The Heading
The heading of a
friendly letter should contain the return address followed by the date.
In a friendly letter the
heading is always indented to the middle of the page.
If the correspondents
are familiar enough and the recipient knows the writer's address, or if the
stationery is imprinted with the return address, then the return address may be
omitted. (Although another reason for the return address is a backup in case
the envelope gets damaged...)
Always include the date.
Example:
123 Main St.
West Newfield
West Newfield
Greater Portmore
St. Catherine
December 14, 2002
The Greeting
The greeting in a
friendly letter capitalizes the first word and any noun. It normally ends with
a comma.
Example:
Dear Aunt Miriam,
The Body
The body of the letter
contains the main text. Each paragraph should be indented.
The Complimentary Close
and Signature Line
The left edge of the
close and signature line in a friendly letter begins in the center, at the same
column as the heading – semi-block.
The complimentary close
begins with a capital letter and ends with a comma.
Skip from one to three
spaces (two on a typewriter), and type in the signature line, the printed name
of the person signing the letter. If the writer and reader are very friendly,
or if the letter is handwritten in the same script as the signature, the
signature line or the last name in the signature line may be omitted.
Sign the name in the
space between the close and the signature line, starting at the left edge of
the signature line.
Unless there is great
familiarity between the correspondents, the signature should be in blue or
black ink.
Example:
Truly yours,
(Signature goes here)
Margaret
Fong
Full-Block: Everything is “lefted” – kept to the left.
Example:
Truly yours,
(Signature goes here)
Margaret Fong
RUBRIC
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CRITERIA
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
SALUTATION AND CLOSING
|
Salutation and closing have no errors in placement, punctuation
or capitalization.
|
Salutation and closing have few errors and are placed
appropriately
|
Salutation and closing have 3 or more errors. One or both not
correctly placed
|
Salutation and/or closing missing
|
|
BODY
|
Sentences and paragraphs are complete, well-written, varied
sentence structure and vocabulary.
|
All sentences are complete and well written with no fragments or
run-ons. Paragraphing is generally well done.
|
Most sentences are complete and well written. Paragraphs are
unorganized.
|
Many sentence fragments or run on sentences. No evidence
of paragraphing
|
|
GRAMMAR AND EXPRESSION
|
No errors in grammar or spelling in body of letter
|
2-3 errors in capitalization or punctuation in body of
letter that do not interfere in meaning.
|
Several errors in grammar or spelling in body of letter that
interfere in meaning.
|
Many errors in spelling and/or grammar in body of letter that
make the letter illegible.
|
