Grammar and Language Workbook

Unit 14, Composition 335

Copyright © by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
Composition

Lesson 116

14.115 Personal Letters II......................................33314.116 Personal Letters III ....................................

If you want to write to an author or a performer that you admire, you should

write a personal letter. When you write to a celebrity, use a respectful tone and a

semiformal writing style. Be sure to state clearly how the author’s work has

affected you. Celebrities cannot respond to each and every letter. However, if

your letter catches the author’s interest, you might receive a letter in return.

Exercise 1 Read the following letter. Then answer each question.

Dear Jean,

Mrs. Fritz, I have read all your books. The book I like best is the one about

growing up in China. The things you wrote about China made me want to visit

it some day. I understood how homesick you felt because once I had to spend

the entire summer in Arizona, far away from my family in New Jersey.

I’ve learned a lot about United States history from your biographies. I feel as

if I have met each of your subjects in person. Could you please send me an

autographed copy of one of your books? It doesn’t matter which one.

Your friend,

Janine Janiewicz

1.Did the writer use an appropriate salutation? Why or why not? No. A respectful

salutation for an adult who is not a close friend would be “Dear Mrs. Fritz” or “Dear Jean Fritz.” A

correct salutation would make “Mrs. Fritz” in the first line unnecessary.

2.Was the writer clear about which book she admires the most? Explain. Stating the title of

the book would make it clearer.

3.Explain whether the style and tone of the first paragraph is appropriate. Generally, the

style and tone is semiformal and appropriate.