Formal Letter 正式书信
进阶正式信用 Dear + Yours sincerely/faithfully。
- 格式：地址 + 日期 + 收件人
- 知道的名字：Dear Mr. X + Yours sincerely
- 不知的名字：Dear Sir/Madam + Yours faithfully
文体小知识：To school/office.
§课文原文 Passage
1Dear Principal Cheung, On behalf of the Student Union, I am writing to make a formal request to hold a charity book fair in the school hall. The event is scheduled for Saturday, 14 November, from ten in the morning to four in the afternoon, and we hope that your approval will allow us to begin preparations next week.
2As environmental protection has become a major concern in our community, we believe the fair will encourage students to reuse books instead of throwing them away. Every year, thousands of books in good condition are left unread at home, while many families cannot afford to buy new ones. A book fair offers a simple solution: students and teachers can donate the books they no longer need, and visitors can take them home for a small donation.
3All proceeds will be donated to a local charity that supports children from low-income families. Students from each class will take turns to run the stalls under the supervision of their class teachers, and two teachers have already agreed to act as overall coordinators. A detailed plan, including the stall layout and the duty roster, is attached for your reference.
4We would be grateful if you could approve our proposal by the end of this month, so that we have enough time to collect the books and design the posters. Should you require further information, please contact me at any time. Thank you very much for your time and support. Yours sincerely, Wong Hoi Ming, Chairperson of the Student Union
§逐句中文翻译 Sentence-by-sentence translation
Dear Principal Cheung, On behalf of the Student Union, I am writing to make a formal request to hold a charity book fair in the school hall.
张校长台鉴：我谨代表学生会去信，正式申请在学校礼堂举办慈善书展。
The event is scheduled for Saturday, 14 November, from ten in the morning to four in the afternoon, and we hope that your approval will allow us to begin preparations next week.
活动定在 11 月 14 日（星期六）上午十时至下午四时举行，希望校长批准，让我们下星期就可以开始筹备。
As environmental protection has become a major concern in our community, we believe the fair will encourage students to reuse books instead of throwing them away.
由于环境保护已经成为社区关注的重大议题，我们相信书展可以鼓励同学重用旧书，而不是把它们丢弃。
Every year, thousands of books in good condition are left unread at home, while many families cannot afford to buy new ones.
每年都有成千上万本状态良好的书闲置在家没有人看，与此同时，许多家庭负担不起买新书。
A book fair offers a simple solution: students and teachers can donate the books they no longer need, and visitors can take them home for a small donation.
书展提供了一个简单的解决方法：师生可以捐出不再需要的书，访客亦可以捐一点钱将书带回家。
All proceeds will be donated to a local charity that supports children from low-income families.
所有收益将会捐给一间本地慈善机构，支援低收入家庭的小朋友。
Students from each class will take turns to run the stalls under the supervision of their class teachers, and two teachers have already agreed to act as overall coordinators.
每班同学会在老师监督下轮流打理摊位，另外有两位老师已经答应担任总协调。
A detailed plan, including the stall layout and the duty roster, is attached for your reference.
详细计划，包括摊位布置与值更表，已经附上，供校长参考。
We would be grateful if you could approve our proposal by the end of this month, so that we have enough time to collect the books and design the posters.
如果校长可以在月底前批准我们的建议，我们将不胜感激，这样我们就有足够时间收书和设计海报。
Should you require further information, please contact me at any time.
如需进一步资料，请随时联络我。
Thank you very much for your time and support.
非常感谢校长的时间和支持。
Yours sincerely, Wong Hoi Ming, Chairperson of the Student Union
学生会主席 黄海明 谨启
1重点摘要 Summary
正式信用 Dear + Yours sincerely/faithfully。
2生字卡 Vocabulary
礼貌、专业，不用口语。
写信那个人。
收信那个人。
开头怎样称呼对方。
一句话说明信的内容。
知道对方的名字才使用。
不知道对方的名字才使用。
写信的态度，正式信要礼貌。
3逐步讲解 Steps
- 第一步：格式（Format）正式书信的格式分最容易取得，也最容易因疏忽而失去。考点是三项必备元素：寄件人地址置于右上角，日期在其下，收件人地址置于左上角。方法是把三项写成固定清单，落笔前逐一核对。以本课申请书展的信为例，格式齐全令阅信人一开始便感到专业。易错之处是学生漏写日期或把两个地址的位置调转；格式分是卷面分，漏一项扣一项，切不可轻视，开笔前先画好版面。
- 第二步：称谓（Salutation）称谓是正式书信最常考的位置，考点在于按是否知道对方姓名选用正确开头。方法分两路：知道姓名用 Dear Mr. Wong 或 Dear Ms. Chan；不知道姓名用 Dear Sir / Madam。以课文为例，信写给校长而知道其姓名，故用 Dear Principal Cheung。易错之处是学生在不知姓名时仍自行杜撰称谓，或在知道姓名时误用 Dear Sir or Madam；称谓一错，结尾语也会跟著错，损失是连环的。
- 第三步：标题（Subject）正式书信通常在称谓之下加一行 Subject，考点在于以一句话概括来信目的，方便对方快速掌握。方法是用名词短语而非完整句，例如 Subject: Application for Charity Book Fair，一眼可见信件主题。易错之处是学生把 Subject 写成长句，甚至整行遗漏；标题行是正式书信与普通信件的重要区别，题目若要求正式格式，漏写 Subject 往往被扣格式分，写信时应养成先拟标题的习惯。
- 第四步：开首段开首段必须立刻讲明写信目的，考点在于第一句便让对方知道来意。方法是用 I am writing to... 或 I would like to... 开头，配合具体事项。以课文为例：I am writing to make a formal request to hold a charity book fair，目的与事项一句讲清。易错之处是学生先写一大段背景铺垫，目的到第二段才出现；正式书信讲求直接，开首绕圈子会令重点模糊，亦浪费宝贵字数。
- 第五步：正文（Body）正文一般二至三段，考点在于分段清晰、每段一个重点。方法是第一段讲目的，第二段讲细节，包括时间、地点与安排，第三段讲请求或期望。以课文为例，理由、安排与附属计划分段交代，条理分明。易错之处是学生把所有内容挤在一段，或一段之内夹杂多个话题，令阅信人难以跟随；落笔前先列大纲，每段开首一句点明该段重点，正文自然整齐可读。
- 第六步：结尾和结语结尾与结语是格式考点的最后一关。方法是先以 Thank you for your time and consideration 致谢，再按称谓选结尾语：知道对方姓名用 Yours sincerely，不知道用 Yours faithfully，最后签名并写出姓名。以课文为例，因信首已用 Dear Principal Cheung，故结尾用 Yours sincerely。易错之处是学生把两种结尾语调转使用；记忆方法是 faithfully 配匿名收信人，开头与结尾必须互相呼应。
5例题示范 Example
用范例信做参考：写信给校长申请在礼堂办慈善书展，正文应该怎样组织才能说服校长？
- 第一步：开首段讲目的——「I am writing to make a formal request to hold a charity book fair」，一句讲清申请什么、哪一天举行。
- 第二步：第二段讲理由——环保大前提下，每年大量好书被弃置，同时有家庭买不起新书，书展是简单的解决方法。
- 第三步：第三段消除顾虑——收益捐本地慈善机构、每班在老师监督下轮流看管摊位、两位老师做统筹，还附上详细计划书。
- 第四步：第四段提出具体要求——请校长月底前批准，等学生有时间收书和设计海报。
- 第五步：结尾礼貌收结——因为信头写了 Dear Principal Cheung（知道姓名），所以用 Yours sincerely 而不是 Yours faithfully。
- 答案：这封信用四段说服校长：第一段直接讲目的——以学生会名义申请 11 月 14 日在礼堂办慈善书展；第二段讲理由——环保意识抬头，大量好书被弃置，但有家庭负担不起新书，书展令旧书重生；第三段消除疑虑——收益全数捐给帮助基层儿童的本地慈善机构，学生在老师监督下轮流当值，还附上详细计划书；第四段提出月底前批准的要求。全信用正式语气、没有缩写，因为知道对方姓名，所以用 Yours sincerely 结尾。
6常见错误 Mistakes
75 题快测 Quick check
Q1知道对方的名字用什么结语？
Q2不知对方的名字用什么结语？
Q3正式信可不可以用缩写？
Q4开首第一句要？
Q5Subject 是什么？
8重点回顾 Recap
- 格式：地址 + 日期 + 收件人
- 知道的名字：Dear Mr. X + Yours sincerely
- 不知的名字：Dear Sir/Madam + Yours faithfully
- 不可以用缩写，语气要礼貌
- 每段一个重点，开首讲目的