Homework

WRITE A 120-180 WORD TRANSACTIONAL LETTER ON THE FOLLOWING

You had a very bad meal at a restaurant recently.  Write a letter about the food and the service.

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REFERENCE GUIDE TO WRITING LETTERS

Plan your letter well. You need some time to do this. The more you practice, the less time you'll need! Make sure your letter is well structured and organized.

Don't write the addresses unless you are required to do so.

It is very important to use the correct forms of salutation, and signature endings should always be appropriate.

The opening paragraph of a letter should state the purpose of the letter. The middle paragraph(s) should explain the details, beginning a new paragraph for each main point. The closing paragraph should state the course of action needed or repeat the purpose of the letter. Always use the appropriate phraseology for opening and closing.

Be clear about the point being made in each paragraph; topic sentences are very important.

Register is another important thing in letter writing; always bear in mind who you are talking to and how this should affect the ‘tone’ of your letter. Remember to use the appropriate vocabulary for both formal and informal letters.

Another very important point is the use of linking words and phrases. This doesn't mean that should use linking words without knowing what you're saying!

The style of the letter varies depending on who it is addressed to. For instance, a letter to someone you do not know requires a formal style, a letter to someone you know but are not intimate with requires a semi-formal style, whereas a letter to a friend requires an informal style.

Formal style
The greeting (Dear Sir/Madam, Dear Mr / Ms. Lee,)
Frequent use of passive
Formal Language (complex sentences, non colloquial English) 
No contracted forms (e.g. it's), nor clippings (e.g. info, ad), nor inappropriate abbreviations (e.g. CU, asap) 
The ending (Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully) 

Semi-formal style
Formal greetings (Dear Mr/Ms + surname,) 
Informal  endings (Best wishes, / Yours, + first name / full name) 
Respectful tone, in any case
Pronouns should not be omitted and idioms should be carefully used.

Informal style
The greeting (Dear Alexa, Dear dad,) 
Informal language and style (idioms, colloquial English) 
Abbreviated forms, pronouns omitted 
The ending (Yours / Love / Best Wishes / Regards / Cleo)