how to write a letter for a school assignment

Go Green With Knowledge! Get 30% off on Annual Courses For World Environment Day with code NATURE30

Share this article

Table of Contents

Latest updates.

Top 25 Classroom Activities for Students – Follow The Best Activities

NCERT Books App: Download NCERT Books for Classes 1 to 12

Diary Entry Format: Examples and Questions

AI in Education: Changing the Learning Landscape

Real Life Applications of Calculus

Mensuration Formulas for 2D and 3D Shapes

Real-Life Applications of Trigonometry: Examples

Notice Writing Format

Application of Matrices in Life: Examples

NMMS Result 2023: Check State-wise Scholarship Results

Tag cloud :.

• entrance exams
• engineering
• ssc cgl 2024
• Written By Varsha
• Last Modified 24-01-2023

Formal Letter Format for School: Learn With Examples

Formal Letter Format: Learning formal letter writing and formal letter structure for school is very important. It will assist students in comprehending the formal communication rules. Formal letters should be simple and straightforward. Formal letters are typically used to make formal requests to the principal, obtain authorization from a guardian, and reply to any difficulties. 

Formal letters are written in an orderly and conventional manner, following a predefined pattern, primarily for official purposes .In this article, we have covered everything you need to know about the formal letter format to the principal, as well as the regulations to follow when writing one. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about the formal letter format for school.

Letter To Principal – Formal Letter Format

The letter writing format to the principal or school is given below:

• Sender’s Details/Address: The sender’s details should be written at the top of the page. The sender’s details should include all the detailed information about the sender, such as name, address, and contact details.
• Date: Followed by the sender’s details, the date should be mentioned. The sender should mention the date on which the letter is written.
• Receiver’s Details/Address:  Here, you should mention the address of the receiver. As you’re writing a formal letter for school officials (Principal, teacher, HOD, etc.), you should mention the name/position of the receiver followed by the address of the school.
• Subject of The Formal Letter:  Followed by the receiver’s details, you must include the subject line. Basically, this subject line talks about the purpose of the letter.
• Salutation:  You should greet the person to whom you are writing the letter. As you are writing a formal letter, the greeting should not be too personal.
• Body of The Letter:  Basically, the body of the letter is divided into 3 parts which are as under: Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself and the purpose of writing this letter. Paragraph 2: Now explain the reason in detail. Paragraph 3: Conclude the letter. This section must say what you’re expecting or the solution.
• Complimentary Closing: Now conclude the letter with complimentary closing like yours sincerely, yours faithfully, etc.
• Signature: Below the complimentary message, write your name followed by your signature and designation.

Formal Letter Format to Principal

The format of a formal letter to the principal of a school is given below:

Rules for Writing Formal Letter to Principal

Before writing a formal letter to the school or to the principal, one must be aware of the rules to be followed while writing the letter. The format is similar for all education boards in India, including CBSE, ICSE, etc. Some of the key points to remember while writing a formal letter to the school are listed below:

• Don’t use flowery language,
• Don’t use abbreviations and slags,
• The letter must be precise, and the message should be direct,
• Always include the subject line,
• Always follow the formal letter format for school.

Formal Letter Examples

In the following section, we have provided different sets of formal letter writing by students to the principal and teacher. Go through the sample formal letters for the school as they will give you an idea of how to write a letter to your school Principal or other officials.

Formal Letter to Principal Example 1: School Leaving Letter

Imagine there is a girl named Varsha who wants to write a letter to the school Principal asking permission to remain absent from school for 2 days on account of her sister’s marriage. Now write a letter to the principal requesting leave for 2 days.

Know how to write a formal letter to the principal from a student from the sample letter. You can easily understand the letter to principal format from this example:

Formal Letter Writing Example 2: Sick Leave Application for School

Imagine you were suffering from a fever. Without informing your school, you took leave. Now write a sick leave application for the school teacher for fever which you have already taken.

Understand the application format for the school formal letter from the following sample letter:

Formal Letter Writing Tips

These are some of the tips to write a formal letter to the principal:

• Start off with your address. Regardless of the type of letter, it is also advised to start with your address. Then write the recipient’s address.
• Leave one line of space and then write the current date and time.
• Use proper greetings and salutations like Mr., Mrs., Dr. etc.
• Write a clear and concise subject line that describes the motive for writing the letter.
• Write the content of your letter inside the body of the letter. Be precise and explain everything.
• Always use proper greetings to sign off like: Yours Truly, Sincerely, etc.

Things to Avoid While Formal Letter Writing

While you are writing a formal letter to the principal or teacher, you must keep in mind some important things:

• Don’t use bad language or slang while writing letters as it is completely unprofessional.
• Do not make up anything or write anything that is not true. Always stick to the facts.
• Don’t hand-write articles. It does not seem professional to see handwritten letters. Use Microsoft Word or Google Docs to write formal letters.
• Don’t forget to check and proofread your writing before submitting it.
• Keep the tone of your writing formal yet friendly. However, don’t make it too friendly and informal.

FAQs on Formal Letter Format for School

Q1. How do you write a letter to the school principal? Ans. To write a letter to the principal, introduce yourself first and greet the person to whom you are writing the letter. Explain your problem and the solution or conclusion that you are expecting from that person. For a detailed formal letter format to the principal, refer to this page.

Q2. How do you start a formal letter? Ans. You can begin your formal letter with Dear or Respected before the name of the person to whom you are writing.

Q3. How do you end a formal letter? Ans. You can end the formal letter by mentioning Sincerely, Regards, Yours truly, Yours Sincerely followed by your name and signature.

Q4. Can I write an email to the principal instead of using a handwritten or printed letter format? Ans: Although you can drop an email to the principal for leave or any other reason, it’s preferable to use a typed, printed and signed letter, as it is more convenient to read it that way.

Q5. How do I write a formal letter to the principal when a teacher is not doing a good job? Ans: If you are not satisfied with a teacher’s performance, you can write a formal letter to the principal. You need to have a professional tone. Do not use provoking words. Do not send the letter before you are sure of the legitimacy of all the information that you choose to mention in the letter. Make sure you also mention the date and time carefully.

Related Articles

Top 25 Classroom Activities for Students: Classroom Activities for Students: Studying in the classroom can become so boring. Students often find it challenging to focus...

NCERT Books App: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organisation set up by the Government of India in 1961....

Diary Entry Format: Diary writing format includes a well-organised type of writing skill that covers a schedule and section on the pages. It is essential...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made its presence felt in every sphere of life, with education being no exception. With its ability to churn out and...

Real Life Applications of Calculus: Calculus is a part of mathematics and is also used in physics. With real-life applications of calculus, it can be found...

Mensuration Formulas: Mensuration is a branch of mathematics that deals with the area, perimeter, volume, and surface area of various geometrical shapes. It is one...

Real-Life Applications of Trigonometry: Trigonometry simply means calculations with triangles. It is a study in mathematics that involves the lengths, heights, and angles of different...

Notice Writing Format: Students will have a topic to write in English for almost every exam board, such as CBSE, ICSE, and State boards. Students...

Application of Matrices - Application of matrices are not confined to Mathematics. The concept is widely used in Engineering, Science, and Compute Applications as well....

NMMS Result 2023: The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMSS) exam maps students by measuring them in mental ability tests and scholastic aptitude tests. Candidates can check...

Indian Exams and Test Preparation

The Indian Test Prep industry has come a long way from being either a metro-focused teacher-driven process or a largely unregulated home-tuitions-driven delivery catering. Improving...

National Education Policy 2020

India has recently undergone a monumental shift in its education system, with the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP is an...

India Education: A Journey Towards Modernity

Education is the foundation of development in any society or country, and India is no exception. A country with a population of over 1.3 Billion...

Best K12 Education Content

K12 Education: Content for K12 education refers to the curriculum and materials designed to teach students from kindergarten to the twelfth grade. It consists of...

NMMS Apply Online 2023

NMMS Apply Online 2023: State Council of Education Research Training (SCERT) will release the application form for NMMS Scholarship 2023. The National Means cum Merit...

Indian Army Ranks and Insignia: Officers, JCOs & NCOs

Indian Army Ranks: Indian Army has introduced various ranks and cadres for administrative efficiency. Candidates aspiring to join the Indian Army must be familiar with...

Olympiad Books For Class 3: Best Study Material

Olympiad Books for Class 3: Parents and teachers should be aware of the best study material to prepare for the Olympiads. Olympiad books for Class...

NMMS Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2023: All Details

NMMS Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2023: The National Means-cum-Merit scholarship (NMMS) was launched to award scholarships to meritorius students of economically-weaker sections, to encourage them...

CBSE Schools: Check Region-wise List

CBSE Schools: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a national-level board of education in India for public and private schools. It was established...

10th Pass Government Jobs 2022: Vacancies, Recruitment & Salary Details

10th Pass Govt Jobs 2021-22: Students looking for 10th pass govt job details can keep a check on this space. India is the home to...

PTE Tutorials: Login, Sample Questions, Mock Test, Reading, Writing, Listening

PTE Tutorials – The Pearson PCL Group conducts the PTE academic test to assess the English proficiency of the registered candidates. Candidates who do not...

Differentiation Formulas: Rules, Formula List PDF

Differentiation Formulas PDF: Differentiation is one of the most important topics for Class 11 and 12 students. Therefore, every student studying in the Science stream...

Career in RAW: Check All Details Related to RAW

Career in RAW: Have you ever heard about Operation Meghdoot, Operation Chanakya, Operation Leech, Operation Smiling Buddha, etc.? If yes, you might be aware of...

Career in Indian Railways as Train Driver: Check Details Here

Career in Indian Railways as Train Driver - The role of a train driver is equivalent to the role of a pilot in an airline....

Nagaland Education: All Details on Board, College, Uni Exams

Nagaland lies in the northeastern part of India. It is one of the smallest states in India. It is bounded with the Indian states of...

LKG Maths Worksheets 2021: Download PDF For Here!

LKG Maths Worksheets: Maths is one of the important subjects that is introduced to the Lower Kindergarten students. It is important for kids to understand...

LKG Worksheets: Check Important Details

LKG Worksheets: LKG stands for Lower Kindergarten. It is the foundation of a child's learning journey. The LKG syllabus can be considered a source of...

39 Insightful Publications

Embibe Is A Global Innovator

Innovator Of The Year Education Forever

Interpretable And Explainable AI

Revolutionizing Education Forever

Best AI Platform For Education

Enabling Teachers Everywhere

Decoding Performance

Leading AI Powered Learning Solution Provider

Auto Generation Of Tests

Disrupting Education In India

Problem Sequencing Using DKT

Help Students Ace India's Toughest Exams

Best Education AI Platform

Unlocking AI Through Saas

Fixing Student’s Behaviour With Data Analytics

Leveraging Intelligence To Deliver Results

Brave New World Of Applied AI

You Can Score Higher

Harnessing AI In Education

Personalized Ed-tech With AI

Exciting AI Platform, Personalizing Education

Disruptor Award For Maximum Business Impact

Top 20 AI Influencers In India

Proud Owner Of 9 Patents

Innovation in AR/VR/MR

Best Animated Frames Award 2024

Trending Searches

Previous year question papers, sample papers.

Unleash Your True Potential With Personalised Learning on EMBIBE

Ace Your Exam With Personalised Learning on EMBIBE

Enter mobile number.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

The Correspondence Project: A Lesson of Letters

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

Students practice writing effective letters for a variety of real-life situations, such as responding to a prompt on a standardized test, corresponding with distant family members, or communicating with a business. They begin by reviewing the differences between business and friendly letter formats, using examples and a Venn diagram. Next, students write two letters, choosing from a list of prompts that include letters for varying audiences and purposes. After completing drafts and revisions, students complete their final versions using an online tool.

Featured Resources

Letter Generator : This online tool allows students to read about the parts of a letter. They can then write and print their own friendly or business letter. Interactive Venn Diagram : Use this online tool to organize ideas for a compare and contrast essay, or while reading to compare and contrast two works of literature.

From Theory to Practice

In Both Art and Craft: Teaching Ideas That Spark Learning , Diana Mitchell explains that teaching is "about gently uncovering ways for students to find their way into the learning by making connections within themselves" (23). Students are more likely to "find their way into learning" when assignments have clear application to real-world tasks. As Mitchell explains it, these types of assignments, "have a ‘nowness' about them; there is a reason for an importance to doing them at this point in time" (24). In addition, personal connections are made more easily when students have a degree of choice within a writing assignment. Mitchell triumphs assignments that "are fun and interesting," as well as those that "provide lots of possibilities and tap into . . . imagination" (24). In that spirit, this lesson in letter writing provides a functional application for writing and, at the same time, encourages students to make personal connections through a variety of letter topics. Further Reading

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).
• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
• 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
• 11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
• 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

Computers with Internet access for student use

• Contemplating Correspondence
• Contemplating Correspondence Key
• Correspondence Project Prompts
• Business and Friendly Letter Samples
• Rubric for Correspondence Project
• Venn Diagram

Preparation

• Review the Correspondence Project Prompts and determine the requirements for the class. Decide on the number of letters students will write as well as any letters that you will require. You may wish to choose specific prompts to ensure that students write at least one letter using business format and one using friendly format. You can also require 2 letters and allow students to choose additional letters freely.
• Venn Diagram handout (if computer access is not available)
• Make one copy of the Contemplating Correspondence Key for yourself.
• Make overhead transparencies of the Business and Friendly Letter Samples and the Venn Diagram handout (needed only if computer access is not available).
• Test the interactive  Venn Diagram and Letter Generator on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tools and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page .

Student Objectives

Students will

• review examples of business and friendly letters.
• compare business and friendly letter formats.
• write letters in response to specific writing prompts.
• apply knowledge of language structure and conventions.
• adjust their use of writing conventions, style, and vocabulary for a variety of audiences and purposes.

Session One

• Distribute copies of the Contemplating Correspondence sheet.
• Explain that most questions have more than one “correct” answers. Suggest that students leave any questions that they are unsure about blank and return to them after the class discussion of the sheets.
• Allow students a few minutes to respond.
• Review the students' responses to the Contemplating Correspondence sheet, using the questions as a springboard for a brief class discussion about writing letters. Refer to the Contemplating Correspondence Key to ensure students recognize the most basic details.
• Tell students that they will be completing a letter writing project. Before writing the letters, however, they will review standard business and friendly letter formats.
• Discuss the difference between the friendly letter format and a friendly tone. Explain that people can use the friendly letter format for letters that have a more formal tone (e.g., a condolence letter to someone the author does not know well).
• Share the Friendly Letter Sample by distributing copies to students, and displaying the sample using an overhead transparency.
• Have students take turns reading the body of the letter aloud.
• Identify the main parts of a friendly letter (heading, greeting, body, closing, and signature) by allowing student volunteers to take turns using a non-permanent transparency marker to label each of the five main parts. Ask students to label their handouts in the same manner.
• Use Writing the Basic Business Letter from the Purdue OWL to supplement the discussion of the parts of letters.

Session Two

• Review the information covered in Session One by asking students what they remember about friendly letter format.
• Tell students that during this session, they will be reviewing business letter format.
• Ask students if business letter format is for use only by businesses. Use student responses as a springboard for discussion on the various uses for business letters (e.g., applying for employment, expressing a consumer complaint to company).
• Share the Business Letter Sample by distributing copies to students and displaying the sample by using an overhead transparency.
• Identify the main parts of a business letter (heading, inside address, greeting, body, closing, and signature) by allowing student volunteers to take turns using a non-permanent transparency marker to label each of the six main parts. Instruct students to label their handouts in the same manner.
• Again, you can use Writing the Basic Business Letter from the Purdue OWL to supplement the discussion of the parts of letters.
• Discuss the differences between the full-block and modified-block formats. Point to the additional sample letters from the Purdue OWL or Sample Complaint Letter to discuss the formats.
• Have students compare friendly and business letter formats using the interactive Venn Diagram . Teachers also may wish to have students complete a separate Venn Diagram to compare and contrast full-block and modified-block formats. If computer access is not available, distribute copies of the Venn Diagram handout to students and display the diagram using an overhead transparency. Allow students to complete the diagram together by allowing student volunteers to take turns using a non-permanent transparency maker to identify common and dissimilar traits between the two letter formats. Students should follow along by filling in their own diagrams on their handouts.
• Distribute the Correspondence Project Prompts and the Rubric for Correspondence Project to students. Explain the requirements you have chosen for the project, giving students details on the number of letters they should write and any required prompts they must respond to.
• Review the Rubric for Correspondence Project and ensure that students understand the expectations for the project.
• In the remaining time, have students begin the process of choosing letters to write and drafting their correspondence. Explain that students will continue this work during the next class session.

Session Three

• Review the Correspondence Project Prompts and the Rubric for Correspondence Project . Answer any questions regarding the project.
• Tell students that the goal for this session is to complete drafts of at least two letters.
• Make newspapers, scissors, and tape available to students for use with the first prompt (a job application letter).
• Circulate among students as they work, and assist as needed.
• Students who require extra time to complete their drafts should do so as homework.

Session Four

• Check for completion of at least two letters.
• Review the Correspondence Project Prompts and the Rubric for Correspondence Project .
• Tell students that the goal for this session is to complete drafts for the remaining letters.
• Students who require extra time to complete their letters should do so as homework.
• Ask students to bring all completed drafts with them to the next class session.

Session Five

• Review the Rubric for Correspondence Project .
• Introduce students to the interactive Letter Generator , and explain that they will be revising their drafts and using this tool to create final versions of their work.
• Allow students time to revise their drafts. Revision options are endless and open to teacher preference. Students may proofread and revise independently, through “pair and share” edit sessions with classmates, or by basing revisions on teacher remarks and comments if the teacher wishes to collect the drafts prior to Session Five and return them with comments at the beginning of the session.
• Students should complete their draft revisions and create final versions using the interactive Letter Generator .
• If needed, add a sixth session to the lesson to allow students time to complete their letters using the interactive Letter Generator .
• Communicating on Local Issues: Exploring Audience in Persuasive Letter Writing
• Draft Letters: Improving Student Writing through Critical Thinking
• E-pals Around the World
• Exploring Literature through Letter-Writing Groups
• Persuading an Audience: Writing Effective Letters to the Editor
• Worth Its Weight: Letter Writing with “The Things They Carried”
• Consider introducing pen pals or “key pals” into your classroom community. Many programs are available online and can easily be located through most of the popular search engines using the keyword search “school pen pals.”
• Depending on the grade and skill level of students, a mini-lesson on properly addressing an envelope and folding a letter might be a worthwhile addition to this project.
• Use the online interactive Postcard Creator as a lesson extension or letter alternative. Many of the friendly letter prompts would adapt easily to a postcard format.
• The EDSITEment lesson I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Someone a Letter offers a collection of historically significant letters and can provide a useful extension to this lesson.

Student Assessment / Reflections

• Assess students’ understanding of the purposes and formats of business and friendly letters through observation and anecdotal notes of student participation during classroom discussions.
• Assess students’ use of interactive tools through observation and anecdotal notes of student work while using the interactive tools.
• Check for proper completion of the interactive Venn Diagram contrasting letter formats.
• Use the Rubric for Correspondence Project to assess the letters students have written.
• Student Interactives
• Calendar Activities

The Letter Generator is a useful tool for students to learn the parts of a business or friendly letter and then compose and print letters for both styles of correspondence.

The Postcard Creator helps students learn to identify all the typical parts of a postcard, and then generate their own postcard messages by typing information into letter templates. After printing their texts, students can illustrate the front of their postcards in a variety of ways, including drawing, collage, and stickers.

This interactive tool allows students to create Venn diagrams that contain two or three overlapping circles, enabling them to organize their information logically.

Add new comment

• Print this resource

Explore Resources by Grade

• Kindergarten K

How To Write an Email For Submission Of Assignment

Welcome to this informative article that will guide you on how to write an effective email for the submission of your assignment. If you’re unsure about how to draft an email for submitting your assignment, this article is here to help you!

Table of Contents

What To Do Before Writing the Email

What to include in the email.

When composing your email for assignment submission, it’s important to include the following parts:

Subject Line

Choose a subject line that clearly indicates the purpose of your email. For example, “Assignment Submission – [Course Name]”. This helps the recipient identify the email’s content quickly.

Begin your email with a polite and professional greeting, such as “Dear Professor [Last Name],” or “Hi [Instructor’s Name],”. Use the appropriate salutation based on your relationship with the recipient.

Introduction

In the body of the email, mention any relevant details or specific instructions provided by your instructor. Clearly state that you are submitting your assignment and acknowledge the due date. If there are any additional comments or questions related to the assignment, include them here.

End your email with a courteous closing, such as “Thank you,” or “Best regards,” followed by your full name and contact information. This shows professionalism and makes it easy for the recipient to respond if necessary.

Email Template – Assignment Submission

Subject: Assignment Submission – [Course Name] Dear Professor/Instructor [Last Name], I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to submit my assignment for the [Course Name]. The assignment is attached in the required format. I have completed the assignment as per the given guidelines and it is ready for submission. The due date for the assignment is [Due Date]. If you have any further instructions or clarifications, please let me know. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Best regards, [Your Full Name] [Your Contact Information]

Get 25% OFF new yearly plans in our Storyteller's Sale

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Critique Report
• Writing Reports
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

How to Write an Email to a Professor (With Examples)

By Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

How to email a professor in 7 steps, email to professor examples.

Emailing your professor can be a daunting task.

Writing professional emails is never easy, but composing an email to a professor can feel especially nerve-racking. After all, your professors have a lot of control over your academic success and your future career, so you don't want to make a mistake.

So, how exactly do you write a successful email to a professor?

In this article, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide for how to write an email to your professor, plus a set of email templates you can use.

We’ve broken the process of emailing your professor into seven simple steps.

Step 1: How to Write the Subject Line

Start by writing a clear, concise subject line for your email.

Your subject line should be specific to your situation. Ideally, your professor should understand why you’re emailing them without even having to open the body of your message.

For example, if you’re emailing to request an extension for a research paper, you can use the subject line “Research paper deadline extension.” Or, if you’re emailing to ask for a clarification about the syllabus, you can use the subject line “Question about class syllabus.”

Step 2: How to Address a Professor in an Email

You should start your email with a formal salutation.

You can use formal greetings, such as “Dear” or “Hi,” followed by your teacher’s preferred title, whether that’s “Professor [Last Name],” “Mr. [Last Name],” “Ms. [Last Name],” or simply “[First Name].”

If you’re not sure about your professor’s title, “Dear Professor [Last Name]” is always a safe bet.

Step 3: How to Start an Email to a Teacher

Start your email by introducing yourself and explaining which class you’re in. For example, you might write, “My name is Hannah, and I’m a freshman in your ENGL 453 class.”

It’s common for professors to teach multiple classes, especially at large universities, so they don’t always know all their students by name. If you’re emailing from your academic account, they’ll likely be able to see your full name in the system, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry.  

Of course, if you’ve already established a working relationship with your professor, and they know who you are, you don’t have to introduce yourself. Instead, you can start your email with a friendly greeting, such as “I hope your week is going well” or “Happy Friday!”

Good writing = better grades

ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.

Step 4: How to Explain Your Request

Now that you’ve finished your introduction, it’s time to explain all the essential information about why you’re writing this message.

Professors lead busy lives, so try to keep the body of your email as concise as possible. Don’t use a whole paragraph when a single sentence would do.

Try to keep a professional tone while you explain your request. You don’t need to sound overly stiff, but you should generally avoid using slang or making jokes.

If you’re writing about an issue that includes personal details, such as a health issue or the loss of a loved one, it’s okay to be vague when explaining your reasons. Don’t feel pressure to include details about your personal life that you’re not comfortable sharing.

Finally, be specific about what kind of follow-up action you’re requesting from your professor, if any. For example, you can write, “Please let me know if it would be possible to extend the deadline,” or “Please send me your feedback on this draft at your earliest convenience.”  

Step 5: How to End an Email to a Professor

You can end the body of your email with a simple expression of gratitude. You can write something like, “Thank you for your understanding and support,” or simply “Thanks for your time.”

Step 6: How to Sign Off an Email

Sign off your email with a simple closing salutation, followed by your first name.

Keep it simple and polite. Popular choices include “Best,” “Thanks,” “Sincerely,” and “Regards.”

Step 7: Edit Your Email with ProWritingAid

You don’t want to send your professor an email riddled with grammar mistakes, especially if it’s your English professor! And even if they teach a different subject, like math or biology, you still want to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.

Editing your email with ProWritingAid can help you avoid mistakes. Our editing tool will correct grammar errors, spelling typos, and weak word choices.

You can even ask the tool to help you ensure you’re using a formal tone so your email doesn’t come across as casual or unprofessional.

Now that we’ve gone over the seven steps for writing an email to a professor, let’s look at some examples.

Here are some email templates you can use, depending on your specific situation.  

Sick Email to Professor Example

Subject line: Missing class today

Dear Professor [Last Name],

My name is [your name], and I’m a student in your class [class name]. I’m writing to let you know that I won’t be able to make it to class today, due to health issues. [Insert details if needed].

Please let me know what material we’ll be covering so I can make it up before the next class.

[Your name]

Sample Email to Professor Asking for Help

Subject line: Help with [class name]

My name is [your name]. I’ve been really struggling with your class [class name] this semester, and I’m having a hard time understanding [details].

Would you have time to sit down with me and help me better understand the material? I would welcome any support you can offer.

Thank you in advance! I look forward to hearing from you.

How to Email a Professor About a Grade

Subject line: My grade for [assignment/exam name]

I hope your week is off to a good start!

I recently received my grade for [assignment/exam name], and it was lower than I expected. Could you please tell me where I lost points?

I know you have a busy schedule, but I would really appreciate more details, since I’m sure that information could also help me improve my grades in the future.

Thank you so much for your time!

Sample Email to Professor for Research

Subject line: Research opportunities in your lab

I hope you’re doing well!

My name is [your name], and I’m a [year, major]. I’m writing to ask about research opportunities in your lab next semester.

I’m really interested in the topic you’re researching because [details], and I have experience conducting research with [previous experience, if any].

Please let me know if you have any openings that might be suitable for me. I look forward to hearing from you!

How to Write an Apology Email for Missing a Class

Subject line: Missing class yesterday

I hope your week is going well.

I’m writing to apologize for missing your class [class name] yesterday. I was unable to attend because [details].

I know it was an important class and that I shouldn’t have missed it. I’ll do my best to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Extension Email to Professor Example

Subject line: Extension for [Assignment Name]

My name is [your name], and I’m a student in your class [class name]. I’m writing to request an extension for our assignment about [assignment details].

I’ve been struggling to complete the assignment in time because of [reasons]. I would really appreciate it if you could extend the deadline to [new deadline date], due to my situation.

Please let me know if that would be okay. Thank you so much for your flexibility.

Thanks again,

How to Write a Follow-Up Email to a Professor

Subject line: Follow-up re: [subject]

I recently emailed you about [topic].

I’m just writing to follow up on my previous email and make sure you’ve received it. If you have, please let me know when I can expect a reply.

Thank you again for your time!

Warm regards,

How to Email a Professor About Getting Into Their Class

Subject line: Joining your class [class name]

My name is [your name], and I’m a [year, major] at [school name]. I’m interested in joining your class [class name]. I’m really fascinated by [topic] because [reasons], and I’ve heard that your class is a must-take class for students interested in [topic].

I don’t know how much demand there is for the class, but I’m curious if there’s anything I should do in advance to increase my chances of getting into the class.

Thank you for your consideration! I look forward to hearing from you.  

There you have it—our guide for composing a clear and professional email to a professor.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah Yang

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

Get started with ProWritingAid

It's A Steal

Bring your story to life for less. Get 25% off yearly plans in our Storyteller's Sale. Grab the discount while it lasts.

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via:

A lesson on how to write a business letter is a great way to sneak in some expository writing practice.  Most students will appreciate the relevance, which will lead to higher levels of engagement.  In order to ensure that your lesson culminates in a meaningful writing experience, the assignment needs to be applicable.  The ten prompts listed below are student-friendly and relatable, increasing the potential for memorable learning. 

Write a letter to an employer requesting a job.

Write a letter to a college requesting admission.

Write a letter to your parents requesting a gift.

Write a letter to the principal requesting a specific change at school.

Write a letter to a government official asking for support in changing a law.

Write a letter to a restaurant requesting a specific dish be added to the menu.

Write a letter to an author explaining what you liked about their book.

Write a letter to a company requesting a change to one of their products.

Write a letter to the mayor requesting a change be made to your city.

Write a letter to a theme park requesting a change to a ride or attraction.

Download the comprehensive business letter writing lesson from Literacy in Focus on TpT! Everything you need to teach students how to write a business letter is included! Plus, the resource was designed to stand alone, so you won’t need to purchase any additional materials to teach your students how to write a business letter. A printable PDF version and Google Drive version is included!

Business Letter Writing Lesson and Video

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Sample Letters

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

If you are using letterhead, do not include the sender's address at the top of the letter; instead, begin with the date.

Block Format

123 Winner's Road New Employee Town, PA 12345

March 16, 2001

Ernie English 1234 Writing Lab Lane Write City, IN 12345

Dear Mr. English:

The first paragraph of a typical business letter is used to state the main point of the letter. Begin with a friendly opening, then quickly transition into the purpose of your letter. Use a couple of sentences to explain the purpose, but do not go in to detail until the next paragraph.

Beginning with the second paragraph, state the supporting details to justify your purpose. These may take the form of background information, statistics or first-hand accounts. A few short paragraphs within the body of the letter should be enough to support your reasoning.

Finally, in the closing paragraph, briefly restate your purpose and why it is important. If the purpose of your letter is employment related, consider ending your letter with your contact information. However, if the purpose is informational, think about closing with gratitude for the reader's time.

Lucy Letter

Modified Block Format

(Tab to center, begin typing) 123 Winner's Road New Employee Town, PA 12345

(Tab to center, begin typing) Sincerely,

(Tab to center, begin typing) Lucy Letter

Semi-Block Format

(Indent) The first paragraph of a typical business letter is used to state the main point of the letter. Begin with a friendly opening, then quickly transition into the purpose of your letter. Use a couple of sentences to explain the purpose, but do not go in to detail until the next paragraph.

(Indent) Beginning with the second paragraph, state the supporting details to justify your purpose. These may take the form of background information, statistics or first-hand accounts. A few short paragraphs within the body of the letter should be enough to support your reasoning.

(Indent) Finally, in the closing paragraph, briefly restate your purpose and why it is important. If the purpose of your letter is employment related, consider ending your letter with your contact information. However, if the purpose is informational, think about closing with gratitude for the reader's time.

• U.S. Locations
• UMGC Europe
• Learn Online
• Find Answers
• 855-655-8682
• Current Students

UMGC Effective Writing Center The Perfect Business Letter

Explore more of umgc.

• Writing Resources

When sitting down to complete a business letter assignment in school, students know intuitively that they are engaging in a type of writing that is much different from the typical school assignment. One goal of this resource is to upgrade that intuitive understanding to conscious status and, by doing so, sharpen your understanding of the distinct differences between business and academic writing that must be observed as you transition between the two worlds.

School Writing v. Business Writing

It may sound crass, but the difference between the two can be summarized simply: In school you write to get grades. In the real world, you write to do your job.

It's helpful to think of most school writing as a type of exam: You write to demonstrate to a specific teacher that you understand and can use material in a specific discipline. Those who become outstanding writers in school have usually mastered an important skill of audience analysis: figuring out exactly what an audience of one (the teacher) wants and how he or she wants it delivered.

The audience of one in school becomes the audience of many in the work world. Moreover, everyone who may read your business writing will not be known to you. Especially when your business writing travels outside the company, as it does when in letter format, you have little idea of how many people may read it, much less who they are. And the real kicker is that, unlike teachers, few in the business world get paid to read your writing no matter how poor it is. Other key differences include the following:

Clearly, when authoring a business document, you are taking on a higher degree of responsibility because of potential consequences, both positive and negative, that the writing can have. These consequences are particularly serious for the writer since the lifespan of whatever you write in the work place is potentially your entire career, compared to the duration of a course in school.

Get career planning tips from the advisors at UMGC .

How to Create Your Business Letter

These inherent differences between the two worlds of writing--business and academic--are also reflected in the steps successful writers follow when creating real-world documents like business letters.

Analyze Audience

It's helpful to divide your audience into primary and secondary members. Your primary audience is those whom you are certain will read what you write. The secondary audience is those who may be likely to read it. Your task is to speak directly to the needs of the primary audience while keeping in mind this secondary audience: what they know about the topic and their possible attitudes.

Clarify Purpose

In order for your writing and its purpose to be clear for your audience, it must be twice as clear for you, the writer. Good business writers can provide sharp, succinct answers to the question, "What do I want my readers to know and/or do after reading what I write?" Write the answer down and filter all writing choices through its prism.

Based on the crystal clear idea of what the writing hopes to achieve, the outline represents how the writer will achieve it by arranging information and instructions in the exact order the audience should encounter them for best effect.

The formats for business and technical writing are well known and expected by your audience. These standard formats are usually (1) adhered to rigorously and (2) are modified by any guidelines you have been given by your organization.

Draft & Revise

The first draft is your first opportunity to combine all of the above. However, it should be far from your last. Gone are the days of "once and done" the night before the assignment is due. Especially important is building in some time for a draft to get cold before you revisit with fresh eyes.

Get Feedback

Never let your audience be just the second set of eyes to see what you have written. In between yourself and your audience, insert a knowledgeable person who will act as a proxy for your audience and give you honest feedback.

Business Letter Styles

The two most common formats of business letters today are the full-block format and modified-block format. Note that the full-block format should be used only with letterhead. One variation on these two styles includes indenting paragraphs in the body section. As always, follow the style preferred by your organization unless there is a clear reason not to.

Our helpful admissions advisors can help you choose an academic program to fit your career goals, estimate your transfer credits, and develop a plan for your education costs that fits your budget. If you’re a current UMGC student, please visit the Help Center .

Personal Information

Contact information, additional information.

By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you intend to sign this form electronically and that your electronic signature is the equivalent of a handwritten signature, with all the same legal and binding effect. You are giving your express written consent without obligation for UMGC to contact you regarding our educational programs and services using e-mail, phone, or text, including automated technology for calls and/or texts to the mobile number(s) provided. For more details, including how to opt out, read our privacy policy or contact an admissions advisor .

Please wait, your form is being submitted.

By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our  Privacy Policy .

It's Lit Teaching

High School English and TPT Seller Resources

• Creative Writing
• Teachers Pay Teachers Tips
• Shop My Teaching Resources!
• Sell on TPT

4 Easy Tips for a High School Letter Writing Lesson

What used to be a “basic” writing skill like writing a letter now feels archaic for our students. But just because they haven’t written many letters before high school doesn’t mean they won’t need to after. Do your high school students a favor and work a letter writing lesson into your curriculum!

( Want to skip the prep work? Grab a done-for-you Letter Writing Lesson here that can be used in person or remotely! )

Why Teach a Letter Writing Lesson

Granted, writing a letter isn’t as necessary as it used to be. But once in a while, students will need to do so. 

In fact, in their final year of high school, students might find themselves writing a lot of letters. Jobs require cover letters, colleges require application letters, and they might one day need to write a letter of recommendation. 

If students have written a letter before, they’ll be less intimidated to write one late in the “real world.”

So make sure your students don’t leave your classroom without being introduced to this essential life skill!

Letter Writing Lesson Tip #1: Provide an Authentic Audience

Sure, you could tell students to write an imaginary letter to Santa, a character in a novel, or to a celebrity who’ll never actually look at it. 

But you’ll do your students a big favor if you provide an authentic audience in the form of a real reader.  

When students know that someone other than their teacher will be reading their work, it changes the game. Suddenly, there’s a pressure to perform and get things right that goes beyond just a passing grade. They don’t want to embarrass themselves. 

So, what kind of authentic audiences can you provide?

Authentic Audience Ideas

An easy one is to have students write to a member of the school staff. You can have students write a gratitude letter to a staff member for Thanksgiving or at the end of the year. 

Not only will students know that they’ll have to face this person after he or she has read their letters, but you’ll get to provide a much-needed emotional boost to your colleagues! Who wouldn’t have a better week after reading a letter of thanks from a student?

Another possible audience is to have students write a letter to the troops. This is a great lesson plan around the holidays when many armed forces are away from their families and don’t receive any communication. 

There are all kinds of programs out there you can connect with to help get your letters to troops in need. Give it a Google search or check out A Million Thanks or Operation Military Matters .

If you are a Civics teacher or teach a unit on civics, you can also have students write to a representative in their state. Local leaders are more likely to respond to student letters, and it’s so fun when students receive a reply months later! 

If you really want to devote some time to making wonderful letters, you can even have students use something like these free letter templates from Adobe to design their final drafts.

Students are always surprised that someone took the time to read their letter, and even more surprised to get a response. These positive moments can create more civic-minded students for our future, too.

Letter Writing Lesson Tip #2: Teach Formatting

This is probably a no-brainer. If you’re going to teach letter writing, you need to cover the letter format. 

This is, after all, what separates a letter from a note or a printed email. 

Hopefully, your students have mastered capitalizing the beginning of sentences and other basic writing skills, but we know that things like these cannot be taken for granted. For struggling writers, the formatting of a letter might be hard or even stressful. 

It’s worth taking your time to go over proper formatting, especially for those struggling writers. They’ll benefit from the practice the most. 

Letter Writing Lesson Tip #3: Discuss Tone

The audience you choose for your students’ letters will determine the tone that students need to take in their writing. 

But make sure to acknowledge that tone will change depending on the letter and the audience. A letter to grandma will read differently than a letter to a congressperson or to a best friend. 

You’ve probably discussed tone with students before, either in relation to literature or academic writing. Use your letter-writing lesson as another opportunity to discuss tone in a new way. 

What kind of language is appropriate for this task? How important is correct grammar? How do these things change as your relationship with the audience changes?

If possible, try to provide examples of both formal and informal letters for your students, so they can see the difference themselves. 

Letter Writing Lesson Tip #4: Don’t Forget the Envelope!

Just like letter writing might be a little foreign to your students, addressing an envelope definitely will be. 

I once asked my students to address envelopes for me to save some time. I didn’t think about how my senior high school students might have never addressed envelopes before. 

The results were… wild. I couldn’t believe how little my students knew about addressing an envelope!

So don’t do what I did and assume your students know how to actually send a letter once they’ve written it. Walk them through it. 

Just like you’ll teach the format of a letter, teach the format of addressing an envelope. Even if the letters will be delivered around the school, make students address the letters to a specific classroom number of the school from your classroom number. 

Students will have to send something in the mail at some point in their lives. Don’t let the graduate high school without knowing how to do it!

Also, here’s an important note about equity: do not have your students address envelopes to their own home addresses. This is another mistake I made (so you don’t have to!).

I once was sending home letters to parents and asked students to address envelopes for me. So many students had no idea what their addresses were. I was shocked!

I called up the guidance counselor to come help us. She was able to look up some addresses for us, but she explained that many of my students moved too frequently to keep up with their own addresses. 

Some were in foster homes. A few were even homeless. Other students didn’t know if they should send the letters to their mom’s or their dad’s house. 

Once I was faced with the problem, it made sense, and I shouldn’t have been surprised. But my own privilege blinded me to this problem before it occurred. 

So if you’re having students send a letter in the mail, provide them with the address yourself!

How to write a letter might not exactly be in the Common Core State Standards, but it’s still an important life skill for our students. 

At some point in their four years of high school, make sure they learn how to do it. Pay close attention to the formatting and tone, and don’t forget that the envelope is an important part of the process!

If you’d like to have your students write a letter but don’t have time to prep yet another lesson, I have a printable and digital, done-for-you Letter Writing Lesson here. 

In this resource, you’ll get a slideshow lesson, example letters (showing tone and formatting), and a blank envelope template for practicing. The assignment is editable, so while the default assignment is a gratitude letter to staff, you change the audience to whomever you wish. 

Simple Request Letter Sample for School

In this article, I’ll guide you step-by-step on how to write an effective request letter for school, sharing personal tips and customizable templates to streamline your writing process.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding Purpose : Know why you’re writing the letter and what you aim to achieve.
• Free Template :  Utilize the provided template to simplify the process.
• Personalization : Tailor the letter to your specific situation and the school’s ethos.
• Clarity and Brevity : Be clear and concise in your request.
• Proofreading : Always proofread your letter for errors before sending.

Step 1: Understand the Purpose of Your Letter

Personal Experience : When my friend needed to request a transcript from her high school, she started by clearly defining her purpose. This helped her formulate her request more effectively.

• Requesting academic records or transcripts.
• Seeking permission for a special project.
• Asking for a meeting with a teacher or administrator.
• Applying for a program or scholarship within the school.

Step 2: Use a Professional Format

Real-Life Example : I once assisted a colleague in drafting a letter to request additional support for his son’s special education needs. We used a formal layout which made the letter look professional and serious.

• Sender’s Address
• Recipient’s Address
• Salutation (e.g., Dear Principal Smith,)
• Body of the Letter
• Complimentary Close (e.g., Sincerely,)
• Sender’s Name and Signature

Step 3: Personalize Your Letter

Tip : Research the school’s values and integrate them subtly into your letter. This demonstrates that you are engaged and committed to the school’s ethos.

Step 4: Be Clear and Concise

Trending now: find out why.

Example : In my request for extended deadline for a school project, I clearly stated the reason for my request and proposed a new deadline. This clarity was appreciated by the teacher.

• A brief introduction of yourself.
• A clear statement of your request.
• Any relevant details that support your request.
• A proposed solution or desired outcome.

Step 5: Maintain a Polite and Respectful Tone

Anecdote : A friend’s polite and respectful request for a meeting with a teacher to discuss her child’s performance yielded a positive and prompt response.

Step 6: Proofread Your Letter

Reminder : Always check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. A well-written letter reflects your professionalism and attention to detail.

Sample Template

[Your Address] [Date] [Recipient’s Address]

Dear [Recipient’s Title and Name],

I am writing to request [Your specific request]. I am a [Your relationship to the school, e.g., parent, student] and have been associated with [School Name] for [Duration].

[Include 2-3 sentences explaining the reason for your request and any relevant details.]

I believe that [State how your request aligns with the school’s values or policies]. To facilitate this, I suggest [Your proposed solution or request for a specific action].

I appreciate your attention to this matter and am looking forward to your favorable response. Please feel free to contact me at [Your contact information] should you need any further information.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[Your Name]

Writing a request letter to a school is about clear communication, respect, and understanding the school’s values.

By following these steps and utilizing the template provided, you can effectively convey your request in a professional and courteous manner.

Comment Request : If you have personal experiences or additional tips on writing a request letter to a school, please share them in the comments below. Your insights could be incredibly helpful to our community!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do I write a request letter to a school for my child’s admission?

Answer: I started by addressing the principal or admissions officer directly. I mentioned my child’s name, age, and the grade they are applying for. 

I explained why this particular school is our choice, highlighting its unique features and how it aligns with my child’s interests and academic goals. 

I included a brief background about my child, their achievements, and why they would be a good fit for the school. Lastly, I politely requested a chance for a meeting or a school tour.

Q: What should I include in a request letter for transferring my child to a different school?

Answer: In my letter, I addressed the principal of the new school and provided details of my child, including their current school and the grade they are in. 

I clearly stated the reason for the transfer, whether it was due to a relocation, the need for a different academic program, or other personal reasons. 

I emphasized how the new school’s environment and curriculum would better suit my child’s needs and educational goals.

Q: How can I request special accommodations for my child in school through a letter?

Answer: I addressed the letter to the school’s special education coordinator or the principal. I described my child’s specific needs or challenges, such as learning disabilities or health issues, and provided any relevant medical or psychological assessments. 

I clearly stated the specific accommodations or support services my child requires, like extra time during tests, a quiet room for exams, or specialized learning materials. I also expressed my willingness to collaborate with the school for my child’s educational success.

Q: What’s the best way to write a request letter for my child’s absence due to a family vacation?

Answer: I addressed the letter to my child’s teacher or the school administrator. I mentioned the specific dates of absence and the reason—in this case, a family vacation. 

I assured them of my commitment to ensure my child caught up on any missed work. I politely requested any assignments or materials that my child could work on during the vacation to stay up-to-date with the class.

Q: How do I request my child’s school records in a letter?

Answer: I wrote to the school’s administrative office, stating my child’s full name, date of birth, and the years they attended the school. I specified which records I needed, like report cards, attendance records, or test scores. 

I mentioned the reason for the request, whether for a school transfer or personal record-keeping. I included my contact information and how I would like to receive the records, whether electronically or in hard copy.

Related Articles

Sample teacher request letter to principal from parent, ultimate parent introduction letter to teacher (template included), simple parenting plan sample letter: free & effective, ultimate letter to child from parent (template included), urgent request letter for air conditioner in school template, child care hardship letter sample: free & effective, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Mailing List
• Search Search

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Resources for Teachers: Creating Writing Assignments

This page contains four specific areas:

Creating Effective Assignments

Checking the assignment, sequencing writing assignments, selecting an effective writing assignment format.

Research has shown that the more detailed a writing assignment is, the better the student papers are in response to that assignment. Instructors can often help students write more effective papers by giving students written instructions about that assignment. Explicit descriptions of assignments on the syllabus or on an “assignment sheet” tend to produce the best results. These instructions might make explicit the process or steps necessary to complete the assignment. Assignment sheets should detail:

• the kind of writing expected
• the scope of acceptable subject matter
• the length requirements
• formatting requirements
• documentation format
• the amount and type of research expected (if any)
• the writer’s role
• deadlines for the first draft and its revision

Providing questions or needed data in the assignment helps students get started. For instance, some questions can suggest a mode of organization to the students. Other questions might suggest a procedure to follow. The questions posed should require that students assert a thesis.

The following areas should help you create effective writing assignments.

Examining your goals for the assignment

• How exactly does this assignment fit with the objectives of your course?
• Should this assignment relate only to the class and the texts for the class, or should it also relate to the world beyond the classroom?
• What do you want the students to learn or experience from this writing assignment?
• Should this assignment be an individual or a collaborative effort?
• What do you want students to show you in this assignment? To demonstrate mastery of concepts or texts? To demonstrate logical and critical thinking? To develop an original idea? To learn and demonstrate the procedures, practices, and tools of your field of study?

Defining the writing task

• Is the assignment sequenced so that students: (1) write a draft, (2) receive feedback (from you, fellow students, or staff members at the Writing and Communication Center), and (3) then revise it? Such a procedure has been proven to accomplish at least two goals: it improves the student’s writing and it discourages plagiarism.
• Does the assignment include so many sub-questions that students will be confused about the major issue they should examine? Can you give more guidance about what the paper’s main focus should be? Can you reduce the number of sub-questions?
• What is the purpose of the assignment (e.g., review knowledge already learned, find additional information, synthesize research, examine a new hypothesis)? Making the purpose(s) of the assignment explicit helps students write the kind of paper you want.
• What is the required form (e.g., expository essay, lab report, memo, business report)?
• What mode is required for the assignment (e.g., description, narration, analysis, persuasion, a combination of two or more of these)?

Defining the audience for the paper

• Can you define a hypothetical audience to help students determine which concepts to define and explain? When students write only to the instructor, they may assume that little, if anything, requires explanation. Defining the whole class as the intended audience will clarify this issue for students.
• What is the probable attitude of the intended readers toward the topic itself? Toward the student writer’s thesis? Toward the student writer?
• What is the probable educational and economic background of the intended readers?

Defining the writer’s role

• Can you make explicit what persona you wish the students to assume? For example, a very effective role for student writers is that of a “professional in training” who uses the assumptions, the perspective, and the conceptual tools of the discipline.

Defining your evaluative criteria

1. If possible, explain the relative weight in grading assigned to the quality of writing and the assignment’s content:

• depth of coverage
• organization
• critical thinking
• original thinking
• use of research
• logical demonstration
• appropriate mode of structure and analysis (e.g., comparison, argument)
• correct use of sources
• grammar and mechanics
• professional tone
• correct use of course-specific concepts and terms.

Here’s a checklist for writing assignments:

• Have you used explicit command words in your instructions (e.g., “compare and contrast” and “explain” are more explicit than “explore” or “consider”)? The more explicit the command words, the better chance the students will write the type of paper you wish.
• Does the assignment suggest a topic, thesis, and format? Should it?
• Have you told students the kind of audience they are addressing — the level of knowledge they can assume the readers have and your particular preferences (e.g., “avoid slang, use the first-person sparingly”)?
• If the assignment has several stages of completion, have you made the various deadlines clear? Is your policy on due dates clear?
• Have you presented the assignment in a manageable form? For instance, a 5-page assignment sheet for a 1-page paper may overwhelm students. Similarly, a 1-sentence assignment for a 25-page paper may offer insufficient guidance.

There are several benefits of sequencing writing assignments:

• Sequencing provides a sense of coherence for the course.
• This approach helps students see progress and purpose in their work rather than seeing the writing assignments as separate exercises.
• It encourages complexity through sustained attention, revision, and consideration of multiple perspectives.
• If you have only one large paper due near the end of the course, you might create a sequence of smaller assignments leading up to and providing a foundation for that larger paper (e.g., proposal of the topic, an annotated bibliography, a progress report, a summary of the paper’s key argument, a first draft of the paper itself). This approach allows you to give students guidance and also discourages plagiarism.
• It mirrors the approach to written work in many professions.

The concept of sequencing writing assignments also allows for a wide range of options in creating the assignment. It is often beneficial to have students submit the components suggested below to your course’s STELLAR web site.

Use the writing process itself. In its simplest form, “sequencing an assignment” can mean establishing some sort of “official” check of the prewriting and drafting steps in the writing process. This step guarantees that students will not write the whole paper in one sitting and also gives students more time to let their ideas develop. This check might be something as informal as having students work on their prewriting or draft for a few minutes at the end of class. Or it might be something more formal such as collecting the prewriting and giving a few suggestions and comments.

Have students submit drafts. You might ask students to submit a first draft in order to receive your quick responses to its content, or have them submit written questions about the content and scope of their projects after they have completed their first draft.

Establish small groups. Set up small writing groups of three-five students from the class. Allow them to meet for a few minutes in class or have them arrange a meeting outside of class to comment constructively on each other’s drafts. The students do not need to be writing on the same topic.

Require consultations. Have students consult with someone in the Writing and Communication Center about their prewriting and/or drafts. The Center has yellow forms that we can give to students to inform you that such a visit was made.

Explore a subject in increasingly complex ways. A series of reading and writing assignments may be linked by the same subject matter or topic. Students encounter new perspectives and competing ideas with each new reading, and thus must evaluate and balance various views and adopt a position that considers the various points of view.

Change modes of discourse. In this approach, students’ assignments move from less complex to more complex modes of discourse (e.g., from expressive to analytic to argumentative; or from lab report to position paper to research article).

Change audiences. In this approach, students create drafts for different audiences, moving from personal to public (e.g., from self-reflection to an audience of peers to an audience of specialists). Each change would require different tasks and more extensive knowledge.

Change perspective through time. In this approach, students might write a statement of their understanding of a subject or issue at the beginning of a course and then return at the end of the semester to write an analysis of that original stance in the light of the experiences and knowledge gained in the course.

Use a natural sequence. A different approach to sequencing is to create a series of assignments culminating in a final writing project. In scientific and technical writing, for example, students could write a proposal requesting approval of a particular topic. The next assignment might be a progress report (or a series of progress reports), and the final assignment could be the report or document itself. For humanities and social science courses, students might write a proposal requesting approval of a particular topic, then hand in an annotated bibliography, and then a draft, and then the final version of the paper.

Have students submit sections. A variation of the previous approach is to have students submit various sections of their final document throughout the semester (e.g., their bibliography, review of the literature, methods section).

In addition to the standard essay and report formats, several other formats exist that might give students a different slant on the course material or allow them to use slightly different writing skills. Here are some suggestions:

Journals. Journals have become a popular format in recent years for courses that require some writing. In-class journal entries can spark discussions and reveal gaps in students’ understanding of the material. Having students write an in-class entry summarizing the material covered that day can aid the learning process and also reveal concepts that require more elaboration. Out-of-class entries involve short summaries or analyses of texts, or are a testing ground for ideas for student papers and reports. Although journals may seem to add a huge burden for instructors to correct, in fact many instructors either spot-check journals (looking at a few particular key entries) or grade them based on the number of entries completed. Journals are usually not graded for their prose style. STELLAR forums work well for out-of-class entries.

Letters. Students can define and defend a position on an issue in a letter written to someone in authority. They can also explain a concept or a process to someone in need of that particular information. They can write a letter to a friend explaining their concerns about an upcoming paper assignment or explaining their ideas for an upcoming paper assignment. If you wish to add a creative element to the writing assignment, you might have students adopt the persona of an important person discussed in your course (e.g., an historical figure) and write a letter explaining his/her actions, process, or theory to an interested person (e.g., “pretend that you are John Wilkes Booth and write a letter to the Congress justifying your assassination of Abraham Lincoln,” or “pretend you are Henry VIII writing to Thomas More explaining your break from the Catholic Church”).

Editorials . Students can define and defend a position on a controversial issue in the format of an editorial for the campus or local newspaper or for a national journal.

Cases . Students might create a case study particular to the course’s subject matter.

Position Papers . Students can define and defend a position, perhaps as a preliminary step in the creation of a formal research paper or essay.

Imitation of a Text . Students can create a new document “in the style of” a particular writer (e.g., “Create a government document the way Woody Allen might write it” or “Write your own ‘Modest Proposal’ about a modern issue”).

Instruction Manuals . Students write a step-by-step explanation of a process.

Dialogues . Students create a dialogue between two major figures studied in which they not only reveal those people’s theories or thoughts but also explore areas of possible disagreement (e.g., “Write a dialogue between Claude Monet and Jackson Pollock about the nature and uses of art”).

Collaborative projects . Students work together to create such works as reports, questions, and critiques.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Have you gotten your free poster delivered? ✨

Teach Your Students How to Write a Friendly Letter with This Free Kit

Poster, lesson plan, student pages, and more!

Teaching students how to write a friendly letter is one of those timeless lessons with so many benefits. It’s a great way to get students using the writing process in an authentic way, and it can help them build empathy as they connect with those they write to. Get your students engaged in real correspondence with this free kit of resources around writing a friendly letter.

What’s included:

• A colorful poster with all the elements of a friendly letter.
• A step-by-step “Writing a Friendly Letter” lesson plan.
• A “My First Draft” brainstorming worksheet
• A “Create Your Own Stamp Design” student page
• An interactive “A Letter for You” template
• An envelope template
• A fun, illustrated card template
• This awesome video:

How to use the kit in your classroom:

• Download and print the kit!
• Show your students the above video about the journey of a letter.
• Use the poster to teach the “Writing a Friendly Letter” lesson.
• Decide who your students will write letters to (e.g., retirement home residents, deployed soldiers, family members).
• Invite students to use the “My First Draft” worksheet to brainstorm their ideas.
• Print and copy the illustrated cards or the “A Letter for You” template for students to write their final drafts on.
• Print and copy the envelopes and have students address them.
• Mail your letters. (Don’t forget the stamp!)
• Try one of our extension activities in the lesson plan.

Get My Free Friendly Letter Kit

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Teach teens how to write a business letter

by Kim Kautzer | Sep 18, 2017 | High school , Resources & Links

In WriteShop II , we teach students how to write a letter to the editor of a newspaper. The example composition in the student workbook urges the governor, by way of a letter to the editor, to take action on a bill. With a few word changes, the letter could just as easily address the governor himself.

The point of the lesson, of course, is to help students articulate a concern and seek or suggest action . The audience can be a member of any political, social, or commercial group as long as the student is learning how to address such a person with polite conviction.

Who’s the Audience?

But if your teens need an audience for their letters, and the daily newspaper isn’t the outlet that seems to work for them, you might suggest a different audience. Some ideas that spring to mind:

• City council member
• State legislator
• State representative
• Owner or developer of a property (eyesore, maintenance issues, health or safety concerns…)
• Owner of a local business
• President or CEO of a corporation
• College or university admissions department
• Chamber of Commerce (to request brochures or travel information)

If you shift away from the letter to the editor and instead have your students address their letter to one of the above-suggested recipients, consider teaching them  how to format a business letter . Since WriteShop doesn’t teach business-letter structure, this would be an added tool in their writing belt .

When to Write a Business Letter

• To praise a product, service supplier, or staff person
• To compliment a speaker
• To compliment or praise an author
• To praise someone for an achievement
• To complain about poor product quality or poor service
• To ask for political or social action or change
• To write a letter of recommendation
• To request information

Would you like to teach the business letter to your kids? Here’s a link to a site that models several kinds: WriteExpress.com (Business Letters)

Let’s Stay Connected!

Subscribe to our newsletter.

• Gift Guides
• Reluctant or Struggling Writers
• Special Needs Writers
• Brainstorming Help
• Editing & Grading Help
• Encouragement for Moms
• Writing Games & Activities
• Writing for All Subjects
• Essays & Research Papers
• College Prep Writing
• Grammar & Spelling
• Writing Prompts

Recent Posts

• An exciting announcement!
• 10 Stumbling Blocks to Writing in Your Homeschool
• Help kids with learning challenges succeed at homeschool writing
• How to correct writing lessons without criticizing your child

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• Happiness Hub
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Letter Writing

How to Write a Letter to Your Teacher

Last Updated: August 2, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Katie Styzek . Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,893,341 times.

Your teacher plays an important role in your life, and sometimes you want to show your appreciation by writing them a letter. While writing a good letter might seem hard, it's easy once you get started. Your teacher will be very happy that you took the time to share your thoughts. If you want to write your teacher a letter, start by greeting your teacher. Then think about what you want to say and write that down in the main part of the letter. Finally, close your letter and sign it.

Sample Letters

Starting Your Letter

• Ask your parents or guardian if they have any cards you can use. They may also be willing to take you shopping for a new card.
• You could also make a card for your teacher using either plain printer paper or construction paper. Your teacher will appreciate the effort you put into the card.

• Your teacher may cherish the letter for years to come. Including your name and the date will help them remember who wrote the letter.

• Use the name your teacher prefers. If your teacher has asked you to call them by their first name, then it’s fine to use their first name in your letter. For example, if you call your teacher Coach Sue, then you can say, “Dear Coach Sue.”
• Don’t start your letter with “hi” or “hey.” It’s too informal.

Writing the Body of Your Letter

• Say, “I am writing this letter to tell you how happy I am to be in your class because you are the best teacher. This year has been hard, but you helped me do my best.”

• You could write, “I appreciate the time you spent tutoring me after school. I felt like I would never understand multiplication, but you never let me give up. I’m so happy you’re my teacher!”
• If you’re having trouble deciding what to say, grab a sheet of scratch paper and do some brainstorming . Write down reasons why you like your teacher, times that they’ve helped you, or what you’ve learned from them. Then pick a few of your favorite reasons and use those in your letter.

• You could say, “Thank you for being a great teacher this year. I’m so happy I got to be in your class. I hope you have an incredible summer!”

Closing Your Letter

• Your closing should look something like this: “Sincerely, Brian.”

• You may be able to fix some small mistakes. However, if you find yourself crossing out whole sentences, it’s probably a good idea to start fresh so your letter looks nice and neat.
• White-out can be helpful in correcting mistakes.

• The envelope should include your teacher’s address in the center and your own address in the top left corner.
• If your handwriting is a little messy, it might be a good idea to ask an adult to write your teacher’s address for you so your letter doesn’t get lost in the mail.
• Don’t forget to ask your parents or guardian for a stamp.

Community Q&A

• You may want to keep a copy of your letter. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Ask a parent to read your letter, so they can help you find and fix spelling and grammar mistakes. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Never send a letter without having a parent or other trusted adult look over it first, especially if you are writing about a serious issue. Thanks Helpful 49 Not Helpful 21

Things You'll Need

• Pen or word processing program
• Card and envelope (if needed)

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/groups/education-leadership/787686
• ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/business-communication/how-to-write-a-formal-business-letter/1/#
• ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/writing/articles/introduction-letter-writing
• ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-messages-letters-lists/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/business-letters/

About This Article

To write a letter to your teacher, start by writing your name and the date in the upper right corner of the page so your teacher knows who the letter is from. Then, open your letter with "Dear" followed by your teacher's name, like "Dear Ms. Brown." After the greeting, write 1-2 sentences letting your teacher know why you're writing to them. For example, you might write something like, "I'm writing to tell you how happy I am to be in your class this year. You're one of my favorite teachers!" In the body of your letter, include a few examples of why you appreciate your teacher, like a time they tutored you after school or helped you do well on a test. Once you've written everything you have to say, end your letter with a polite closing, like "Sincerely" or "Best." Finish your letter by signing your name underneath the closing. For tips on how to proofread your letter before giving it to your teacher, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

May 8, 2019

Did this article help you?

Georg Cantor

Feb 12, 2021

Nov 15, 2017

Sep 13, 2020

Mariana Reavis-Vega

May 30, 2019

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

School of Chemical Sciences

• Student and Professional Organizations
• Welcome Alumni and Friends
• Alumni Database
• Donate to SCS
• Connect with the School of Chemical Sciences
• Corporate Relations Overview
• SCS Campus Awardees
• Chemistry News
• Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering News
• Celebrating our Sesquicentennial 1867 - 2017
• SCS Office Listings
• Staff Listing
• Chemistry Directory
• Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Directory
• Business Office
• Chemistry Library
• CORES (SCS Research and Service Facilities)
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access
• Employment Opportunities
• Facilities Management Group
• Human Resources
• Receiving & Mailroom
• **Building Emergency**
• Academic Advising
• Career Services
• Copying and Printing Services
• Facilities Management
• Online Ordering/REACTION
• SCS Chemical Inventory Program
• Staff Listings

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

By Madeleine Chalifoux, ChBE Alumnus:

Asking for a letter of recommendation can be intimidating. If you feel this way, you’re not alone! However, whether it is a professor, advisor, or boss, these people are here for you and want to see you succeed. So, don’t be too nervous to ask for a letter- these people are here for you!

The purpose of recommendation letters is for potential employers, graduate schools, or scholarship committees to get a more holistic idea of you as an application and, most importantly, as a person. They are looking for a deeper insight into who you are, beyond the information that is conveyed through your resume and on your transcript. For this reason, it is important to develop strong relationships with faculty and other working professionals early in your college career. This way, these people who know you well both inside and outside of the classroom can tell a story about who you are as a student and individual.

Here are some simple pointers to follow when asking for a recommendation letter so that you feel confident making the request, and so that you can get the most out of the recommendation letter:

• Ask ahead of time . Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for a letter of recommendation. Just like you, professors and other professionals are busy and have many competing deadlines. Ask several weeks (or months, if possible) in advance so that your reference has enough time to reflect deeply on what they will write, draft a letter, and return later to edit that letter. Generally, the more time you give a reference to write a letter, the more in-depth and introspective it will be.  
• Provide information and materials . Generally, it is acceptable to email a potential reference to ask if they would be willing to provide a letter for you. In your email, state the reason why you are submitting the application, briefly remind them of your academic or work history, and mention why you think they would be a good reference for your application. Then, suggest scheduling a brief meeting with them to talk more about your future goals and about your resume and experience to date. At the end of your email, make sure to attach your resume, a copy of your transcript if it is relevant to the application, and any additional information about the position you are applying for. Most importantly: make sure to include the application deadline in your initial email. If the reference responds with a “yes,” you can then follow up with more specific application submission instructions.  
• Follow up and keep in touch . Once your reference has agreed to provide you with a letter, be sure to express your gratitude for their support during the application process. Also let them know that you are happy to answer any additional questions that they might have for you during the letter writing process. As the deadline nears, do not hesitate to follow up once or twice with a gentle reminder. When doing so, also take the opportunity to update them on your progress throughout the semester. Since reference often have several letters to write at a time, it is important to stay on top of your submission status so that deadlines do not slip through the cracks. Thus, when you reach out with reminders, you can simultaneously use this opportunity to maintain a positive and current relationship with your reference.

All in all, applications can be daunting, and with the added stress of having to ask for letters of recommendation, students often feel overwhelmed. However, you should never fear asking for a recommendation letter because this is why faculty, professors, and other adults in your life are here: to help you succeed. Nonetheless, it is important to note that sometimes reference do not submit letters until after application deadlines for various reasons. If this happens, don’t fret! This happens quite often and therefore applications generally do not penalize students for recommendation letters that are turned in after the deadline. Letters are usually separate components of the application, so it is almost always possible to submit your portion of the application before your letters are submitted. Simply ensure that your part of the application is submitted on time and remember to stay in contact with your reference throughout the process!

Best of luck on your next application, whether it be for graduate school, a new job, a campus scholarship, or an international fellowship! I have no doubt that you will achieve great things!

Writing Cover Letters

What is a cover letter? What to include in a cover letter How to organize a cover letter Questions to guide your writing How to format a cover letter Sample cover letters

What is a cover letter?

To be considered for almost any position, you will need to write a letter of application. Such a letter introduces you, explains your purpose for writing, highlights a few of your experiences or skills, and requests an opportunity to meet personally with the potential employer.

Precisely because this letter is your introduction to an employer and because first impressions count, you should take great care to write an impressive and effective letter. Remember that the letter not only tells of your accomplishments but also reveals how effectively you can communicate.

The appropriate content, format, and tone for application letters vary according to the position and the personality of the applicant. Thus, you will want to ask several people (if possible) who have had experience in obtaining jobs or in hiring in your field to critique a draft of your letter and to offer suggestions for revision.

Despite the differences in what constitutes a good application letter, the suggestions on these pages apply generally.

What to include in a cover letter

• Try to limit your letter to a single page. Be succinct.
• Assess the employer’s needs and your skills. Then try to match them in the letter in a way that will appeal to the employer’s self-interest.
• As much as possible, tailor your letter to each job opportunity. Demonstrate, if possible, some knowledge of the organization to which you are applying.
• Write in a style that is mature but clear; avoid long and intricate sentences and paragraphs; avoid jargon. Use action verbs and the active voice; convey confidence, optimism, and enthusiasm coupled with respect and professionalism.
• Show some personality, but avoid hard-sell, gimmicky, or unorthodox letters. Start fast; attract interest immediately. For more information see Business Letter Format .
• Arrange the points in a logical sequence; organize each paragraph around a main point.

How to organize a cover letter

Below is one possible way to arrange the content of your cover letter.

Opening Paragraph

State why you are writing.

Establish a point of contact (advertisement in a specific place for a specific position; a particular person’s suggestion that you write): give some brief idea of who you are (a Senior engineering student at UW; a recent Ph.D. in History).

Paragraph(s) 2(-3)

Highlight a few of the most salient points from your enclosed resume.

Arouse your reader’s curiosity by mentioning points that are likely to be important for the position you are seeking.

Show how your education and experience suit the requirements of the position, and, by elaborating on a few points from your resume, explain what you could contribute to the organization.

(Your letter should complement, not restate, your resume.)

Closing paragraph

Stress action. Politely request an interview at the employer’s convenience.

Indicate what supplementary material is being sent under separate cover and offer to provide additional information (a portfolio, a writing sample, a sample publication, a dossier, an audition tape), and explain how it can be obtained.

Thank the reader for his/her consideration and indicate that you are looking forward to hearing from him/her.

Questions to guide your writing

• Who is my audience?
• What is my objective?
• What are the objectives and needs of my audience?
• How can I best express my objective in relationship to my audience’s objectives and needs?
• What specific benefits can I offer to my audience and how can I best express them?
• What opening sentence and paragraph will grab the attention of my audience in a positive manner and invite them to read further?
• How can I maintain and heighten the interest and desire of the reader throughout the letter?
• What evidence can I present of my value to my audience?
• If a resume is enclosed with the letter, how can I best make the letter advertise the resume?
• What closing sentence or paragraph will best assure the reader of my capabilities and persuade him or her to contact me for further information?
• Is the letter my best professional effort?

*From Ronald L. Kraunich, William J. Bauis. High Impact Resumes & Letters. Virginia Beach, VA: Impact Publications, 1982.

How to format a cover letter

• Type each letter individually, or use a word processor.
• Use good quality bond paper.
• Whenever possible, address each employer by name and title.
• Each letter should be grammatically correct, properly punctuated, and perfectly spelled. It also should be immaculately clean and free of errors. Proofread carefully!
• Use conventional business correspondence form. If you are not certain of how to do this, ask for help at the Writing Center.

Sample cover letters

Looking at examples of strong cover letters is a great way to understand how this advice can become implemented. We’ve compiled and annotated a range of different kinds of cover letters from different kinds of student applicants. We encourage you to look through these letters and see some of what we’ve highlighted as working particularly well in these real world examples.

• Cover Letter Example 1. Undergraduate student applying for a restaurant hosting position.
• Cover Letter Example 2. Undergraduate sophomore applying for an internship with a non-profit, political organization.
• Cover Letter Example 3. Graduate student applying for a Project Assistant position at UW-Madison. The original job posting for this position can be found here .
• Cover Letter Example 4. A graduated student with an English literature and Spanish language double major applying to work as a law firm legal assistant.

In addition to these sample cover letters, you can find a range of other, often discipline-specific cover letter examples through these UW-Madison resources:

• SuccessWorks has developed a useful resource that features an overview of cover letters. It provides a breakdown of this genre’s main parts as well as an example cover letter and resume, all in response to an included job posting for a position with Americas Society Council of the Americas. All of this is located here .
• UW-Madison’s Law School has several wonderful examples of cover letters for law-related jobs here . These are organized according how far the applicants were into their law school careers (i.e., L1, L2, and L3).
• The Career Center for the School of Education has information about cover letters as well as sample cover letter for someone applying to be an elementary school teacher here .

Academic and Professional Writing

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Analysis Papers

Reading Poetry

A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis

Using Literary Quotations

Play Reviews

Writing a Rhetorical Précis to Analyze Nonfiction Texts

Incorporating Interview Data

Grant Proposals

Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal: The Basics

Additional Resources for Grants and Proposal Writing

Job Materials and Application Essays

Writing Personal Statements for Ph.D. Programs

• Before you begin: useful tips for writing your essay
• Guided brainstorming exercises
• Get more help with your essay
• Frequently Asked Questions

Resume Writing Tips

CV Writing Tips

Cover Letters

Business Letters

Proposals and Dissertations

Resources for Proposal Writers

Resources for Dissertators

Research Papers

Planning and Writing Research Papers

Quoting and Paraphrasing

Writing Annotated Bibliographies

Creating Poster Presentations

Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper

Thank-You Notes

Advice for Students Writing Thank-You Notes to Donors

Reading for a Review

Critical Reviews

Writing a Review of Literature

Scientific Reports

Scientific Report Format

Sample Lab Assignment

Writing for the Web

Writing an Effective Blog Post

Writing for Social Media: A Guide for Academics

Stockton University is ranked among the top public universities in the Northeast with more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as continuing education opportunities. The University, one hour from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City, offers unique living and learning environments throughout southern New Jersey, including the 1,600-acre Galloway campus in the Pinelands National Reserve and Stockton University Atlantic City, located in the University District, just steps from the beach and the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk. Additional locations include Hammonton, Manahawkin and Woodbine. As a public university, Stockton provides an environment for excellence to a diverse student body, including those from underrepresented populations, through an interdisciplinary approach to liberal arts, sciences, and professional education. Founded in 1969, Stockton held its first classes in 1971. The University’s commitment to cultural diversity and its welcoming and vibrant community makes Stockton a great place to learn and work! Learn more about the many reasons to choose Stockton at www.Stockton.edu .

Faculty and Staff are committed to support Stockton University’s commitment to diversity and strong student-centered vision and mission.

This is an in-person on campus, non-remote position. The University has implemented a pilot program allowing employees to work either a compressed 4-day work week with extended workdays or may work from home one day a week. Participation is subject to Divisional Executive approval depending on operational need.

Adjunct Faculty - School of General Studies, FRST Writing Program

• Galloway, New Jersey
• School of General Studies
• Adjunct Faculty
• Opening on: Aug 29 2024

Campus Location: Main Campus (Galloway)

Department: School of General Studies

Salary Information: SFT Adjunct Rate

Work Hours:  Varies

Brief Job Overview/Summary

The First-Year Studies program at Stockton University is expanding its pool of qualified adjunct (part-time) instructors to teach courses in first-year writing (College Writing, Rhetoric and Composition, Argument and Persuasion, and Introduction to Research). Opportunities may exist to teach a flexible schedule that may include teaching assignments during days and evenings.

The job will be posted continuously to expand Stockton University’s pool of qualified Adjunct (part-time) instructors. Screening of applications are completed when open positions become available.

Descriptions of Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Please visit the First-Year Studies webpage (https://stockton.edu/general-studies/frst-program.html) for additional information about the program and course offerings. Excellent candidates qualified to teach any course offered by the program will be considered. We particularly seek adjunct faculty members interested in helping a diverse group of students develop writing skills and transition successfully to the university. Adjunct faculty must have the ability to support Stockton University’s diversity commitment and strong student-centered vision and mission.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in subject or related area
• Relevant teaching experience in subject area

Screening Information: The job will be posted continuously to expand Stockton University’s pool of qualified adjunct (part-time) instructors. Screening of applications are completed when open positions become available.

How to Apply: To apply please visit https://employment.stockton.edu or click the "Apply" button.

Only electronic documents will be accepted. Please complete the online application and include three professional references in addition to the following required documents. All required documents (Microsoft Word of PDF) must be submitted in order for your application to move forward. 

• A letter of interest describing qualifications and accomplishments
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• Unofficial Graduate transcripts

Please note:

• Stockton University is an equal opportunity institution encouraging a diverse pool of applicants.  Pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, Stockton University prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (including, but not limited to the prohibition of sexual misconduct and relationship violence, sexual assault and harassment) in all of its educational programs and activities. Please visit http://www.stockton.edu/affirmative_action for information on Stockton's Equal Opportunity and Institutional Compliance processes. The University provides reasonable accommodations as appropriate. An applicant may request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process by contacting Bart Musitano, Manager for University Pensions and Benefits within the Office of Human Resources (Main Campus, J-115) at 609-652-4384, Monday-Friday between 8:00am - 5:00pm.
• All offers of employment are contingent upon a favorable background check, which may include social intelligence from a consumer reporting agency.
• In accordance with the New Jersey First Act P.L. 2011 c.70, effective September 1, 2011, new public employees (faculty exempt) are required to obtain New Jersey residency within one (1) year of employment. Applicants must meet the requirements listed.
• Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act (Clery Act), prospective employees may access Stockton’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) at https://www.stockton.edu/police/crime-statistics.html . The ASFSR contains the previous three years of reported Clery Act crime statistics, fire safety information and information regarding campus and personal safety. Paper copies of the report are available at the Stockton University Police Department, building 71, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway Township, NJ, or call 609-652-4390, to request that a copy be sent via postal mail.

 Apply now!

Sign up for Job Alerts!

Share this job with a friend!

Thank you - we've sent an email with job to the person you entered.

Refer someone to this job

• Office of the President
• Read Stockton Now
• Media Resources
• Do Business With Stockton
• University Alerts
• Safety Information
• Statements & Policies

Additional Locations

• Atlantic City

Stockton University 101 Vera King Farris Drive Galloway, NJ 08205-9441 (609) 652-1776 Maps, Directions & Parking Accessibility Statement

Stockton University is an Equal Opportunity Institution © 2022 Stockton University