LESSON PLAN

CLASS: VII
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
LESSON: WRITING INFORMAL LETTERS
TYPE OF LESSON: COMBINED
TIME: 50 MINUTES
OBJECTIVES:
1. to understand how letters can be used for various types of communication:
2. to understand the conventions of informal letter -writing: layout, paragraphing and
style;
3. to analyse a sample of informal letter as regards layout, paragraphing and style;
4. to identify and correct mistakes in layout, paragraphing and style

MATERIALS: handouts, chalk, blackboard

Today, letter writing is a lost art, replaced by the cell phone and email. Lives are busy
with little time to sit down and write a letter, and yet what can replace the thrill of a thick
envelope filled with news from a friend or relative. This unit will explore friendly letters
with the hope that students will take the time to share, in writing, their lives and their
times with others.

STAGES AND TECHNIQUES

I. LEAD-IN STAGE
a. Students discuss the instances when people write letters. Their discussion is
prompted by the following situation (Exercise A, Worksheet 1):

If you wanted to do the following things, would it be better to telephone or to write?

Discuss your answers and the reason for them.
- make a complaint about a serv ice in a restaurant;
- thank someone for a present;
- arrange a date to play tennis with someone;
- make a booking at a hotel;
- ask for someone’s advice;
- apply for a job;
- appologise for something;
- congratulate somebody;
- give news;
Estimated
time: 5
minutes
Organisati
on: class
b. Then, the students answer the questions.
1. When did you last write a letter and to whom?
2. When did you last receive a letter and from whom?
3. How did you feel when you last received a letter? Why?
Estimated time: 2-3 minutes
Organisati
on: class

c. In this activity, the teacher introduces the more complex idea of the purposes of letters
(including postcards as a type of letter) by asking students to think of the questions and
suggestions.
1. Why do people write letters?
2. To whom do they write?
3. What advantages would a letter have over different forms of communication?
You may choose from:
 - More personal
- More immediate
- More precise
- More concise
- Allows time for thoughts to be organized

- Provides a record

The teacher concludes that letter writing is not as common with the new technology of
email and cell phones. A thank you can be expressed with the simple click of a button,
however too often it is a simple thank you. A simple thank you is polite and appreciated
but a thank you letter is a little more personal and thoughtful. Writing a letter requires a
little more effort and reflection.

Estimated
time: 2-3
minutes
Organisatio
n: class
Materials:

2. ANALYSIS OF AN INFORMAL LETTER

a. Choosing the style
The teacher explains that people write for many reasons and there arc several different
factors which determine the kind of writing we choose to do. When writing letters,
students should take into consideration the purpose, audience and relationship.

Purpose : To inform/To pcrsuadc/To apologisc/To invite / to refuse an invitation/To ask

for information/To apologise/ To thank
Audience and relationship: Close family/ fricnds/Acquaintanccs/Colleagucs/Potential
employers/Editor or authority
1. Write your ......................... in the top right hand comer, (address)
2. Write the .......................... directly below your address, (date)
3. Write the first ......................... next to the left hand margin, (line)
Style: Chatty/ casual/ Informal /Neutral/Formal/Humorous

Layout

4. Begin the next line under the ................. (name)

Estimated time: 5-6 minutes
Organisation: pairs followed by class feedback

2. Then the teacher explains what a friendly or personal letter is made up of and writes
the main ideas on the blackboard while the students take notes in their notebooks:
the heading, which includes the address, line by line (number, street / road,
postal code, town,), with the last line being the date. A line is skipped after the
heading.
- the greeting / salutation, which always ends with a comma. The greeting may
begin with the word "dear" and using the person's given name or relationship, or
it may be more informal if appropriate. The teacher elicits examples from the
students (Hi. Hello followed by name. Greetings)
- the body, also known as the main text. This includes the message you want to
write. Normally in a friendly letter, the beginning of paragraphs is indented. If
not indented, be sure to skip a space between paragraphs. A line is skipped after
the greeting and before the close.
- the complimentary close, a short expression made up of a few words on a single
line. It ends in a comma. It should be indented to the same column as the
heading. The teacher elicits from students examples of common endings.
(Regards. Best wishes. Yours. Love). Skip one to three spaces (two is usual) for
 the signature line.
the signature line. Type or print your name. The signature line and the
handwritten signature arc indented to the same column as the close.
- postscript. If your letter contains a postscript, begin it with P.S. and end it with
your initials. Skip a line after the signature line to begin the postscript.
Estimated time: 7 minutes Organisation: class Materials: chalk, blackboard

c. Paragraphing
This activity enables students to understand paragraphing by completing the blank
spaces in paragraph plan provided by the teacher (Worksheet 3) while reading the model
letter. The activity is done together with the teacher so that hctehc will be able to give
students extra information.
I The students take turns to read each paragraph of the model letter and decide on the
purpose of the model letter and the content of each paragraph.
I The teacher reminds the students that each paragraph contains a main idea and the
supporting details, so they should write a new paragraph for each main idea they
want to develop..
1 Since informal letters are usually written by hand, the paragraphs are usually
indented. However, with more people using their computers to do most of their
w riting, it is becoming a common practice to write paragraphs without
indentations.
I The students are given further examples of common ways of preparing to end
letters and commonly used endings.
 Paragraph plan

Informal letter plan

Greeting/ Dear

Paragraph 1 Mentioning the last letter you received Making general

friendly comments Apologising for not writing sooner

Paragraph 2 Reasons for writing :....

The body Paragraph 3 Giving news about....

Paragraph 4

Pragraph 5

Anyway, I've got another form to fill in so I'll leave you.

Preparing to I must rush now because.........
end the letter I have to go because ...........
(the reason for having
to finish the letter)
Endings I'm looking forward to hearing from you. I’m looking forward
to seeing you.
Give my regards to your mother.
Write to me soon.

Complimentary Best w ishes.

Regards,
close Love,
All the best.

Signature

Estimated time: 10 minutes

Organisation: pairs leading to class discussion

d. Language in informal letters.The teacher draws the students’ attention that they
must use informal language throughout the letter and should avoid a shift in style.
Then he/she elicits from the students the characteristics of the informal style and
list them on the blackboard. Then students look at the letter again and identify
instances where colloquial language is used.
Eg- the use contractions:
- words missed out the (T subject e.g. ‘Sorry haven’t written
before...’ or ‘Don’t know where the time goes...’)
- the use of phrasal verbs I use idiomatic expressions or
colloquialisms I slangs (It’s really cool!)
- direct questions, exclamation marks, checking tags (isn’t it? ) etc.

Estimated time: 3-4 minutes

Organisation: pairs followed by class feedback

HOMEWORK
The student writes a letter to his best friend who is a student at the
University of Liverpool and tells him what he did in camp last month.(120
words).

SKILLS: SPEAKING.
READING, WRITING