Reading for Life Lessons
Minnesota ABE Supplemental Services, Linda Strand, 2004-2005
And the Minnesota Literacy Council
Focus: Business Letters (Reading for Life, volume 2, unit 15: Letter Writing)
Objectives: Learners will be able to identify the parts of a business letter, and identify the functions of paragraphs within business letters.
Key Vocabulary: letterhead, return address, greeting, salutation, body, message, closing, signature, request, complaint, inside address
Topics to Review: letter-writing vocabulary and basics, polite language
Materials: Sample business letters, overhead transparencies of business letters
Procedure:
Real-life application:
Before class, number your business letters. Create the following chart on the board or as a worksheet for your students. You may wish to give your students a bank of reasons for writing a business letter if you think that they will have difficulty with the activity.
|
Letter |
Reason for writing |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
Why Write Business Letters?: In class, ask students if they have every written a letter to company or another type of business letter. T asks: “Why did you write the letters?” T lists information students provide on the board. T asks: “Are there other times when you would write a business letter?” Possible reasons: To ask for or give information; to complain about a product or service; to reply to a phone conversation or another letter; to suggest an improvement or to request action on a particular matter.
T and students discuss reasons for writing business letters and possible examples.
T distributes worksheet or has students copy it in their notebooks. T distributes letters to students. Students look at letters to complete the chart. When students have finished, T leads feedback session about chart.
Parts of a Business Letter: T shows OHT of business letter. T walks students through labeling parts of a business letter, explaining new vocabulary. Parts that should be included: return address/letterhead, date, inside address, greeting/salutation, body/message, closing, signature (hand-written and typed).
Functions of paragraphs: Show an OHT of a business letter. Walk students through the purpose of each paragraph. This varies depending on the type of business letter you are using. Here is an example based on a letter of complaint.
Para 1: purpose of writing, including what you are complaining about and when and where it happened. Stress to students that it is not customary for letter writers to introduce themselves in the letter. E.g., “My name is ______ and I am writing…
Para 2: Details of the complaint. This may take more than one paragraph.
Para 3: Request for action/resolution.
Para 4: Closing
Extensions:
Students bring in business letters they have received and practice labeling the parts and identifying the purpose of the paragraphs.
Students write letters to elected officials.
Discuss conventions for writing business-style letters via e-mail.
Progress to Reading for Life, v.1 competency worksheets: Applicable worksheets: RFL v.2, unit 15
Progress to multiple-choice format activities: Some to be created by MLC – coming soon
Extensions: Some to be created by MLC – coming soon | 
