Essay Writing: Informal Letters (Friendly Letters)

An informal letter follows a clear, conventional structure: 1. Sender's Address: - Located at the TOP RIGHT corner of the page. - Written in slanted or block format. - Must end with the town, region, or country (e.g., Accra, Ghana). - Punctuated properly (commas at the end of each line, full stop after the final line). 2. Date: - Placed directly beneath the sender's address. - Standard British format: 14th May, 2024 or 14 May 2024. Avoid purely numeric forms like '14/05/24'. 3. Salutation (Greeting): - Placed at the LEFT margin, a line below the date. - Format: Dear + First Name (Dear Kwabena, / Dear Sister Akosua, / Dear Mother,). - Always followed by a COMMA. 4. Body of the Letter: - Introduction: Warm personal greetings, inquiring about welfare, acknowledging previous letters. - Main Paragraphs (2 to 3): Developing the core points required by the question prompt. - Conclusion: Concluding remarks, sending greetings to family members or mutual friends. 5. Subscription (Valediction / Sign-off): - Located at the BOTTOM RIGHT corner. - Common standard informal closings: 'Yours sincerely,', 'Yours affectionately,', 'Your friendly cousin,', 'Your loving friend,'. - Capital 'Y', lowercase 's' or 'a', followed by a COMMA. - First name ONLY (NO surname, NO official title, NO signature!).

The tone of an informal letter must reflect warmth, intimacy, and natural conversation: • Conversational Tone: Use casual and friendly expressions while strictly adhering to standard English grammar rules. Slang, pidgin, or street jargon (e.g. 'chale', 'wassup') should NOT be used in BECE examination essays. • Permitted Contractions: Unlike formal letters, contractions are fully permissible and encourage a relaxed tone: - "I'm so delighted to hear from you..." - "You wouldn't believe what happened at our inter-schools athletics competition..." - "Don't forget to reply as soon as you receive this." • Direct Address and Rhetorical Questions: Engage the reader directly to create warmth: - "How are Uncle Kwame and little Esi doing?" - "Can you imagine who our new class teacher is?"

• The Introductory Paragraph: Begin with genuine personal pleasantries and establish the reason for writing: "How are you and everyone at home? I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to tell you about my exciting first term at Presby JHS and why I think you will love visiting us during the holidays." • The Body Paragraphs (Content): Devote each paragraph to ONE main idea with vivid supporting details: - Paragraph 1: Describe the school environment, teachers, and favorite subjects. - Paragraph 2: Share an unforgettable event (e.g. winning a football trophy or participating in the cultural festival). - Paragraph 3: Explain the holiday plans and invite your friend over. • The Concluding Paragraph: Wrap up gracefully, convey warm greetings, and request an early response: "Please convey my warmest regards to your parents and little brother. I must stop here as the prep bell is ringing. Do write back soon and tell me everything happening at your end."

Study this BECE-standard informal letter model: Anglican Junior High School, P.O. Box 45, Cape Coast. 18th October, 2024. Dear Kojo, I hope this letter finds you in excellent health. Everything is fine with me here in Cape Coast, although our studies have kept me quite busy. I am writing to share with you the remarkable experience we had during our school's annual speech and prize-giving day. The entire compound was beautifully decorated with colorful buntings and flags. To my greatest delight, I was awarded the best student in Integrated Science and received three new storybooks! After the formal presentations, our cultural troupe performed the energetic 'Kpanlogo' dance, which drew thunderous applause from the parents. I only wished you were there to witness our performance. Please extend my warmest greetings to your mother and sisters. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, Kwame