Letter

• Name, date, address - How is the heading of the letter organized? Does the writer include a formal label such as “Dr.” or “Mrs”, or is the letter more informal? Is the address included, and does it look

  like a professional letter or a casual correspondence? Lots to upack.
• Salutation - Yes, this is a fancy word for “greeting” and it can reveal the tone of the writer. Pay attention to words like “Dear”, “To whom it may concern”, etc.
• Statement of Purpose - usually found in the opening paragraph, this is often a short and clear statement outlining the reason for writing the letter. This purpose should come out very early in the letter.
• Register - Pay attention to the distance between the writer and the recipient. Is the distance between them far or near? Cordial or formal? Pay attention to register.
• Call to action - often found at the end of the letter, this final paragraph often states what the writer would like the reader to do in response to the letter.
• Closing - Much like the salutation, the closing or “send off” can reveal much about both writer and recipient. Check for formal versus informal language, casual register versus formal register, and

  overall level of formality.