CBSE Class 12 English Letter Writing Notes Set 01

Questions for practice:

Q.1.-Water is very precious. Some scientists even go to the extent of saying that the Third World War may be fought on the issue of water. Write a speech in 150-200 words expressing your views to be delivered in the morning assembly in your school.

Q.2.-“To use the latest technology the right way, is in the hands of the youth today.” Write a speech 150-200 words discouraging the misuse of technological products like cell phones, computers etc and highlighting the need to use them to promote harmony and goodwill in the society.

Q.3.-“Our Good Earth”, an environmental awareness magazine has launched a marathon 'Clean Your City’ campaign. As an active participant write a speech to be read out in the morning assembly urging students to participate in the campaign in 150-200 words.

Q.4.-As a concerned citizen, you are worried about the harmful effects of the insanitary conditions in your town. Write a short speech on the necessity of sanitation, to be given at the morning assembly in your school.

5. LETTER WRITING 

The most common form of written communication is the letter. Letters should have a format that goes with the latest conventions.

Letter types include

• Informal Letters-These are letters written to close associates.

• Formal Letters include-

(a) business or official letters (for making enquiries, registering complaints, asking for and giving information, placing orders and sending replies;

(b) Letters to the editor (giving suggestions on an issue);

(c) Application for a job.

Content-4 marks

• Relevant ideas to be presented in a coherent way.

• Use connectors appropriately, indent the paragraphs.

• There should be minimum three paragraphs.

Expression-4 marks.

• Grammatical accuracy, spellings-2 Marks.

• Coherence, relevance of ideas and style- 2 Marks. 

Important points to remember while drafting letters:

• Write the letter in the full block format (i.e. to the left)

• State your reason for writing in the first paragraph and stay on track.

• Always include specifics that will help ease the recipient’s task. For instance, if you are writing to a bank, mention your account number.

• If you refer to other correspondence, quote date of the letter/s reference numbers, file numbers, order numbers, cheque number with date. Include copies whenever possible.

• Gently and respectfully direct the recipient’s course of action.

• It may be strongly worded but always be courteous and use polite language and pleasant tone.

• Self introduction should be avoided.

• Informal expressions, greetings or contracted forms of words should not be used.

• The language should be simple, straight forward and to the point.

• Leave a line/ additional space between paragraphs since no indentation is followed.

• Open punctuation to be followed. ( No punctuation marks to be used)

• Do not mix up the old format and new format.

• In letters to the editor – Do not ask the editor to solve the problems.

• In job application letters Curriculum-vitae (CV) /Bio-data/ Resume/ should be written. It should not be included in the body of the letter but after the complimentary close as enclosure.

• In the Letter to the Editor use ‘yours truly’ as the complimentary close.

Sample Letters

You are Sidhi/ Sanjay of U-03 G Block Kasturi Nagar Mysore-37.Write a letter to the Director NGO Bird Links Society, Bangalore expressing your concern about the decrease in the number of the birds in Delhi.
House No- U/03

G Blo

Sir

Complaint about the desert cooler

Refer Cash Memo No DC-98765 dated 17.4.2011

I wish to bring it to your notice that I purchased a ‘Cooler Home’ desert cooler from you on 17 April, 2011 (Vide Cash Memo No DC-98765, dated 17.04.2011). The cooler did function well in the beginning for one and a half months and then it has started giving problems. The problems are - water leakage, heavy noise while working and high consumption of power.

I, therefore, request you to get the set repaired by a technician. In case it is irreparable, kindly replace it with a new one as it carries a warranty period of three years.

Yours faithfully

Suresh

Sample Letter No- 3

You are Isha/Ishan, the secretary of the Students’ Forum of Sahrudaya Vidyalaya, Indranagar. You have planned an excursion to Jog falls during the summer vacation. Write a letter to the General Manager, Southern Railway, for reservation of a bogie for 60 students from Bangalore to Shimoga and back, supplying all necessary information.

Secretary

Sahrudaya Vidyalaya

Indranagar.

01 Mar 2012

The General Manager

Southern Railways

Bangalore

Request for the reservation of a Bogie for 60 students

Sir

A group of 60 students of class XI of this school has planned to visit Jog Falls during the summer vacation. They will be accompanied by three teachers and two attendants. They plan to leave Bangalore on 15th May by Jeevan Express and return by the same train from Shimoga on 25th May.

Kindly confirm whether a bogie can be reserved for the above mentioned dates. We would also like to know the estimated fare so that we can make necessary arrangements at our end.

The List of the members of the tour party is enclosed in the prescribed proforma. We request you to send the detail at the earliest to enable us to plan in advance.

Yours faithfully

Isha

Secretary

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letter writing is the most common form of written communication. It is a means of connecting people. Letter is better than a telephonic conversation as it gives deeper, better and more creative expression of thought than a conversation on phone.

Writing letters is an art which everyone must develop and master with continuous practice. Types of Formal letters in class 12 English core syllabus for the session 2024-25 include:

• 1. Letter to the Editor
• 2. Letter of Job application

1. Letter to the Editor is written to the Editor of a newspaper or a magazine in order to highlight social issues or problems expecting it to get published in the print media.

Reasons for writing a letter to the Editor include:

• Expressing an opinion
• Sharing one’s views with the public on a particular subject
• Drawing the attention of the concerned authorities to a problem of public interest
• Communicating a certain piece of information.

The format has to be followed and formal language has to be used.
(5 Marks: Format: 1 /Content: 3 / Expression: 1)
Word Limit: 120-150 words

FORMAT OF THE LETTER

Sender’s Address
House No. .........................
Name of Street ....................
City ..............................

Date ..............................

Address of The Receiver
The Editor
Name of The News Paper
Place of Publication

Subject : ..................................................
Salutation
Sir/Madam

BODY OF THE LETTER

Paragraph 1- Define your purpose of writing the letter. You can start by — "Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the Concerned authorities/ concerned readers to the problem..."

Paragraph 2- Define the problem in detail.

Paragraph 3- Specify at least three effects of the problem.

Paragraph 4- Write the solutions you have. (Minimum of 2 Preferred solutions)

Paragraph 5- Concluding lines [ egs: "I hope this letter draws the attention of the concerned authorities and strict action is taken against the offenders"]

Subscription
Yours faithfully/sincerely
Signature
Name

SOME SUGGESTIVE LINES

Paragraph 1-

• I am writing to you in order to highlight …………
• Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to express my concern on …………
• I am writing this letter in order to draw the attention of the authorities over the issue …………

Paragraph 2-

• The residents face many problems due to …………..
• Many times, complaints have been made but the authorities have turned a deaf ear to our problem.
• The main reason is ……….
• The most annoying/ important thing is …………
• The negligence of authorities has added fuel to fire.
• The situation has gone from bad to worse.
• The authorities are just watching from a distance and not taking any action.
• The problem has taken the shape of a hydra-headed monster.
• I think this problem is getting step-motherly treatment.

Paragraph 3-

• I hope that adequate measures will be taken by the authorities ……….
• I hope this issue will be brought into light ……………….
• In this situation, I would request you to publish an article in your esteemed newspaper, whereby awareness can be created among the citizens. The civic awareness about the issue can thus be enhanced. I also request the authorities concerned to take necessary steps for /reg…….

Solved Example:

1. Write a letter to the Editor of Deccan Herald Bengaluru about the water scarcity in your locality suggesting ways to improve the problem of water supply. You are Sonia/ Sanjay of 24, Whitefield, Bengaluru-45.
Answer:
H. No. A-24,
Whitefield
Bengaluru-45

April 2, 2024

The Editor
The Deccan Herald
Bengaluru-560001

Subject: Water crisis in Whitefield and surrounding localities

Sir

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities concerned towards the problem of water scarcity in our locality.

It is still early summer and the residents are already facing acute water shortage in the area. The supply is cut off at 8.30 a.m. in the morning and is restored only for half an hour in the evening between 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Since the timings are erratic, many people, especially the working couples, are unable to store water.

Frequent complaints to the Jal Board have not yielded any result as the authorities express their helplessness saying that one of the tanks of the KR Puram Water Treatment Plant is under repair and has been shut down for a month or so, thereby affecting the water supply in the area. But it is nearly one and a half months since the problem began, yet there is no respite to the residents.

The Jal Board should, in the meantime, make provisions for water tankers at different hours of the day. Also, measures must be taken to expedite the repair work.

In this situation, I would request you to publish an article in your esteemed newspaper, whereby awareness can be created among the citizens. The civic awareness about the issue can thus be enhanced. I also request the authorities concerned to take necessary action.

Yours faithfully
Sonia/ Sanjay

2. Write a Letter to the Editor of the Hindustan Times complaining against the bursting level of noise pollution in your city. You are Anup /Arohi, no 606, Harmony apartments, Nagpur.
Answer:
606 Harmony apartments
Nagpur

16 May 2024

The Editor
The Hindustan Times
Nagpur

Sub: Concern over rising level of noise pollution in the city

Sir

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities concerned towards the rising noise pollution in our cities.

Despite laws made by the government banning the use of loudspeakers and DJs after a particular time, people seem to turn a deaf ear to what the government tells them. Marriage processions till late night in the middle of the cities and DJ’s loud music are all sources of noise which have an adverse effect on older and the ailing members of the society. Students are the main victims especially during examination days. Not only does it affect health of the people but also their behaviour. It causes ailments like hypertension, insomnia, sleeplessness, hearing impairment and what not.

It all speaks volumes of good planning on the part of the government. Strict adherence to rules must be implemented. Fines should be imposed on those who break the rules.

It is hoped that this concern if published in your reputed newspaper will awake the authorities from their slumber and the needful will be done at the earliest possible.

Yours faithfully
Anup