Lesson plan for formal letter
Title: Writing a Formal Letter
Grade Level: High School
Subject: English Language Arts
Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate proper formatting and writing techniques for a formal letter.
Materials Needed:
- Handouts of sample formal letters
- Writing paper
- Pens/pencils
- Rubric for grading
Lesson Outline:
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
- Discuss the purpose and importance of writing formal letters
- Show examples of formal letters and identify the key components (heading, salutation, body, closing, signature)
- Explain the difference between formal and informal letters
2. Brainstorming (15 minutes)
- Have students think of a situation where they might need to write a formal letter (e.g. applying for a job, requesting information, expressing a concern)
- Students will outline the purpose of their letter and the main points they want to address
3. Formatting (20 minutes)
- Review the proper formatting for a formal letter (date, sender's address, recipient's address, salutation, body paragraphs, closing, signature)
- Provide a sample template for students to follow
4. Writing (30 minutes)
- Have students start drafting their formal letters based on their brainstorming outlines
- Encourage students to use formal language and proper grammar
- Circulate around the classroom to provide feedback and assistance as needed
5. Peer Review (15 minutes)
- Pair students up to exchange letters and provide feedback on each other's work
- Emphasize the importance of constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement
6. Revision (15 minutes)
- Have students make revisions to their letters based on the feedback they received
- Encourage students to pay attention to detail and make any necessary corrections
7. Conclusion (10 minutes)
- Discuss the importance of proofreading and editing before finalizing a formal letter
- Collect and review final draft letters for grading
Assessment:
- Use a rubric to assess students' formal letters based on formatting, content, language use, and overall effectiveness
- Provide feedback on areas for improvement and commend students for their strengths
Extension Activity:
- Have students role-play the scenarios they wrote formal letters for, using their letters as scripts
- Discuss the impact of effective communication in real-life situations and the importance of using formal language when appropriate.