Format of a Formal Letter

                                                                                                                  

SAMPLE OF AN INFORMAL LETTER

Techniques for writing Precis WITH EXAMPLES

A précis is another word for a summary but unlike a summary it is specific. Writing précis gives training in careful reading as it develops one's capacity to discriminate between the essential and the non-essential details.  One needs to describe as accurately and briefly as possible the substance or main ideas contained in a text. 

In the ICSE examination, you are to lift points from some specific parts of the passage. Remember, your précis has to be of 60 words only. Be careful in deciding which are the relevant parts and which not. Sometimes the question even mentions which paragraphs you are supposed to refer to.

Prepare a draft with pencil in a grid of 60 cells (5 columns x 12 rows). Make necessary edits and corrections. Then make a final copy in ink. Remember not to exceed 60 words. Nor should it be fewer than 58 words.

GUIDELINES

1. To write an effective précis, read the passage several times for a full understanding.

2. Note key points. It may, in fact, be helpful to underline these words.

3. Do not use abbreviations or contractions. Do not quote examples or figures.

4. When writing about the past, use the past tense. 

5. Use indirect speech. Never quote dialogues.

6. Only commas and full-stops are allowed. No other punctuation mark has to be used. These marks will be put in the cell of the preceding word.

7. Ensure a smooth, logical flow of points. Do not write very long sentences.

8. Finally, check your précis against the original to be sure that it is exact and retains the order, proportions, and relationships of the original. 

EXAMPLE 1:

One of our most difficult problems is what we call discipline and it is really very complex. You see, society feels that it must control or discipline the citizen, shape his mind according to certain religious, social, moral and economic patterns. 

Point(s): Discipline is a great problem in society. Society uses discipline to shape our minds.

Now, is discipline necessary at all? Please listen carefully. Don’t immediately say YES or NO. Most of us feel, especially while we are young, that there should be no discipline, that we should be allowed to do whatever we like and we think that is freedom. But merely to say that we should be free and so on has very little meaning without understanding the whole problem of discipline. 

Point(s): Discipline is necessary for us. Some, however, think it is not needed.

The keen athlete is disciplining himself the whole time, isn't he? His joy in playing games and the very necessity to keep fit makes him go to bed early, refrain from smoking, eat the right food and generally observe the rules of good health. His discipline and punctuality is not an imposition but a natural outcome of his enjoyment of athletics. 

Point(s): Discipline makes good athletes. They enjoy a disciplined life.

Final Précis (This is just an example of what to write. In the exam, it has to be presented in a grid.)

Though discipline seems to be a problem, it is necessary for all. Discipline shapes our mind and regulates our habits. Some want to be free and think that it is not necessary. Discipline and punctuality give enjoyment to athletes. 

EXAMPLE 2:

Soapy was homeless and usually in the pleasant summer nights, he slept on a bench in a park. However, as the nights got colder with approaching winter, he decided to move to his regular hangout during winter.  There were several charitable places for the homeless in the New York City where Soapy could sleep during the frosty winter. But these establishments had numerous strict regulations and the authorities were highly inquisitive of the personal life of its inmates. So Soapy chose the prison at Blackwell’s on the island as his winter haunt.

Points(s): Soapy, a homeless man, wanted a shelter for winters but not one of those charitable homes where his personal life would be scrutinized. He chose the prison on Blackwell’s island as his home.

(Note how 3 to 4 pieces of information have been organized and presented in one statement. This practice saves words. However, avoid unnecessarily long sentences.)

It was easy to get entry into his winter resort because all Soapy had to do is break some trivial law and he was inside with no questions asked. His plan was to go to an expensive restaurant have some exorbitantly priced dishes. When he could not pay the bill, the officials would escort him straight to his trusted winter abode. Having smartened himself up with a clean shave and a wearing a coat hand out to him long back by a philanthropist, he stealthily entered a restaurant hoping that none of the waiters would notice his tattered trousers and shoes. He decided to order a mallard duck with a bottle of White Burgundy and other luxuries. Regrettably for Soapy, as soon as he got into a grand restaurant, the chief waiter noted his ratty trousers and drove him out of the restaurant.

Point(s): He planned to break some law and land up in jail. He smartened himself up and went to an expensive restaurant where, showing his inability to pay, he would be imprisoned. The chief waiter noted his ratty trousers and turned him out.

(Note: Appropriate adjectives and phrases can be lifted from the passage, but you should avoid lifting entire sentences.)

Combine the above points extracted from the passage to write your final precis.

INFORMAL LETTER- FORMAT AND RULES

(CLICK ON THIS FORMAT AND IT WILL OPEN AS A CLEAR PICTURE. RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE IT THEREAFTER.) 

Keep in mind the following things.

1. The letter must begin with the sender’s address: a three-line address in the above format. (House no., Area, City.) Punctuation must be taken care of.

2. The date should be written as either July 8, 2016 or 8^th July, 2016.

3. The salutation should always be ‘Dear ____(first name of the receiver)’. In case of parents, ‘Dear Father’ or ‘Dear Mother’ must be used.

4. Write 3 to 4 paragraphs. The first paragraph must include an informal greeting and reference to the purpose of the letter briefly.         

5. The second and third paragraphs must include the main content. One must strictly adhere to what has been asked in the question. There are marks reserved for closing sentence too.

6. The subscription could be one of these:

            Yours lovingly, Yours affectionately, Your loving son/daughter, Your loving friend, etc.

7. The letter must be signed with the first name of the sender only. No surname allowed.

Answers to Transformation Exercise posted on 12.09.2017

1. No sooner did she finish cooking than her son shouted he was hungry.
OR
No sooner had she finished cooking than her son shouted he was hungry.

2. She asked John whom he had met the previous day.

3. Rohit exclaimed that he had done very/extremely well.

4. Nothing but hard work can help you achieve the best.

5. The movie was too bad to be sat through till the end.
OR
The movie was too bad for me to sit through it till the end.

6. Two final witnesses were heard by the judge before writing the sentence.

7. In all probability, it will rain today.

8. It is said that he is wrongly accused.

9. This bicycle is not only strong, but also stylish.

10. Few other diseases are as deadly as cancer.

11. Before adding the concentrate, (you should) stir the mixture well.

12. Steps for preserving the monuments are being taken by the government.
OR
Steps for preservation of the monuments are being taken by the government.

Some practice in Transformation

Solve this worksheet yourself:

1. Hardly had she finished cooking when her son shouted he was hungry. (No sooner...)

2. She said to John, "Whom did you meet yesterday?" (She asked...)

3. Rohit said, "How well I have done!" (Rohit exclaimed...)

4. Only hard work can help you achieve the best. (Write as a negative sentence)

5. The movie was so bad that I couldn't sit through it till the end. (Use 'too...to')

6. The judge heard two final witnesses before writing the sentence. (Two final witnesses...)

7. It will probably rain today. (In...)

8. People say that he is wrongly accused. (It...)

9. This bicycle is both strong and stylish. (This bicycle is not...)

10. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases. (Few...)

11. Add this concentrate after stirring the mixture well. (Before adding...)

12. The government is taking steps to preserve the monuments. (Steps for...)

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(Answers will be posted on the morning of 14.09.2017)

Essay and Letter Writing

Instructions for Essay Writing

1. Read the topic carefully. Cover each part of the question properly. Each part has a definite weightage. Do not leave any part unanswered.

2. Choose your topic carefully. All kinds of essays are given due weightage and marks. Never think that a particular choice will result in loss of marks. Story writing for example is as advisable as argumentative or visual-based. But be careful enough to write a story like a story. 4-5 characters, a twist, a lesson in the end, 1st person point of view, some dialogues are needed.

3. High-flown language isn’t needed. Well-phrased sentences and use of appropriate vocabulary is what is given credit. Essays based on personal experiences are always welcomed by examiners.

4. A descriptive essay requires details of sensory perception. Use plenty of adjectives to add weight to your description.

5. In argumentative essays, views for or against the motion are to be accepted. Credit is to be given for a cohesive, well-constructed, logical argument and ideas and reasoning based on personal experience.  Do not sit on the fence. Write either in favour or against.

6. When you are supposed to begin or end with a particular line or phrase, do not alter it at all. Nor should you change its position.

7. In picture compositions, a wide range of interpretations is accepted. Do not, however, write an itemized description. Take the whole picture as one setting or theme.

Instructions for Letter Writing

Be careful about formats. Answer each part of the letter giving equal importance to each.
Practise the format of letter. Underline the part of the question that you are supposed to address.

Formal Letter:
*From address (Home/school)
*Date
*To address [spelling counts]
*Salutation [Sir/ Madam/ Dear…]
*Subscription [Yours faithfully, / Yours truly, (for letters to editors)]
*Name + surname/initial

Informal letter:
*Address (Home/school)
*Date
*Salutation- Dear/My dear [-name]/(relation-Dad, Mom, Aunt…)
*Subscription- Yours lovingly, /Yours affectionately, /Your loving..., /affectionate...,
*First name only

Ensure that the format is correct and that the points of each letter are clearly brought out.

Précis Writing

Précis writing basically means to write a summary with a limited number of words as specified in the question. The number of words may vary from 40 —100. In the ICSE examination, you are required to write a précis of 60 words. The following points should be kept in mind while answering the compulsory précis questions.

• According to the number of words specified in the question, two sets of lines and columns (meaning two grids) should be drawn first.
• Each line and column has to be numbered accordingly.
• Only one word is to be written in each box as has been shown to you.
• After the grids are ready, the headings ‘Rough Précis’ and ‘Fair Précis’ should be written above each grid.
• While completing the Rough Précis, words may exceed the number specified in the question. E.g. If you are asked to write a précis in not more than 60 words, the rough précis may exceed the number to 65 or 68.
• Keeping the question in mind. Choose the points needed for your answer from the passage. Details not asked should be left out.
• Do not lift or copy exact sentences from the passage. The précis should be in your own words, just like the answer to all the comprehension questions and should be written in indirect speech.
• After completing the Rough Précis, you will have to read through it to check and see where you can fit in the important words by cutting out useless words in the Rough Précis. All corrections will be done by you only in the Rough Précis.
• After making all the necessary changes in the Rough Précis, copy the corrected précis into the fair grid already numbered by you.
• Most important- After writing the Rough Précis, draw a diagonal line across the Rough Précis to ensure that the examiner corrects and marks on the right précis.
• Do not erase the lines and columns drawn and numbered by you.