3.3 Formal letter

English first additional language

Grade 9

Hidden treasures

Module 13

Formal letter

Activity 1:

To write for social purposes

[lo 4.2, 4.6]

How wonderful it would be to get permission for your class to plant a tree in the school grounds, one which you would then be responsible to nurture (look after)!

Write a formal letter of ± 100 words to your headmaster requesting permission to do just that!

• Your teacher will select the best letter to be submitted to him. I hope it will be yours. Remember to do a rough draft first, to edit it and then to hand in the final draft.

Take note of the correct format:

Ainsville

7150

25 May 2003

The Headmaster

Ainsville High School

PO Box 438

Ainsville

7150

Dear Mr Graham

Tree Planting

(Introduction: your purpose for writing)

(Body: reasons and support for your letter)

(Conclusion: a positive ending)

Yours faithfully

(Ms) S. Petersen

Consult the functional writing grid by which your diary entry was assessed – it will apply here too.

Proof read and edit your rough draft now. (Hand in the rough draft with the final copy.)

By now you have probably received permission to plant a tree. As a class, make a list of all that needs to be done to plant and to maintain a tree. Consider the following points:

• how deep and wide the hole must be
• what fertiliser is needed
• how often the tree needs to be watered
• choice of tree (perhaps you can find out what the tree of the year is and plant it if it is suited to your area), consider whether the area is sunny or shaded and whether the tree is evergreen or not
• the best season in which to plant the tree

will have to devise a roster . The duties of planting and caring for your tree should be divided amongst all your classmates. This will ensure that it receives the best care in order for it to grow into a big, strong, healthy specimen. A tree is a good reminder of the passing of time.

(Include clearing litter from the area around your tree as a duty.)

• Where do you plot your X’s now?

Activity 2:

To read a text for information and pleasure and understand some elements of poetry

[lo 3.2, 6.3, 6.9]

It is exactly this (as depicted by the graph) - the pursuit of money - that causes us to lose sight of that which is more essential than money: a faith in the quality of life. Discuss this briefly in your group.

• Consider the following poem before deciding whether man is destructive or not.
• Answer the questions that follow with care.

Where are all my Christmas trees?

…April, May, June, July

August, September, October, November –

December!

Nine long months still to dream of

silver balls and tinsel,

little lambs and the magi

bringing to life the miracle of the nativity.

Was it so long ago that we

swept up the pine needles?

The whispering pines is where I’ll go

to breathe in the Christmas feel,

to roll on matted needle covers

and rest, staring where they point –

where infinite dreams and hopes are sent.

A grating, rasping, sawing fills my ears

and round the bend –

a massacre.

They’re gone and going . . .

My stream of tears

splatters off the fallen board

‘Phase One: Whispering Pines, exclusive