2. Writing Personal Letters (2) Section C

3. About personal letters Personal letters, also known as friendly letters, are used for social interactions. They are written for family concerns, thanks, congratulations, invitations, consolations, favors, condolences, apologies and so on. The style and tone of personal letters is usually casual. There are three basic styles for writing personal letters: block style, modified block style and indented style.

4. Sample reading The sample is written in indented style. In this case, each paragraph is indented 4 to 5 letters. In this letter, the writer writes to one of his former teachers, telling him about his study and his present job. The sample is written in indented style. In this case, each paragraph is indented 4 to 5 letters. In this letter, the writer writes to one of his former teachers, telling him about his study and his present job.

5. Sample November 8 th, 2002 Dear Mr. Yang, I wonder if you still remember me, Zhou Xiaolin, from Oxford University. I have often wondered how you have been getting along since you came to teach in Beijing, but I’m sorry I have been so slow in getting in touch with you. I returned to Shanghai in September after completing the math course. The university has recently sent me a letter telling me that I’ve passed all the examinations and that I will be awarded a doctoral degree. I’m very pleased with the results. Now I’m working at Fudan University. Is there any possibility you might be able to visit Shanghai? It is getting more and more beautiful. I can show you around the city if you come. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Sincerely yours Xiaolin

6. Guidelines for Writing a Personal Letters 英文书信格式基本可以分为三种：板块式、半板 块式和缩进式。 英文书信格式基本可以分为三种：板块式、半板 块式和缩进式。 （ 1 ）板块式又称齐头式（ Block Style ），其特点 是信内所有部分都从左边起头。每行左边上下对齐， 成一直线。该格式因为便于打字，所以目前比较流行。 （ 1 ）板块式又称齐头式（ Block Style ），其特点 是信内所有部分都从左边起头。每行左边上下对齐， 成一直线。该格式因为便于打字，所以目前比较流行。 （ 2 ）半板块式（ Modified Block Style ）与板块式 基本相同，只是日期、结尾、签名均从信纸中央偏右 起写，其余部分从左边起写，左对齐。 （ 2 ）半板块式（ Modified Block Style ）与板块式 基本相同，只是日期、结尾、签名均从信纸中央偏右 起写，其余部分从左边起写，左对齐。 （ 3 ）缩进式（ Indented Style ）与半板块式基本 相同，其不同处在于：正文中每一段第一行需缩进 4 到 5 个字母，见上面的 Sample 。 （ 3 ）缩进式（ Indented Style ）与半板块式基本 相同，其不同处在于：正文中每一段第一行需缩进 4 到 5 个字母，见上面的 Sample 。

7. Compare the formats of these three styles, and try to find out the differences among them. Block Style ________ ________ ___________________ ___ ___________________ ___ _________________ _________________ ___________________ ___ ___________________ ___ ________________ ________________ ___________________ ___ ___________________ ___ __________________ __________________ ________ ________ Date Opening Body Closing Signature

8. Modified Block Style ________ ________ ___________________ ___ ___________________ ___ _________________ _________________ ___________________ ___ ___________________ ___ ________________ ________________ ___________________ ___ ___________________ ___ __________________ __________________ ________ ________ Date Opening Body Closing Signature

9. Indented Style ________ ___________________ ______________________ _________________ ___________________ ________________ ___________________ __________________ ________ Date Opening Body Closing Signature

10. Useful patterns To end a personal letter: 1. I look forward to seeing you soon. 2. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. 2. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. 3. Please remember me to your mother. 4. I hope you’ll get well soon. 5. I wish you every success. …… …… To begin a personal letter: 1. I am very happy to receive your letter of 16th April. 2. I had been looking forward to hearing from you and you can imagine my pleasure when I got your letter. 3. I hope you can forgive me for putting off writing to you for so many days. 4. I’m sorry that I didn’t write to you as soon as I got your letter, but I’ve been very busy. …… ……

11. THANK YOU