So You Want To Write a Letter?

1. So You WantTo Write a Letter? An Interactive PowerPoint by Lanni Maszerowski ( ) Click here to start the PowerPoint!

2. Writing a Friendly Letter Watch a Demo Video Sending Your Letter Main Menu Writing a Business Letter Click on a title to be brought to a new menu with information about that topic. Writing a Business Letter References >>

3. Writing a Friendly Letter 1 College Circle Geneseo, NY 14454 September 22, 2009 Dear Lizzie, I got a call from Mom yesterday, and she told me the craziest thing. Something about you going on a school trip to the Bahamas? That is so cool! I’m so proud of you little sis! How is college treating you? I cannot believe you are a freshman now! I still picture you sitting in class at our old high school. You know what I miss most about BHS? The homework! Or, the lack thereof. I bet you know what I mean, Miss College Student! I’m writing you a letter in order to practice using my skills writing “friendly letters.” A friendly letter is a letter sent to a friend or relative. Sometimes it’s called a “personal letter.” I like them because they give me something to look forward to receiving in the mail every once and awhile. I hope you can write me back so won’t be so sad to see my mailbox full of junk mail! Love, Lanni P.S. Say hi to your new bunny Rexie for me! 1 2 Click on a number (inside the circles) to learn more about that part of the letter. Click on the “Main Menu” icon to go back to the previous menu. 3 Think you know your stuff? Take the QUIZ! 4 5 6 MAIN MENU

4. Heading 1 College Circle Geneseo, NY 14454 September 22, 2009 1 The heading includes your address and the date. Write the heading in the upper right-hand corner, about an inch from the top of the page. The purpose of this is to provide a return address in the event the letter and envelope get separated. BACK

5. Salutation Dear Lizzie, 2 The salutation is a way of saying hello to the person you are writing to. It usually begins with the word Dear and is followed by the person’s name. Write the salutation at the left-hand margin, two lines below the heading. Make sure that you end the salutation with a comma. Having trouble with thinking of a person to which to send your friendly letter? Click here for a helpful list! BACK

6. Friendly Letter Recipients • A family member (parent, sibling, grandparent, cousin, etc.) • A friend • A classmate • Your favorite author (use the author’s website to find the address) • Your favorite celebrity (the address may be more difficult to find) • Your teacher or past teachers • A pen pal (ask your teacher if your school has a pen pal program) BACK

7. Body I got a call from Mom yesterday, and she told me the craziest thing. Something about you going on a school trip to the Bahamas? That is so cool! I’m so proud of you little sis! How is college treating you? I cannot believe you are a freshman now! I still picture you sitting in class at our old high school. You know what I miss most about BHS? The homework! Or, the lack thereof. I bet you know what I mean, Miss College Student! I’m writing you a letter in order to practice using my skills writing “personal letters.” A personal letter is a letter sent to a friend or relative. Sometimes it’s called a “friendly letter.” I like them because they give me something to look forward to receiving in the mail every once and awhile. I hope you can write me back so won’t be so sad to see my mailbox full of junk mail! 3 The body of the letter contains the thoughts and ideas you want to share. Begin writing on the second line after the salutation. Keep the paragraphs short for easy reading. Make sure to indent new paragraphs. TIPS FOR WRITING BACK

8. Writing Guidelines Before you start... Writing Write your first draft freely and naturally. Write as though you were face-to-face with your friend or relative, sharing experiences, stories, and information with that person. • Make a list of the main ideas you want to include in your letter. • If this letter is in response to one you have received, be sure you answer any questions. • If you want, include some of the following: jokes, newspaper clippings, something that has happened to you recently, etc. Revising & Editing • Be sure your sentences read smoothly. • Include enough details to make your ideas clear, interesting, and fun to read. • Check for spelling and grammar. BACK

9. Closing 4 Love, The closing is a way of saying good-bye. Write your closing two lines below the body of the letter. Capitalize only the first word and follow the closing with a comma. Here are some examples of closings: Love, Sincerely, Your friend, Respectfully, Regards, Keep in touch, BACK

10. Signature 5 Lanni The signature is the final part of a friendly letter. Write it beneath the closing. Your first name is usually enough, unless the person you are writing to doesn’t know you very well. BACK

11. P.S. P.S. Say hi to your new bunny Rexie for me! 6 A postscript is an afterthought that you write at the end of a letter. The letters P.S. stand for the Latin words post (meaning “after”) and script (meaning “write”). A postscript is optional. BACK

12. Knowledge Check! So you think you are ready to write a friendly letter? Quiz yourself first to make sure you’ve mastered the important details. Click here to start the quiz! BACK

13. Question 1 Which of the following is NOT a component of a friendly letter? A Heading B Salutation Signature C D Footing

14. Oops—not quite! Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are part of a friendly letter, and pick from the choices that are still left. Click here to go try the question again.

15. Correct! Great job! You remembered that the parts of a friendly letter are the heading, the salutation, the body, the closing, the signature, and the postscript. Click here go onto the next question!

16. Question 2 What is the purpose of writing your address at the top of your friendly letter? A It is for decoration. B It provides a return address in case the envelope is lost. It tells the mail carrier where to send the letter. C D It is cut out by the recipient and put on the return envelope.

17. Oops—not quite! Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are not the purpose, and pick from the choices that are still left. Click here to go try the question again.

18. Correct! Great job! You remembered that the purpose of putting your address in the heading is to provide a return address for the recipient in case they lose the envelope. Everyone wants people to reply to their letters, right? Click here go onto the next question!

19. Question 3 Choose the answer that has three proper closings. A Love, Keep in touch, Your friend, B Regards, Toodles, Respectfully, Sincerely, Love, Cya later, C D Rock on, Sincerely, Your friend,

20. Oops—not quite! Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that have closings that you do not recognize learning about, and pick from the choices that are still left. Click here to go try the question again.

21. Correct! Great job! You remembered that closings should be polite and proper. Should we use slang and internet lingo in our closings? You know the answer to that! You have finished the knowledge check! Click here to go back to the main menu.

22. Writing a Business Letter 1 College Cir. Geneseo, NY 14454 September 22, 2009 Dr. Kevin McGowan, Superintendent Brighton Central School District 2035 Monroe Ave. Rochester, NY 14618 Dear Dr. McGowan: I am a substitute teaching assistant in your district. I am writing to inform you of the dates that I will be available to substitute, and I have attached a calendar with these dates for the reference of the sub caller. I am not a full time employee because I am a junior at SUNY Geneseo. I am majoring in Childhood Education; working for BCSD has provided me with opportunities to learn more about teaching and children, and I truly appreciate it. My dream is to teach at French Road Elementary School. I hope you consider me in the future. Thank you for attention, see you in December! Sincerely, Lanni Maszerowski Lanni Maszerowski 1 2 3 Click on a number (inside the circles) to learn more about that part of the letter. Click on the “Main Menu” icon to go back to the previous menu. 4 Think you know your stuff? Take the QUIZ! 5 MAIN MENU

23. Heading 1 College Circle Geneseo, NY 14454 September 22, 2009 1 The heading gives the writer’s complete address, plus the date. The purpose of this is to provide a return address in the event the letter and envelope get separated. BACK

24. Inside Address Dr. Kevin McGowan, Superintendent Brighton Central School District 2035 Monroe Ave. Rochester, NY 14618 2 The inside address gives the name, title, and address of the person or organization you are writing to. If the person has a title, make sure to include it. (If the title is short, write it on the same line as the name, separated by a comma. If the title is long, write it on the next line.) If you are writing to an organization or business, but not a specific person, begin the inside address with the name of the organization or business. BACK

25. Salutation Dear Dr. McGowan: 3 The salutation is the greeting. Always insert a colon after your salutation. Use Mr. or Ms. Plus the person’s last name. Do not guess at Miss or Mrs. Don’t use gender-specific references in the salutation of a business letter when you don’t know the person’s name. For example, instead of “Dear Sir:”, use “Dear Sir or Madam:” BACK

26. Body I am a substitute teaching assistant in your district. I am writing to inform you of the dates that I will be available to substitute, and I have attached a calendar with these dates for the reference of the sub caller. I am not a full time employee because I am a junior at SUNY Geneseo. I am majoring in Childhood Education; working for BCSD has provided me with opportunities to learn more about teaching and children, and I truly appreciate it. My dream is to teach at French Road Elementary School. I hope you consider me in the future. Thank you for attention, see you in December! 4 The body is the main part of the letter. It should have single-spaced paragraphs with double spacing in between each one. Do not indent the paragraphs. If they letter is longer than one page, make a heading on the second page. List vertically the reader’s name, Page 2, and the date at the top left-hand margin. TIPS FOR WRITING BACK

27. Writing Guidelines Before you start... Writing Beginning – Introduce your subject and reason for writing. Middle – Present all the important facts and details in short, clear paragraphs. End – Explain what action you would like your reader to take. • Think about your goal or purpose. In one sentence, write out your reason for writing—what you want your reader to know or do. • Gather your information. List the details you will need to include in your letter. Then think about the best way to present them. Revising & Editing • Be sure your sentences read smoothly. • Make sure your letter states what you want the reader to do. • Check for spelling and grammar. BACK

28. Closing 5 Sincerely, The closing ends the letter politely. Write your closing two lines below the body of the letter. Capitalize only the first word and follow the closing with a comma. Here are some examples of closings to use for a business letter: Sincerely, Yours sincerely, Yours truly, Respectfully, Regards, BACK

29. Signature Lanni Maszerowski Lanni Maszerowski 6 The signature, including the writer’s handwritten and typed name, makes the letter official. To leave room for a signature, skip two lines and sign the letter after it is printed. BACK

30. Knowledge Check! So you think you are ready to write a business letter? Quiz yourself first to make sure you’ve mastered the important details. Click here to start the quiz! BACK

31. Question 1 Which of these salutations is correct? A Dear Ms. James, B Hello Ms. James! Dear Ms. James: C D Dear Miss/Mrs. James:

32. Oops—not quite! Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are not correct salutations, and pick from the choices that are still left. Click here to go try the question again.

33. Correct! Great job! You remembered that the salutation of a business letter starts with “Dear” and ends with a colon. Click here go onto the next question!

34. Question 2 What stage of the writing process would this quote best fit into? “Make sure your letter states what you want the reader to do.” A Revising & Editing B Writing Reading & Writing C D Publishing

35. Oops—not quite! Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure the quote doesn’t apply to, and pick from the choices that are still left. Click here to go try the question again.

36. Correct! Great job! You remembered a major part of revising and editing is making sure that your letter addressing the reason for writing in the first place. Click here go onto the next question!

37. Question 3 Which of the following is NOT something to keep in mind when writing a business letter? A Skip a line between each paragraph and do not indent. B Use gender-neutral titles and salutations. Use polite and respectful language. C D Including your address is optional.

38. Oops—not quite! Go back and try a different answer. Try eliminating the answers that you are sure are things to remember when writing a business letter, and pick from the choices that are still left. Click here to go try the question again.

39. Correct! Great job! You remembered that including your address is very important, as are using respectful language, using gender-neutral titles, and skipping a line between paragraphs. You have finished the knowledge check! Click here to go back to the main menu.

40. Lanni Maszerowski 1 College Cir Geneseo NY 14454 4 3 Jeanne DuPrau 237 Santa Margarita AveMenlo Park CA 94025 5 2 1 Sending Your Letter Click on a number (inside the circles) to learn more about that part of sending a letter. Click on the “Main Menu” icon to go back to the previous menu. Think you know your stuff? Take the QUIZ! MAIN MENU

41. Envelope 1 Choose an envelope that will fit your letter without having to fold the paper incorrectly. A sheet of 8.5”x11” paper uses a standard business envelope. Fold the bottom third of the letter up, and crease. Fold the top third of the letter down, and crease. Insert the letter into the envelope. BACK

42. Address Jeanne DuPrau 237 Santa Margarita AveMenlo Park CA 94025 2 The destination address is written in the center of the front of the envelope. There are two acceptable ways of addressing the envelope, traditional form (uses upper- and lower-case letters along with punctuation) and the new form that is preferred by the postal service (all caps and no punctuation). TRADITIONAL FORMJeanne DuPrau 237 Santa Margarita Ave. Menlo Park, CA 94025 NEW FORM JEANNE DUPRAU 237 SANTA MARGARITA AVE MENLO PARK CA 94025 BACK

43. Return Address Lanni maszerowski 1 college cir Geneseo ny 14454 3 The return address is written at the top left-hand corner. The return address is very important. If you do not use enough postage, the letter will be sent back to the return address. It also gives the recipient your address to send a letter back to. There are two acceptable ways of formatting the return address, as there is with addressing the envelope. TRADITIONAL FORMLanni Maszerowski 1 College Cir. Geneseo, NY 14454 NEW FORM LANNI MASZEROWSKI 1 COLLEGE CIR GENESEO NY 14454 BACK

44. Postage 4 Letters are mailed by placing postage stamps in the top right corner of the envelope. As of September 2009, it costs 44¢ in postage to mail a standard letter. A standard letter must weight 1 ounce or less, so if you are trying to mail a letter with more than 5 sheets of paper in it, you should have someone weigh it for you at the post office. Make sure that your stamps add up to at least 44¢ when you mail a letter. For example, you could use a 33¢ stamp, a 10¢ stamp, and a 1¢ stamp. Forever Stamps A Forever Stamp’s value increases over time so that one Forever Stamp will always mail any standard letter. At this time they are worth 44¢, but when the cost of mailing a standard letter increases, the value of Forever Stamps will increase too. BACK

45. Mailing It 5 There are many ways to mail your letter. You can put it in your home mailbox if you have one. Don’t forget to put the flag up! This flag tells the postal carrier that there is mail to pick up. If you do not have a home mailbox, you can hand it to your neighborhood’s postal carrier in person. You can drop it in any blue U.S. Mail Box. You can have your teacher send it using the school’s mail room. You can bring your letter directly to the post office and put it in the “Outgoing Mail” box. BACK

46. Knowledge Check! So you think you are ready to send your letter? Quiz yourself first to make sure you’ve mastered the important details. Click here to start the quiz! BACK

47. Question 1 If you had a 37¢ stamp and two 1¢ stamps, how much more in postage would you need in order to send a letter? A 1¢ B 10¢ 5¢ C D 3¢

48. Oops—not quite! Go back and try a different answer. Try to remember how much it costs to send a letter, eliminate the choices that are far from your guess, and pick from the choices that are still left. Click here to go try the question again.

49. Correct! Great job! You remembered that it costs 44¢ to send a letter! Click here go onto the next question!

50. Question 2 Which is the following is NOT a way to send a letter? A Placing it in your home mailbox with the flag up. B Handing it to a FedEx employee. Putting in a a blue U.S. Mail box. C D Bringing it to the Post Office and putting it in the “Outgoing Mail” box.