THEORY: HOW TO WRITE A FORMAL LETTER FOR THE FCE EXAM
2) THE RECEIVER'S FIRST NAME IS NOT USED, EVEN IF IT IS GIVEN TO YOU.
STEP 1
STEP 2
IDENTIFY WHICH OPENING AND CLOSING GREETING TO USE:
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO WRITE ABOUT 160 WORDS, THIS SHOULD BE DONE USING 4 PARAGRAPHS.
IF THE NAME OF THE RECEIVER IS GIVEN OPEN WITH: Dear Sir, → IF YOU KNOW IT IS A MAN Dear Madam, → IF YOU KNOW IT IS A WOMAN Dear Sir or Madam, → IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A MAN OR A WOMAN. CLOSE WITH: Yours faithfully, → FOR ALL CASES
EACH PARAGRAPH SHOULD CONTAIN ABOUT 40 WORDS, AT ABOUT 10 WORDS PER LINE THIS MEANS 4 LINES PER PARAGRAPH AVOID WRITING PARAGRAPHS THAT ARE MUCH BIGGER OR SMALLER THAN THESE SIZES. STEP 3 USE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH TO EXPLAIN YOUR REASON FOR WRITING AND START WITH: I am writing to you because…….
NOTICE THE COMMA USED AND WHERE THE CAPITAL LETTERS ARE PLACED
START THE SECOND PARAGRAPH WITH:
IF THE NAME OF THE RECEIVER IS GIVEN
Firstly,…….
OPEN WITH:
START THE THIRD PARAGRAPH WITH:
Dear Mr. Jones, → IF IT IS A MAN
Secondly,….
Dear Miss. Jones, → IF YOU ARE TOLD HER NAME IS MISS JONES
USE THE LAST PARAGRAPH TO EXPRESS WHAT ACTION YOU WANT THE READER TO TAKE AND START IT WITH:
Dear Mrs. Jones, → IF YOU ARE TOLD HER NAME IS MRS JONES
I hope you will be able to……….
Dear Ms. Jones, → IF YOU KNOW IT IS A WOMAN BUT DON'T KNOW IF SHE IS SINGLE OR MARRIED.
I LIKE TO CLOSE WITH:
CLOSE WITH:
STEP 4
Yours sincerely, → FOR ALL CASES
THE EXAM QUESTION HAS RED MARKINGS TO HIGHLIGHT POINTS THAT MUST BE COVERED.
NOTICE: 1) WHERE THE COMMA AND CAPITAL LETTERS ARE USED
Thanking you, Yours faithfully, OR Yours sincerely,
MAKE SURE THESE ARE NOT MISSED
THE BEST STRUCTURE TO USE IS THE FOLLOWING THE FEELING IN A SHORT DIRECT WAY → a) THEN FOLLOW WITH SUPPORTING FEELINGS → b) FOR EXAMPLE: 'SHOW CONCERN' a) I am very worried about you. b) I don't think you are eating well and you will get ill if you are not careful. FINISHED CONTENT: Firstly, I am very worried about you. I don't think you are eating well and you will get ill if you are not careful. 'SHOW SUPPORT' Secondly, I feel you were correct to act as you did. You behaved as any normal person would and you should not feel guilty about what happened. NOTE: AVOID SAYING TOO MUCH FOR ANY GIVEN POINT. PRACTISE BEING CLEAR, DIRECT AND EFFICIENT IN YOUR WRITING, WITH CORRECT GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE.