KIGOMA

10^th OCT, 2016

THE DIRECTOR,

NDEVU TECH COLLEGE,

P.O.BOX 240,

MOROGORO

                 Dear Sir/Madam,

                                          RE: REQUEST FOR PROSPECTUS

Refers to the heading above

I have passed the form four examinations in science subject. I intend to have a course in computer science and would like to know the details of the courses taught at your institution. Could you please send me a copy of your prospectus?

                       I hope my request will be considered positively.

Yours faithfully,

Idrisa Hillal

EXERCISE

1.  Write a letter to the Director of education, applying for appointment as a teacher at Hekima Upland Academic Center, P.O.BOX 4300, Dar es Salaam. Use your name as Caka Chua.

2.  Write a letter to your headmaster request for a permission to go home for treatment because you are sick. Your address should be Lugufu Boys High School, P.O.BOX 12, Uvinza, Kigoma. Use your name as Kubwa Sana.