Future Letter Revising 2011

 

REVISED LETTER FORMAT

 

  ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊDate

 

Dear Mom and Dad,

 

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊIndent each paragraph and put an extra return

between paragraphs.

 

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊWhen you are all done, put the paragraphs into

1.5 line spacing.

 

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊYours truly,

 

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ(leave space for your signature)

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊMsB (type your first name)

 

 

 

REVISING YOUR LETTER DRAFT

 

In this paragraphÉ

Did you alsoÉ?

Introduction ¦:  Greet parents, explain purpose of letter

Sound like yourself

Use a warm, personal tone—just a little bit more formal than usual

Refer to previous conversations you have (or haven't) had with them on this subject

Mention other big issues that may be going on in your family's life—put this issue in context

Body ¦1:  From Prewrite #1:  what you know about yourself, your talents, priorities, etc.

Refer to real-life examples that show your interests, values, etc.

Mention the role your parents and other influences have played in you becoming this person

Body ¦2:  From Prewrite #2-3-4:  what you have learned about career options and the outlook for the future

Show your knowledge of what's going on in the world, and what may be ahead

Explore how a person like you (from ¦1) fits into the future world you see unfolding

Body ¦3:  From Prewrites #1-6: Most likely prospects:  the top one, two, or three possibilities you are considering.  Compare/contrast them based on their pros/cons.

Discuss specific careers/jobs/occupations

Include any visions about your future family, recreation, friends, where you might live, and other life choices

Body ¦4:  Identify the steps you plan to take to help make a decision and/or prepare yourself for job/life.  Include college or other training and skill development.

Talk about where you are in the process of deciding.

Honestly acknowledge what you don't know, as well as what you do.

Tell the truth.

Show how your parents or others may have a role in this process.

Possible other ¦

If you think your parents may disagree with or disapprove of something you're planning, this may warrant a paragraph of its own! See MsB for assistance.

Conclusion ¦:  Thank your parents for what they've done for you (giving life, for exampleÉ).  Let them know what role you hope they will play in your future plans (encouragement, helping pay for college, etc.) and invite their ideas and opinions and knowledge about what you are planning.

Sound like yourself.

End with affection, humor, appreciation.

Refer back to any other big issues going on in your family's life right now.

Express your personal hopes and wishes for the future.

Look forward to relating to your parents in new ways, as you become more of an adult.

In the whole letterÉ

Did youÉ

 

Say what you mean, and mean what you said.

Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuationÉexcept perhaps where the slightly informal style calls for something else.

Write carefully, truthfully, precisely.

Tell the truth.

Sound like yourself.