Page 120 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

After Reading
3. When you have finished reading, respond to the questions below in the space provided. Be prepared to discuss your answers with your classmates.
a. Organization: What do you notice about the structure of the letter? How does it begin? How does it end? Why are the ideas in this letter placed in this order?
The letter starts with the request for specific services.
Next, the writer goes into more detail about the work of her company and the specific need for translation work.
Next, the writer praises the services of Lingua and explains what languages would be needed and how the services would be delivered. The letter ends with the expectation of high quality and high reward.
b. Audience: To whom is the letter written? How do you know? What is the relationship between the letter writer and the audience?
The letter is written to Lingua Services, a company that translates spoken word to subtitles and face-to-face. The letter writer needs these services for her film company and believes the company has an excellent reputation for accuracy and does contract work.
c. Purpose: Why did the writer write the letter? What examples from the text support your response?
The Marketing manager of Dreamtime Movies needs to find translation services for their workplace training films.
Check Your Understanding
4. How would you describe the tone of this letter? Do you think Ms. Philips
succeeds in making this offer sound tempting? Why or why not?
The tone is serious and straightforward. The writer includes a mix of praise and explanation. The request is tempting because Ms. Philips gives specific parameters of the work and uses terms such as “expertise” and “impeccable reputation” to refer to Lingua Services and, most importantly, offers a “generous contract and continuous work.”
5. This letter is written in a business, or formal, context. Look at the sample text again, and circle or highlight examples of word choice that convey an appropriate tone for a business or formal letter.
“inquire”; “professional filmmaker”; “annual contract for services”; “earliest convenience”
Writing Workshop 10 • Procedural Texts: Business Letters 3
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