Letter Writing: Features of Formal and Informal Letters for JSS 1

Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 8
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Writing
Focal competence: Writing informal and formal letters
Skills:

• Writing letters

Previous Lesson: Parts of Speech: Meaning, Types and Uses of Prepositions
Topic: Writing Informal And Formal Letters
Subject Matter: Application, and

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the features of formal letters.
• Identify the features of informal letters.
• List the parts of a formal letter in correct order.
• State language conventions for formal letters.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of appropriate tone in letter writing.
• Show interest in writing different types of letters correctly.

Psychomotor Domain

• Differentiate between formal and informal letters based on their features.
• Demonstrate the correct order of parts in a formal letter.

Social Domain

• Collaborate with peers to identify features in example letters.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Studies textbook for JSS 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Audiobooks (for listening to examples of formal/informal communication)
• Interactive Videos (demonstrating letter writing)
• Selected passages (examples of formal and informal letters)
• Pictorial aids (charts showing letter formats)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Chart showing the parts of a formal letter

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is essential as it equips students with the fundamental skill of writing different types of letters. Understanding the features of formal and informal letters enables students to communicate effectively and appropriately in various real-life situations, preparing them for academic and professional interactions.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of sentence construction, punctuation, and general communication skills.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Writing Informal And Formal Letters

Features of Formal Letters

Formal letters are official letters written for business, professional, or official purposes. They follow a strict format and maintain a serious tone.

Key features of formal letters include:

1. Official Purpose: They are written for official communication, such as job applications, complaints, inquiries, or requests.
2. Formal Tone: The language used is polite, respectful, objective, and avoids slang, contractions, or overly emotional expressions.
3. Complete Addresses: Both the sender’s and receiver’s full addresses are included.
4. Appropriate Salutation: Formal greetings like “Dear Sir/Madam,” “Dear Mr./Ms. [Surname],” or “To whom it may concern,” are used.
5. Appropriate Closing: Formal closings like “Yours faithfully,” “Yours sincerely,” or “Respectfully yours,” are used.
6. Concise and Clear: The message is direct, clear, and to the point.

Parts of a Formal Letter in Correct Order

A formal letter typically consists of the following parts, arranged in a specific order:

1. Sender’s Address: The full address of the person writing the letter.
2. Date: The date the letter is written (e.g., 8th October, 2024).
3. Receiver’s Address: The full address of the person or organisation the letter is being sent to.
4. Salutation: The greeting (e.g., “Dear Sir/Madam,”).
5. Subject Heading/Title: A brief phrase indicating the main purpose of the letter (e.g., “APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF SECRETARY”).
6. Body: The main content of the letter, divided into paragraphs.
7. Closing: The formal sign-off (e.g., “Yours faithfully,”).
8. Signature: The writer’s handwritten signature.
9. Writer’s Name: The full name of the writer, typed or printed below the signature.

Language Conventions for Formal Letters

When writing a formal letter, observe these conventions:

1. Use formal vocabulary (e.g., “request” instead of “ask,” “inform” instead of “tell”).
2. Avoid contractions (e.g., write “do not” instead of “don’t”).
3. Use complete sentences and proper grammar.
4. Maintain an objective and respectful tone throughout.
5. Be precise and avoid ambiguity.
6. Proofread carefully for any errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation.

Features of Informal Letters

Informal letters are personal letters written to friends, family members, or close acquaintances. They are less structured and allow for a more relaxed tone.

Key features of informal letters include:

1. Personal Purpose: They are written for personal communication, such as sharing news, inviting someone, or expressing feelings.
2. Informal Tone: The language used is casual, friendly, and can include slang, contractions, and personal anecdotes.
3. Simple Addresses: Often only the sender’s address is included, and sometimes only the town/city. The receiver’s address is usually not included on the letter itself, but on the envelope.
4. Casual Salutation: Informal greetings like “Dear John,” “Hi Mary,” or “Hello Mum,” are used.
5. Casual Closing: Informal closings like “Love,” “Best regards,” “Cheers,” or “Talk soon,” are used.
6. Conversational Style: The writing style is similar to how one would speak to the recipient.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Guided Practice, Pair Work, Group Work, Demonstration.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks students if they have ever written a letter and to whom. The teacher then introduces the topic of letter writing, distinguishing between formal and informal letters.

Pupils’ Activity: Students share their experiences with letter writing and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction to letter types

Step 2: Features of Formal Letters

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what formal letters are and discusses their key features, such as official purpose, formal tone, complete addresses, and appropriate salutation/closing. The teacher may show an example of a formal letter.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, ask questions, and observe the example letter.

Learning Point: Formal letter characteristics

Step 3: Parts of a Formal Letter

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a chart showing the parts of a formal letter in correct order (sender’s address, date, receiver’s address, salutation, subject, body, closing, signature, name). The teacher explains each part.

Pupils’ Activity: Students identify and name the parts of the formal letter as guided by the teacher.

Learning Point: Formal letter structure

Step 4: Language Conventions for Formal Letters

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the specific language conventions to observe when writing formal letters, such as using formal vocabulary, avoiding contractions, and maintaining an objective tone.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and note the language rules for formal letters.

Learning Point: Formal language rules

Step 5: Features of Informal Letters

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Comparison/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces informal letters and discusses their features, contrasting them with formal letters (personal purpose, informal tone, simple addresses, casual salutation/closing). The teacher may show an example.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and identify the features of informal letters.

Learning Point: Informal letter characteristics

Step 6: Differentiating Letter Types

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides short excerpts or scenarios and asks students to identify whether a formal or informal letter would be appropriate, explaining their reasons.

Pupils’ Activity: Students participate in the identification exercise and explain their choices.

Learning Point: Letter type differentiation

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Mention three features of a formal letter.
2. List any three parts of a formal letter.
3. How is the tone of an informal letter different from that of a formal letter?
4. Give two examples of formal salutations.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding letter features

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the features and parts of formal and informal letters into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarisation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarises the main points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of knowing how to write both formal and informal letters correctly for various communication needs.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Lesson recap

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook.

1. Write down five situations where you would need to write a formal letter.
2. Write down five situations where you would need to write an informal letter.
3. Identify the formal and informal features in the following sentences:
   1. “I wish to apply for the advertised position.”
   2. “Hey buddy, what’s up?”
   3. “Please accept my sincerest apologies for the inconvenience.”
   4. “See ya later!”

Lesson Keywords

• Formal Letter – An official letter written for business or professional purposes.
• Informal Letter – A personal letter written to friends, family, or close acquaintances.
• Salutation – The greeting used at the beginning of a letter.
• Closing – The phrase used to end a letter before the signature.
• Tone – The general character or attitude of a piece of writing.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, provide simplified examples and sentence starters for identifying features. Pair them with stronger learners for guided practice. For faster learners, challenge them to draft a short formal letter for a specific scenario, ensuring all parts and conventions are correctly applied.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search on YouTube: features of formal and informal letters JSS1 English

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have clear examples of both formal and informal letters, or charts illustrating their structures and key features. Visual aids will greatly assist students in understanding the concepts. Begin by engaging students with their prior experiences with letter writing. Systematically introduce the features and parts of formal letters, followed by a comparison with informal letters. Encourage active participation through questions and guided practice. Pay close attention to the language conventions for formal letters, as this is often a challenging area for students. During the note-taking stage, circulate to ensure students are copying accurately. For evaluation, use questions that directly assess their ability to identify and describe the features of both letter types. Provide constructive feedback on their responses and correct any misconceptions.