Writing an Application Letter
Once you finish prewriting, you are ready to write the body of your letter. These activities will help write strong opening, middle, and ending parts.
Writing the Opening Part
Write your opening part.
Read about opening strategies. Then use them to write the beginning of your letter of application.
In the first part of your letter, you should do two things.
- Identify the position that you are applying for.
I am interested in going to SeaScapes Scuba Camp this summer.
- Tell what you know about the organization, such as where you learned about it.
I read about your camp in the most recent issue of Scuba Kidz magazine. I understand that your camp is for kids aged 10 to 16 with all different levels of experience.
Opening Paragraph
Writing the Middle Part
Write your middle part.
Read about middle strategies. Then use them to write the middle part of your letter.
In the middle part of your letter, give information about yourself and explain why you are a good match for the group or organization.
- Give details that the reader will want to know about you, such as your age and your interests.
I am 13 years old and have very little experience with scuba diving. Because I live in Arizona, I know more about the desert than the ocean. But I love to watch anything on television that shows underwater life and shipwrecks. I have read many books on scuba diving and would like to learn about it firsthand.
- Give reasons that show you are a good match for the opportunity.
I think that spending the summer at your camp would be a great experience for me. I have never traveled outside my home state and have never seen the Pacific Ocean except on YouTube videos. This would be a great chance to do both. I would also enjoy meeting kids from all over the country. Finally, I think that I might like to become a scientist who studies sea life. Spending the summer at your camp would really help me decide whether that is a good choice for me.
Middle Paragraphs
Writing the Ending Part
Write your ending part.
Read about ending strategies. Then use them to write the end of your letter.
Use the ending paragraph to make a good final impression. Be polite and thank the reader.
- Include any last details.
My science teacher thinks that I would really benefit from your camp. She would be willing to write a letter to show her support.
- Thank the reader.
Thank you for reading my letter.
- Let the reader know that you would like a response to your letter.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Ending Paragraph
Reading an Application Letter Draft
Read a draft of an application letter.
Note how the writer put the parts together.
42 Bellevue Drive, Apartment 12D
Phoenix, AZ 85001
March 21, 2017
Mr. Richard Friedman
Seascapes Scuba Camp
San Diego, CA 92101
Dear Mr. Friedman:
Opening I am interested in going to your camp this summer. I read about SeaScapes Scuba Camp in the most recent issue of Scuba Kidz magazine. I understand that your camp is for kids aged 10 to 16 with all different levels of experience.
Middle I am 13 years old and have very little experience with scuba diving. Because I live in Arizona, I know more about the desert than the ocean. But I love to watch anything on television that shows underwater life and shipwrecks. I have read many books on scuba diving and would like to learn about it firsthand.
I think that spending the summer at your camp would be a great experience for me. I have never traveled outside my home state and have never seen the Pacific Ocean except on YouTube videos. This would be a great chance to do both. I would also enjoy meeting kids from all over the country. Finally, I think that I might like to become a scientist who studies sea life. Spending the summer at your camp would really help me decide whether that is a good choice for me.
EndingMy science teacher thinks that I would really benefit from your camp. She would be willing to write a letter to show her support.
Thank you for reading my letter. I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Brian Spencer
Brian Spencer