Letter-Writing

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The English Composition textbook we referred to a few days ago includes a lesson on letter-writing. Several lessons, in fact – business letters, friendly letters, formal social letters. When the textbook was published, in 1902, letter-writing was the number-one way of doing business, keeping in touch with friends and family, and sending or replying to invitations.

Here’s the lesson:

Sykes, Frederick Henry, Elementary English Compostion. Toronto: Copp, Clark Co. Ltd., 1902, p. 74-76

Does that sound a little intimidating? It needn’t be! Just grab any piece of paper and tell somebody what you’re doing, exactly as if you were talking to them! Maybe write a letter to your grandparents, or to a cousin in another town, or to a friend down the street.

Some ideas to get you started:

  • Ask them how they are doing, and tell them how you are.
  • Tell them what you are doing and what’s most interesting about it
  • Share an interesting piece of information – maybe something you saw on TV or on social media. Ask them what they think of it, so they’re encouraged to write back.
  • Tell them about a funny thing that happened – maybe something silly that you did, or something your pets did.

Pop it into an envelope and mail it. They will be thrilled to get your letter in a few days!

If you need a hint how to address your envelope, here you go: