A formal letter contains some essential parts in due format/style. An ideal formal letter should have the following eight parts: a) Sender's address, b) date, c) inside address, d) salutation, e) subject line f) body, g) closing, and, h) signature. When writing business letters, special attention is needed to the format including line spacing, indenting and use of punctuation marks.
One of the most common layouts of a business letter is known as (Full) block format. In this format the entire letter is left margined and single spaced except for a double space between paragraphs. Another widely used format is known as modified block format. In this type, the body of the letter and the recipient's
addresses are left indented and single-spaced. However, the date and sender's address are on the top right but the closing and signature are at the bottom (right to the centre). Another less used style is semi-block. It is much like the modified block style except that each paragraph is indented instead of left margined. Students are free to write their letters in any format/style but they should not use a combination of different formats/layouts in the same letter. Examples of three different formats are given above.
Figure of an envelope or stamp is not needed but address can be written. Yet, if any student provides them - it will not earn them any extra credit or penalty.
For emails, students must write the email id, subject, and content as written in a genuine email. Students should be taught in the class that there should be a considerable margin and indenting in the answer script. However, if the answer script has no margin, there should be some penalty for the candidate for a poorly organised writing.
We need to be careful about the word limit. It is usually acceptable to be 10% above or below the word limit (so, for example, a 200 word assignment should be between 180 and 220 words). But if the instruction says something like "Write not more than 200 words", you must not exceed the word limit. Similarly, if the instruction says, "Write at least 200 words," then you have to write at least 200 words to be credited.
Formal letters
- Write an application to the Head Teacher requesting him/her to arrange an annual picnic. Write in 150 words.
Mymensingh
07 December 2014
Headteacher
Ananda Niketon School
Mymensingh
Subject: An application for arranging an annual picnic.
Dear Sir
We, the undersigned, are the students of classes 6 and 7. With due respect we are writing this letter to you. You know that our annual examinations are going to be over on 18 December 2014. Throughout the year we were engaged in serious academic activities. Now we would like to have some time for fun and recreation after the examinations are over. This is why, we would like to go on a picnic under your guidance. This time our choice is Gazipur Safari Park. Students will contribute the required amount of subscription.
Therefore, it will be great if you kindly agree with our proposal and do the needful, please.
With best regards.
Your obedient students of class 6 and 7
2. An Application to the Chairperson of a local foundation for a scholarship they offer to promising students.
Farooque Abdullah
107, Sidhwaswari Dhaka
Chairperson
Support for Survival Mission (SSM)
88, Kakrail 5th Floor Dhaka
Subject: Application for scholarship.
Dear Madam/Sir
I came to know that SSM offers scholarships for promising students every year. I'm a student of class 6 in Sidhwashari Boys' High School. Last December my father died in a road accident. In fact, he was the only earning member of our family. My mother works in a local NGO. It is very difficult for her to manage the educational expenses of our three brothers and sisters. Therefore, I'm sending this application for your kind consideration in the category of Secondary Education Support. It is to mention here that in the last JSC examination I got GPA 5. I attach a copy of my academic record with this application.
I'll be looking forward to your responses.
With best regards.
Farooque Abdullah
3. Application to the Director, National Museum requesting free access for a day to Liberation Gallery.
Dhaka
1 January, 2015
Director
Bangladesh National Museum
Shahbag, Dhaka
Subject: Application for a free access to the national museum.
Dear Madam/Sir
We the undersigned are from Mohakhali Model School. We are the students of class 7. We send this application to you expressing one of our requests. We have read a lot about the national museum of our country but we could not get any opportunity to enter there. We know that a museum shows a country's culture, history, tradition, heritage and many more. Therefore, we would like to explore the historical evidences of our great liberation war by visiting the national museum on 26 March 2015. We are altogether 35 students. And 3 teachers will guide us.
We will really appreciate if you kindly allow us, the young generation of the country, to spend a day inside the museum free of costs.
We will be looking forward to your responses.
Sincerely yours.
The students of Mohakhali Model school
4. Letter to the Secretary, City Blues School Debating Club inviting their team to a debate competition.
Umme Habiba Beauty
Secretary
KoloKakali Debating Club
9, GEC More,
Chittagong
16 January, 2015
Christina Halder
Secretary
City Blues School Debating Club
Pahartali, Chittagong
Subject: Invitation for a debate competition
Dear Ms Halder
Hope this letter will find you in good spirit and health.
KoloKakoli Debating Club is going to organize a debate competition at school level since 14 February 2015. As part of this programme, we are contacting schools for consent. I'm aware that City Blues School always takes part in such competitions. This time if you agree to register your team for the forthcoming competition, please contact us by 23 January 15. We'll appreciate if you also send us a list of the participants with your consent letter. Please feel free if your have any question or queries.
I'll be looking forward to your responses.
Best wishes
Signature
(Umme Habiba Beauty)
5. A letter to Muktijuddho Jadugharh requesting them for a day long exhibition on liberation war at your school compound.
Udayan Chakıma and
Kalpana Mahato
Class representatives
Bandarban Adarsha School
Bandarban
Date: 18 January 2015
Trustee
Muktijuddho Jadugharh
Segun Bagicha, Dhaka
Subject: A day long exhibition on the Liberation War
Dear Sir/Madam
Hello!
We are writing on behalf of the students of Bandarban Adarsha School. Our school is located at one corner of Bangladesh. The students do not have sufficient opportunities to go to Dhaka museum to explore the evidences of the great Liberation War. We read the history of our Liberation war only in the books.
Since Muktijuddho Jadugharh has a mobile museum, we request you to arrange a day long exhibition at our school premises. This will help students as well as others in this area to experience the facts of the liberation war from a close quarter.
We will be looking forward to your responses.
With best regards.
Udayan Chakma Kalpana Mahato
6. An application to the Headteacher requesting him to issue a transfer certificate for you.
28 January 2015
Headteacher
Shah Makhdum Ideal School
Ponchoboti
Rajshahi
Subject: An application for issuing a transfer certificate
Dear Sir
With due respect I'm drawing your attention to the fact that my father works in a government department and recently he has been transferred from Rajshahi to Barguna. Please see the attached document as his transfer order. This means that my family is shifting to Barguna very soon. Hence I need a transfer certificate from this school for my admission to a new school in my new town.
I, therefore, request you to issue me a transfer certificate and oblige thereby.
Your most obedient student
(Mohuya Sen)
Roll number
22
Class 6
Section B
7. An application to the Headteacher of a school requesting him to allow you for admission on transfer from another school.
28 January 2015
Headteacher
Barguna Government School
Barguna
Subject: An application for admission on transfer
Dear Madam/Sir
With due respect I'm drawing your attention to the fact that my father works in a government department and recently he has been transferred to Barguna from Rajshahi. Please see the attached document as his transfer order. In the meantime, my family has shifted from Rajshahi to Barguna. Now I would like to be a student in your school. A copy of my transfer certificate from my previous school (Shah Makhdum Ideal School, Rajshahi) is attached with this application too.
I would be really grateful if you kindly permit me to be a student in your school and do the needful for my admission, please.
Sincerely yours
Mrinalini Roy
8. An application to the school authority requesting them to issue a reference letter for you as you need this for your visa purpose.
Date: 17th of January, 2015
The Headteacher
Magura Govt. Girls High School
Magura
Subject: An application for issuing a reference letter
Dear Madam
I'm a student of Grade 6 in your school. My father is a wage earner in Arab Emirates. We have decided to meet my father in the coming summer vacation. We have already applied to the Embassy of Arab Emirates for our visa. Now I need a reference letter from my school for my visa formality.
I will be highly obliged if you kindly issue a reference letter for me so that I get my visa and spend a few days with my father.
Sincerely yours
(Catherine Moumita)
Roll no. 09
Section B
Grade 7
9. You have come to know that a new organisation Young Volunteers engage school going students as apprentice for office work. Write a letter expressing your interest to work with them. Tell them the dates and time you are free to work.
Sagarika Tanchanka
Master Colony
Rangamati
23 January 2015
Manager
Young Volunteers
College Road
Rangamati
Subject: An application for volunteering job
Dear Sir
I'm a grade 6 student of Uddipon School, Rangamati. I have come to know from some senior students that your organisation is working with school going students. Recently some of my classmates worked as volunteers in a cleaning campaign. I am also interested in this campaign. I can work as a volunteer on my weekends. This is our town and we should keep it clean.
I would really appreciate if you please enlist me as a volunteer for your cleaning campaign and contact me when needed.
With best regards.
(Signature)
Contact number of the guardian:
01998877665
Writing E-mails
For emails, student must write the email id of the receiver, subject, and content as written in a genuine email. Students should be taught in the class that there should be a considerable margin and indenting for the e-mailed message.. However, if the answer script has no margin, there should be some penalty for the candidate for a poorly organised writing.
You are interested to improve your English. One of your friends has suggested you to enroll into Young Learner's English course from the British Council. Write an email to the British Council to send you information about Young Learners' English.
Mollika Momtaz
26, Police Line Street
Rajshahi
25 January 2015
Manager
The British Council
Rajshahi
Subject: Request for information regarding Young Learner's English course
Dear Sir/Madam
I am a grade 6 student of Rajshahi University School. I have come to know that the British Council is offering English language learning courses for young learners. I am also interested in this course but I need to know about the course first. It would be really great if I know the duration of the course and classes, frequency of the classes, course fees, and next enrolment dates.
I would really appreciate if you please send me an email or letter answering my queries.
With best regards
(Signature)
Contact number of the guardian:
01998877665
email of the guardian: nurjahan.momtaj@gmail.com
11. Write an email to the organizers of Math's Olympiad to organize a competition at your locality.
Sender
Nahia Yasmin
Haripur Secondary School
Bishoykhali, Jhenaidah
Recepient
Pritom Chowdhury
Secretary
Bangladesh Maths' Olympiad
Khulna Chapter
Subject: Organizing Maths' Olympiad in this locality
Dear Sir
I am writing on behalf of the students of our locality. Often we see the stories of Maths' Olympiad or Physics Olympiad at the national dailies. Since they take place in big cities, we do not get opportunities to attend. Sometimes we simply do not know about the programmes.
Therefore, the students of this area request you to arrange a Maths' Olympiad in this area on a week end. This would give us the chance to take part in the competition locally.
I will be waiting for your responses.
With regards.
Signature: Nahia Yasmin
Model 1: Paragraph writing by description
My School
I love my school where I learn manythings. I go to Avaynagar Pilot High School. This school is situated in Barishal district. Its land area is about 4 acres. Nearly eight hundred students read in this school. Our school has a three-storied building painted in yellow. The head teacher's office, assistant head teacher's office, teachers' room, office room, library room and three class rooms are situated on the ground floor. There are classrooms and laboratory on the first floor. We have 23 teachers, 3 office staff and 2 peons. Our school has a big playground where we play during our tiffin and sports period. We really enjoy our time at school.
This text is an example of a paragraph, which is a combination of a few sentences that develop a single idea. The first sentence is called the topic sentence. The sentences in the middle are called the body and the last sentence is conclusion.
Example 2
My favourite hobby
Every person has some activities which he enjoys during his leisure time. Many people listen to music, many others do gardening, some play games and do many other things. I have a favourite pastime of my own. I like to watch movies. I specially try to watch English movies. I have watched Harry Potter, Narnia,
Thirteen Ghosts, The Conjuring, Rise of the Guardian etc. Some Bangla movies like Emiler Goyenda Bahini, Amar Bondhu Rashed, Deepu Number two, Gohonar baksho etc. are also there in my list of favourite movies. I believe that watching English movies will improve my fluency and accuracy in speaking English. I try to observe how the actors speak, their pronunciation and the words they use in different situations. I believe having a good hobby enriches us.
Activity 1
Try to write a paragraph on 'Your Locality' following the model paragraph 'My School'. Use the answers to the following questions to write your paragraph.
What is the location of your locality? (i.e. district, Upazilla, Union...)
What is the main occupation of the people in your locality?
What are special in your locality?
How is the relationship among the people?
What are the problems in your locality?
How do you want to serve your locality?
Activity 2
Write a paragraph about your family answering the following questions.
Who are the members of your family?
What are the occupations of your family members?
What are the different responsibilities of your family members?
How is the relationship among your family members?
What are your responsibilities towards your family?
How do you support each other?
How do you feel if you are away from your family members?
Activity 3
Now write a descriptive paragraph on your hobby. Answer the following questions:
c. What is your hobby?
d. How long has this been your hobby?
e. Why do you enjoy your hobby?
f. Who influenced you to choose this hobby?
g. What do you do exactly?
Activity 4
Write a paragraph describing a place you have visited recently. Answer the following questions:
a. Where did you go?
b. When did you go?
c. How many days did you stay there?
d. Who accompanied you?
e. What did you do?
f. What was your most memorable memory?
Activity 5
Write a paragraph describing the person you like most. Use the following cues:
a. Who is the person?
b. Why is she/he favourite to you?
c. What is special in him/her?
d. Tell about a special memory with him/her.
Model 2: Paragraph writing by listing
Paragraph writing by listing provides a list of points in support of the topic sentence.
Look at the spider gram and read the paragraph on 'Important aspects of your village'.
Important Aspects of My Village
My village is very dear to me. Its name is Rasulpur. The village is situated at Satkhira sadar upazilla in Satkhira dictrict. This is a village of many educated people. About hundred percent of the children are enrolled in primary schools. It has got two government primary schools and a high school. One of the most attractive things of the village is its large playground where people of all ages and gender flock together in the afternoon. This village is also known for two well-decorated mosques standing side by side which are called 'paired mosques'. There is a brick built road running through it. The road is named after the liberation war martyr Major Zaman. It is the birth place of many well-known people. Cultural programmes are organised at the playground on different special national days. For all these reasons, I can say my village is one of the best villages in our country.
Now read the following spidergram and write a paragraph on Your Favourite Teacher
Activity 6
- Write paragraphs on
a) Your father
b) Your mother
c) Your best friend
d) Your favourite teacher
Develop the following topic sentence into a listing paragraph.
Model 3: Development of paragraph by examples
Read the following paragraph written by a school going student
My dreams in the next five years
As human beings we have some dreams. I have some dreams which I would like to see come true immediately. First, I would like to visit Cox's Bazar and the Sundarbans with my family. I have talked to my parents about this. They have told me that they will go there soon. Secondly, I have a dream to develop a rich library in our locality. I and my friends are planning to talk to the elder people for this purpose. We will also collect books from door to door, rich people and other sources. I have also some dreams related to my study. In the next three years, I am going to sit for JSC/PSC and SSC examinations. I am studying my best. My parents are very careful of my education. My teachers are also helping me to learn properly. My dream is to achieve the best grades in the coming exams. I believe, one day, my dreams will come true and I will succeed in my life.
Model 4: Paragraph writing following narrative style
A day out
Outing has always been very enjoyable to me. I often travel to nearby places with my family and close relatives. Last week, my parents, my sister Samia, two of my cousins Rini and Abir, and I went boating on the Jamuna. We started in the morning at 7 o'clock from Gajaria and hired a boat and started our river cruise. As the boat moved on the river, the sceneries of both the sides charmed us. We saw thatched huts, cornfields, green sceneries, and peasants working on the field. As the boat moved through the river, we were enjoying the chirping of birds and the nature around us. Within a moment, out of excitement, we started singing songs. We also listened to some songs from the boatman. At lunch time, we anchored the boat and took our lunch by the riverside. After lunch, we walked around the riverside for a while. Then we started our journey back. I will remember the day for a long time.
Note: A narrative paragraph usually narrates experiences or events of the past. Past tense is used to narrate these events/experiences.
Activity 7
Now follow the model and write how you spent the last Eid ul Adha/ Durga Puja/Christmas/ Budhdha Purnima
Cues
You need to answer the following questions while writing the paragraph.
- When did the ceremony take place?
- What did you do throughout the day?
- How was the arrangement for the celebration made?
- Which food was cooked on that day?
- What was your most interesting experience that day?
