ENGLISH WRITING ASSIGNMENT

SubCategory Descriptive
Mastery Letters
Skill Informal Letters

Assignment Question
Write an informal letter of approximately 150 – 250 words to your
friend and tell him or her how you spent your summer holidays.

Note for Students:

This is a descriptive task. The purpose of descriptive writing is to describe something in detail—a
person, place, object, experience, emotion, situation, event, or idea. A descriptive text typically has a
distinct focus, that is, it provides rich details about ONE specific topic.

An informal letter is a letter written in a friendly manner to someone you are familiar with or with
whom you have a non-professional relationship, such as family, friends, or close acquaintances. An
informal letter can also be written to business partners or colleagues with whom one we share an
informal bond of friendship.

Purpose of Informal Letters

An informal letter can be written for a variety of reasons, such as conveying a message or good or
bad news, inquiring about someone’s health, congratulating the recipient on some achievement,
requesting some information, offering advice, asking questions about an issue, thanking someone,
responding to a question or request, inviting someone for a visit, apologising for something, or just
maintaining contact.

Tone

An informal letter, also referred to as a friendly letter, is written in an individual capacity for personal
reasons rather than for official reasons. It is like a conversation you are having with someone you
know well. So, it should use casual language and a friendly tone. Adjust your language according to
who you are writing to. If you are writing to someone older, you should be respectful and considerate
despite maintaining an informal tone.

Format

There are fewer formatting rules for informal letters than there are for formal or business letters.
However, your letter should include the following sections:

a. The letter’s heading should include the sender’s address (unless the sender is sure the
receiver already knows it), the date on which the letter is written, and the receiver’s
address.
b. The salutation should be addressed to the receiver of your letter. If you are writing to a
friend or someone close to your age, you can greet them by their first name. If you are
writing to your relative, you may greet them as “Dear Mom” or “Dear Uncle”. And if you are
writing to an older person, you can address them as Mr, Ms, or Mrs.

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c. The introduction sets the tone for the whole letter. It should start with opening remarks
such as “How are you?” or “Thanks for your last letter”. It should then state the purpose of
writing the letter.
d. The body should elaborate upon your message or purpose. Do not forget to divide it into
paragraphs.
e. The closing paragraph should sum up the reason for writing the letter and end with
concluding remarks, such as inviting the reader to reply to your letter or hoping to hear
from them soon. This will be followed by the closing salutations such as “Affectionately” or
“With love”.
f. Below the closing, write your name. Your signature will end the letter.

Note for Teachers:

The following scoring rubric provides guidelines on how to grade the letter. It will allow your students to
understand class expectations and enable you to grade the writing assignment easily and fairly. There
are two sample informal letters given below the rubric for reference. Students should be allowed access
to the internet to research the topic. It may be necessary to ensure that the content is not plagiarised
from online sources.

Grading Rubric

3 2 1 0 Score
Content The letter very The letter The letter vaguely The letter does
clearly states the clearly states mentions the not mention the
purpose of the the purpose of purpose. purpose of the
letter. the letter. letter.
It gives very few
It gives It gives some explanations and The main idea is
appropriate explanations details to support not supported by
explanations and and details to the main idea. explanations or
details to support support the details.
the main idea. main idea.
Voice & Tone The tone used is The tone used The tone used is The tone used is
appropriate for the is mostly somewhat totally
intended appropriate for appropriate for the inappropriate for
audience. It is the intended intended the intended
both casual, audience. It is audience. It is audience. It is
informal, and mostly informal. partly formal and very formal and
friendly. reserved and reserved.
partly informal and
friendly.
It is mostly easy It is somewhat It is very hard to
It is easy to follow to follow and hard to follow and follow and
and understand. understand. understand. understand.
Formatting It accurately It mostly follows There are a few There are several
follows the the informal noticeable errors noticeable errors
informal letter letter format: in the formatting. in the formatting.
format: sender’s sender’s It lacks some of It lacks most of
address, date, address, date, the components of the components
recipient’s recipient’s an informal letter: of an informal
address, address, sender’s address, letter: sender’s
salutation, salutation, date, recipient’s address, date,
introduction, main introduction, address, recipient’s
body, closing, and main body, salutation, address,
signature. introduction, main salutation,

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3 2 1 0 Score
closing, and body, closing, and introduction, main
signature. signature. body, closing,
and signature.
Organisation There is a logical Details are The arrangement There is no
and organised arranged in a of examples and apparent pattern
progression of logical transitions may be of organisation;
thought through progression. weak. details are
the use of relevant There are unrelated, and
supporting appropriate there are no
examples and transitions. transitions.
distinct transition
words.
Punctuation There are no There are 1 – 2 There are 3 – 4 There are several
& Grammar punctuation or punctuation and punctuation and punctuation and
grammatical grammatical grammatical grammatical
errors. errors that do errors that errors that make
not interfere interfere with the the text difficult to
with the overall meaning/message read and
meaning of the of the text. understand.
text.
Language, It uses simple, It uses original, It uses unclear It uses unclear
Style, and original, and clear and clear language, long or language, long or
Syntax language. Avoids language, but is difficult words that difficult words,
difficult or prone to using are hard to and complex
unnecessarily long or difficult understand, and 2 sentences written
long words and words where – 3 complex entirely in the
complex simpler ones will sentences. More passive voice.
sentences. Uses do. Has 1 – 2 than half the Most of the words
the passive voice complex sentences use the are difficult to
only when sentences. passive voice. understand.
necessary.
Content ______
Voice & Tone ______
Formatting ______
Organisation ______
Punctuation &
Grammar ______
Language, Style, and
Syntax ______
Total Points (out of
18) ______ Grade ______

Informal Letter Sample 1

December 12th, 2020

House 14, Street 7,

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Swat

Dear Sophiya,

I was so happy to receive your letter yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed your photographs of beautiful
Swat. It seems like heaven on earth!

Well, school is finally over, and I’ve some exciting news for you. I got an unbelievably great result in
my final-term exams – honestly, I didn’t expect to score so high! So as a treat, Abbu and Ammi have
allowed me to spend the summer break with you in Swat. I can’t wait to explore the lush green
mountains, valleys, forests, and cool water springs with you. You will need to give me a tour of the
White Palace at Marghazar that I’ve heard so much about. We can enjoy hiking at the beautiful ski
resort, Malam Jaba. I would also love to check out the Gandhara sculptures, pottery, precious stones,
coins, weapons, local embroidery, and exquisite tribal jewellery displayed at the Swat Museum that
we’ve read about in our History class.

Do write back soon and let me know if June 5th to the 30th suits you. Please give my regards to aunty
and uncle.

Love,

Sarah

Informal Letter Sample 2

January 8th, 2021

My dearest Tooba,
I was overjoyed to hear that you have topped your Matric school exams and won a scholarship to a
leading college. I wish I were there to congratulate you in person, but this letter will do for now.
Your accomplishments have proven that hard work, dedication, and strong determination will yield
great results. You were always a focused child, passionate about your studies, and eager to learn
new things. You have successfully achieved this milestone and not only set an example of academic
excellence for your siblings but also made the entire family proud. I’m sorry that I couldn’t attend your
celebration party, but we’ll definitely have another one next time I visit.
I hope to see you soon. Please be encouraged and continue to work hard. Your future is very bright.
Your uncle and cousins are all sending their love and heartiest congratulations on your
accomplishment.
Lots of love,
Your aunt,
Talat khala