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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!
MENU
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
MENU
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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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