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WRITING PROFESSIONAL

LETTERS

By: Lindsay Keathley

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TEACHER SLIDE

Objectives: Students will

comprehend why professional writing is an important skill

Students will identify proper letter greetings and endings

Students will be able to recall what the body of a formal letter consists of

Students will identify when a formal letter is to be used

Audience/ Environment:

Audience: High School Seniors Standard high school

communityEnvironment: High School

composition class Computer lab large

enough for students to each have their own computer

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DIRECTIONS

Watch the Video on the next slide then click the

button to view the main menu

To navigate the main menu click the different

sections on the letter to read about how to write a

formal letter

Review the information on professional writing

When you are finished take the quiz. Good luck!

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MAIN MENU

Why is formal writing important?

How to greet in formal writing

Formal bodies

How to end a formal letterQUIZ

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WHY IS FORMAL WRITING IMPORTANT?

Formal writing is an important skill for…• Education• Job hunting• Letters of recommendation• College applications• Scholarships• Letters to professors and superiors

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QUIZ

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FORMAL GREETINGS

Greetings to formal letters are extremely important

because they determine the reader’s immediate

impression of you

Having an unprofessional or casual greeting will

make even the most intelligent and professional

letter seem immature and unimportant to the reader

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QUIZ

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FORMAL GREETINGS

Here are some examples of how to NOT begin a

professional letter:• Hey!• Hi,• Hey there,• Using the recipient’s first name• Not having any greeting at all

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QUIZ

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FORMAL GREETINGS

Here are some good examples of formal

salutations:• Dear Sir• Dear Mr./ Mrs.• Greetings,• Dear Dr./ Professor

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QUIZ

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FORMAL BODIES

The bodies of formal letters should be quick and

get to the point

There are three elements that every formal letter

body should include:• Who the sender is• What the point/ purpose of the letter is• What the sender needs from the recipient/ why the

recipient should care about the letter

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QUIZ

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FORMAL ENDINGS

Formal letters should end just as

professionally as they began

The ending of a formal letter determines the

impression you leave upon the recipient

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QUIZ

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EXAMPLES OF FORMAL ENDINGS

Sincerely

Thank You,

Your letter should ALWAYS include your signature at the

end!

You should also re-state your qualifications to maintain

professionalism

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QUIZ

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FORMAT OF A FORMAL LETTER

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QUIZ

Watch the following video to see how a

formal letter should be formatted

Video

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Feel ready for the quiz?

If so, click the QUIZ button, if not click back to the

MENU to review slides

GOOD LUCK!

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QUIZ

You completed the lesson!

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If so, click the QUIZ button, if not click back to the

MENU to review slides

GOOD LUCK!

MENU

QUIZ

Feel Ready for the Quiz Already?

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QUESTION #1

What should be the very first thing the recipient

should read in the beginning of a professional

letter?

A. The purpose of the letter

B. Inquires about the recipient’s well-being

C. Who the sender is and what their qualifications ar

e

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Incorrect!Try Again

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Great Job!Next Question

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QUESTION #2

Which of the following is NOT a situation in

which a formal letter is necessary?

A. Request for a job recommendation

B. Buying a car

C. Communicating to a professor

D. Scholarship applications

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Incorrect!Try Again

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Great Job!Next Question

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QUESTION #3

What should be at the top of the page of a

professional letter?

A. The date

B. The sender’s contact information

C. What the recipient’s qualifications are

D. What the sender’s qualifications are

E. A. B, and D are all correctMENU

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Correct, but there’s more to this answer!

Try Again

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Incorrect!The senders’ qualifications should be at the top of

the letter; the recipient doesn’t need to see their

own qualifications

TRY AGAIN

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Great Job!Next Question

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QUESTION #4

What should always be at the end of a

professional letter?

A. The sender’s signature

B. A funny picture

C. The sender’s qualifications

D. A formal goodbye/ ending

E. A, C, D are all correctMENU

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Incorrect!Try Again

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Correct, but there’s more to this answer!

Try Again

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Great Job!Next Question

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QUESTION #5

Why are professional letters important in the

appropriate setting?

A. They give the sender professionalism

B. The leave good impressions

C. They inform the recipient that the letter is import

ant and worth noticing

D. All of the above are correct, so formal writing is a

n important skill! MENU

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Correct, but there’s more to this answer!

Try Again

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Great Job, You Successfully

Completed the Quiz!

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Now that you have completed this quiz, you should be able to:

Write a professional letter consisting of your

qualifications, who you are, and why the letter is

relevant to the recipient.

Properly greet the recipient of a formal letter

End a letter in a formal and professional way

Know to whom and when to send a professional

letter

Know why formal writing is important in both

education and in the job market

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