1. Writing a formal letter
Primary Longman Elect
6A Chapter 4
Writing a formal letter

2. The children want to write a letter to tell the principal about their ideas. Can you help them?
They want to help Sowers Action to raise money for village schools in China.
They have written down some notes. Let’s take a look.
Jenny and her friends are members of the Charity Club.

3. Use because to give reasons.
Problems — Reasons?
schools too cold in winter and too hot in summer — no heaters or fans
schools too dark — no lights
not enough stationery or books — too poor
Ways to help — How?
raise money — perform a drama
collect things — stationery and books
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans.
Use because to give reasons.
First, change the notes into sentences.
What problems are the village schools facing? Why?

4. The schools are too dark because there are no lights.
Problems — Reasons?
schools too cold in winter and too hot in summer — no heaters or fans
schools too dark — no lights
not enough stationery or books — too poor
Ways to help — How?
raise money — perform a drama
collect things — stationery and books
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans.
The schools are too dark because there are no lights.

5. The schools are too dark because there are no lights.
Problems — Reasons?
schools too cold in winter and too hot in summer — no heaters or fans
schools too dark — no lights
not enough stationery or books — too poor
Ways to help — How?
raise money — perform a drama
collect things — stationery and books
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans.
The schools are too dark because there are no lights.
The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.

6. What can we do to help? What would we like to do?
Problems — Reasons?
schools too cold in winter and too hot in summer — no heaters or fans
schools too dark — no lights
not enough stationery or books — too poor
Ways to help — How?
raise money — perform a drama
collect things — stationery and books
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans.
The schools are too dark because there are no lights.
The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.
We would like to perform a drama to raise money.
What can we do to help? What would we like to do?

7. The schools are too dark because there are no lights.
Problems — Reasons?
schools too cold in winter and too hot in summer — no heaters or fans
schools too dark — no lights
not enough stationery or books — too poor
Ways to help — How?
raise money — perform a drama
collect things — stationery and books
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans.
The schools are too dark because there are no lights.
The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.
We would like to perform a drama to raise money.
We would like to collect things such as stationery and books.

8. Next, put the sentences into paragraphs.
Problems — Reasons?
schools too cold in winter and too hot in summer — no heaters or fans
schools too dark — no lights
not enough stationery or books — too poor
Ways to help — How?
raise money — perform a drama
collect things — stationery and books
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans.
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans. The schools are too dark because there are no lights. The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.
Problems and reasons
They are too dark because there are no lights.
The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.
We want to perform a drama to raise money.
We would like to perform a drama to raise money. We would like to collect things such as stationery and books.
Ways to help
We want to collect things such as stationery and books.
Next, put the sentences into paragraphs.

9. Improve the writing by using linking words or adding information.
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans.
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans. The schools are too dark because there are no lights. The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.
Problems and reasons
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans. They are also too dark because there are no lights. The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.
They
also
They are too dark because there are no lights. ^
The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.
We want to perform a drama to raise money.
We would like to perform a drama to raise money. We would like to collect things such as stationery and books.
Ways to help
for the village schools
We would like to perform a drama to raise money for the village schools. We would also like to collect things such as stationery and books and send them to the schools.
We want to collect things such as stationery and books. ^ ^ ^
also
and send them to the schools
Improve the writing by using linking words or adding information.

10. Do you know the different parts of a formal letter? Let’s play a game.
Now we are ready to write a formal letter to the principal.

11. Dear + (Recipient’s name),
Sender’s name
contents of the letter
Dear + (Recipient’s name),
Date of the letter
Yours sincerely,
Match the word boxes with the different parts of the letter.

12. Great! Let’s write the letter now.

13. Begin with: Dear + your principal’s name + comma.
3rd November 20XX
Write the date here.
Dear Mrs Kwok,
Begin with: Dear + your principal’s name + comma.
We are writing because the Charity Club would like to help Sowers Action to raise money for village schools in China. We think our ideas will help solve some problems for the children there.
Start the letter by saying why you are writing to the recipient.
Some schools are too cold in winter and too hot in summer because there are no heaters or fans. They are also too dark because there are no lights. The children do not have enough stationery or books because they are too poor.
Put the paragraph about the problems and reasons here.
We would like to perform a drama to raise money for the village schools. We would also like to collect things such as stationery and books and send them to the schools.
Put the paragraph about the ways to help here.
Finish by saying what you hope the recipient will do.
We hope you will be able to help us organise the charity events.
Yours sincerely,
Sign your names.
Jenny Tam, Andy Au, Ben Chan
Members of the Charity Club

14. The End