Introduction
The art of writing a letter is important to any student and child. It also teaches them proper grammar, spelling, and strong word use. In this WebQuest, we will learn how to write an easy letter to a teacher.
All letters include a name, greeting, question or statement sentence, the body of the letter, the closing of the letter, and signature. Today each student will write a letter to their teacher expressing a question about any assignments for this year. They will open with a greeting, plus a question or statement, then explain the problem and close out with final comments. This is the beginning stage of letter writing for the mere future.
Let's get started!
Task
To complete this assignment, each student must write a letter that includes these 6 parts:
1. Name
2. Greeting
3. Question or statement about a specific homework assignment
4. Explain why you have this question or any details needed for the teacher to understand the question or statement
5. Closing sentence, thanking the teacher for their time reading and replying to this letter
6. Signature
Process
The structure of a letter includes these six parts. The process involves being clear and including each characteristic.
1. Name: Place your first and last name in the top left corner of your letter.
2. Greeting: Example: Dear Mr. or Mrs. [Teacher's Last Name]
3. Question or statement about a specific homework assignment: Example: I am emailing you to clarify a question about our science homework due Monday. Would you prefer the observations on our dissection to be on a separate piece of paper or the back of the lab sheet given to us in class on Tuesday?
4. Explain why you have this question or any details needed for the teacher to understand the question or statement: Example: I understand that we were given a lab sheet in class, but there is no specific place to write down our observations. There is room on the back of the lab sheet where I can place my observations, but I did not know if you desired the observations to be on lined paper.
5. Closing sentence, thanking the teacher for their time reading and replying to this letter: Example: Thank you for your time in reading and replying to this letter. I hope you have a great rest of your day!
6. Signature: Sign your full name after the letter is complete. Example: Sincerely, [Your Signature]
Here is an example of the structure of a letter: https://studentssbts-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/erau353_students_sbts_edu/Ef3lEJEM39FCkKdHc_BWRGQBCuLMaH2GDCcKQjuCjag6PQ?e=1aCd7j
Here is a letter from a student to a teacher: https://studentssbts-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/erau353_students_sbts_edu/Eb2OsKHEamxLmy5zOhtD88YBXoJ30uyA5PLwCK_o57YrZg?e=vqjSm3
Evaluation
Grading Rubric |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spelling and Grammar (10 points) | There are no spelling and grammatical errors. | There are 1 to 3 spelling or grammatical errors. | There are many spelling or grammatical errors. | The spelling and grammatical usage is very poor. |
| Name/Greeting and Conclusion/Signature (15 points) |
Your name is stated clearly in the top left corner of the paper. The greeting is stated clearly with correct grammar. The conclusion is stated clearly with correct grammar. Your name is signed at the end of the letter. |
Your name is stated clearly in the top left corner of the paper. The greeting is written well but has 1 to 3 grammatical errors. The conclusion is good, but the vocabulary is weak. Your name is signed at the end of the letter. |
Your name is not stated. The greeting has multiple grammatical errors and struggles with clarity. The conclusion struggles with clarity and good vocabulary. Your name is not signed at the end of the letter. |
Your name is not stated. There is no clear greeting. There is no clear conclusion. Your name is not signed at the end of the letter. |
| Opening Question/Statement (30 points) | The question/statement is clear with strong vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. | The question/statement is clear but has a few grammatical and spelling errors. | The question/statement is unclear and has multiple grammatical and spelling errors. | There is no clear question/statement in this letter. |
| Explanation of Question/Any Added Details (15 points) | The explanation and details are clear and precise and help the teacher understand the question better. | The explanation and details are present but struggle with clarity and good vocabulary. | The explanation and details are present but confuse the teacher and struggle with grammatical and spelling errors. | There is no explanation or details present in this letter. |
TOTAL POINTS: 70 points
Here is the grading rubric for this assignment. This is what I will use to evaluate your work.
Conclusion
The purpose of this assignment consists of 3 points:
1. To learn how to properly structure a letter.
2. To improve your spelling, vocabulary, and grammar.
3. To improve your communication skills.
In the end, I desire each student to know how to properly write and structure a letter to a teacher.
Credits
Here is a link to show how to address an envelope (to send in the mail): https://www.usps.com/ship/letters.htm
Here is a link to a "Thank You" example letter to a teacher or faculty member: https://www.template.net/editable/13890/free-thank-you-letter-to-teacher-from-student
Here is a link to show the benefits of letter writing: https://www.weliahealth.org/2022/06/purposeful-connections/