Letter Writing

Introduction

This week, we will read the most common of adult writing; the letter of complaint.

Hypothetical

The following never happenned, but pretend it did.

You are stuck in Hyannis and need to get back to Nantucket on a Saturday evening at 5. You leave your car in the Drive On/Drive Off line, pay your 20 bucks to the SSA, take a cab and go to the airport. On Sunday morning, when you pick up your car you find that your tapes have been messed with, McDonald’s remnants are on the seats, and the whole car smells like cigarettes. You decide to write a letter of complaint.

Requirements

In order for your paper to be graded, it must show the following traits:

• typed

• no more than one page

• no major grammar errors

• no major spelling errors

• Correct letter format

Optimal

Your letter will be graded for;

• clarity,

• use of writing tricks,

• structure (aboveboard argument).

 

Tip & Tricks

Introduction

In the other essays, you have had avery open audience with very nebulous expectation. Now you have a very focused audience with a specific expectation.

Tips

Make sure you do these things when you write this letter.

• Appropriate Tone

• Tell the Story

• Why I am writing

• What do I want

Appropriate Tone

Tone is the trickiest part of these letters. You need to be serious and forceful, without going over the top. It is probably best if you take the attitude that “You have a problem that I can help you with.”

Remember, you are not writing to the guy who gave you the problem, you are writing to his boss. She has to take you seriously.