In today’s session, we’ll learn:

What is a letter to Editor?

Why do we need to write a letter to the
Editor?
How to write a letter to the Editor?
Everyone has a voice in their
community. Use yours by writing a USE YOUR
letter to the Editor of your local
VOICE
newspaper. This is a chance for you to
voice your opinion about a
community issue that is important to you.

THINK AND SHARE!

Think of an important public issue that affects your daily life. Do you
agree or disagree with it? How would you change things? Choose
from the list below or come up with your own.

• Poor Condition of roads

• Reckless driving by youngsters
• Menace of street dogs
• Thoughtless honking
• Misuse of technology
• Poor Maintenance of public park
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
• _____________________________
WHAT IS A LETTER TO THE EDITOR?
You feel strongly about an issue, and you want to let
people know what you think. You believe you can
even influence people to take some action if you
speak your mind. But, you want to reach an
audience larger than just your friends or your group
membership. Letters to the editor can be an effective
way to get the word out.

A letter to the editor is a written way of talking to a

newspaper, magazine, or other regularly printed
publication. Letters to the editor are generally found
in the first section of the newspaper, or towards the
beginning of a magazine, or in the editorial page.
They can take a position for or against an issue, or
simply inform, or both. They can convince readers
by using emotions, or facts, or emotions and facts
combined.

Using a few carefully placed letters, you can

generate plenty of community discussion. You can
also keep an issue going by preventing it from
disappearing from the public eye. You can stimulate
the interest of the news media and create more
coverage for the matters you're working on. You can
also send a "good news" letter to bring recognition to
people who deserve it or acknowledge the success of
an effort.
WHY SHOULD YOU WRITE A LETTER TO THE
EDITOR?
Letters to the editor are among the most widely read
features in any newspaper or magazine. They allow
you to reach a large audience. You can probably
think of many more specific reasons why you might
want to write to the editor, but here are a few
general ones:

❖ You are angry about something, and want

others to know it
❖ You think that an issue is so important that you
have to speak out
❖ Part of your group's strategy is to persuade
others to take a specific action
Or you want to:
❖ Suggest an idea to others

❖ Influence public opinion

❖ Educate the general public on a specific matter

❖ Influence policy-makers or elected officials

directly or indirectly

❖ Publicize the work of your group and attract

volunteers or program participants
Content of a Formal Letter

First paragraph
The first paragraph should be short and state the
purpose of the letter- to make an enquiry, complain,
request something, etc.

The paragraph or paragraphs in the middle of the

letter should contain the relevant information
behind the writing of the letter. Most letters in
English are not very long, so keep the information to
the essentials and concentrate on organising it in a
clear and logical manner rather than expanding too
much.

Last Paragraph
The last paragraph of a formal letter should state
what action you expect the recipient to take- to
refund, send you information, etc.
Formal letter- Letter to the Editor
Layout

Sender's Address (2-3 lines)

LAL

Date (in expanded from)

LAL

Receiver's Designation
and Address(3-4 lines)

LAL

Subject: brief and underlined

Salutation

Content

Subscription
Sender's name
Designation (if required)
Sample Letter 1:

You visited the Water Park in your city as part of school excursion. You noticed that
the water was not clean and also had a stale smell which could result in many water
borne diseases. Write a letter in about 150 words to the editor of a local newspaper
about your experience on visiting the place and how the polluted water would affect
the visitors. Include the precautions that should be taken in the Water Park. You are
Neeta/Nitin.
389, Mayur Vihar
New Delhi

05 April 2020

The Editor
The Times of India
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi

Subject: Critical Condition of Water Park

Sir
Through the columns of your reputed newspaper, I would like to share my
experience with one and all that I had during my recent visit to the Water Park. We
visited the place as a part of school exclusion but were shocked to see its plight. The
water in the park was dirty and a stale smell was emanating from it. It can result in
many water borne diseases. There were very few visitors due to the degrading
condition.
Even I complained this to the manager of the water park but he didn't take a step.
Many of my friends have already been affected by that water park's dirty water that
they had to be admitted in the hospital. Many people visit that place and the water is
not changed once in a month which is really hazardous for everyone's health. Even
the security there is not tight.
I want to make the concerned authorities aware that they must ensure the regular
cleaning of water at proper intervals. Draining can also be done. To restore its
popularity, a canteen or snack-bar can be opened. This place can become a popular
holiday spot if taken care of properly.

Thank you.
Yours sincerely
Nitin
Sample Letter 2:

You recently visited an important historical monument. You were shocked to find it in
a state of utter neglect. Write a letter to the editor of a leading newspaper
highlighting the poor condition of important archaeological and heritage sites. Point
out the lack of essential services, the poor state of maintenance and its misuse by
people. Give suggestions for improving the situation.

136, New Kamla Nagar

Agra

06 April 2020

The Editor
The Times of India
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi

Subject: Poor Condition of Heritage Sites

Sir
I am a regular reader of your esteemed daily and wish to use your columns to
express my concern over the the poor condition of important archaeological and
heritage sites in the country.
Last Sunday I went to visit Taj Mahal along with my parents. I was quite excited but
all the excitement was short-lived as the place was not as beautiful as it should have
been. The Taj no doubt, is an epitome of beauty. But the place outside was littered
with plastic plates, broken bottles, leftover food, etc. Many tourists come to Agra to
view Taj but the mess around the monument leaves a bad impression on the
tourists.
People must acquire some good civic habits. Dustbins should be provided at short
distances and people should use them. They should throw the wastes and leftovers
in the dustbins. Children should be taught civic habits right from the beginning.
Parents should ensure that the children are following good habits. There is a dire
need to check all this and to take preventive steps.
Through this letter of mine, I want to create awareness among general public that we
must not neglect our archaeological and heritage sites. We must take good care of
them by following good civic habits and following the code of conduct ethically.
Thankyou.
Yours truly
Archit Mahajan

TASK 1

Complete the following letter:

Everyday you are late to school by fifteen minutes. Your school bus is stuck in a
traffic jam near Laxmi Narayan Temple crossing. Along with own ideas, write a letter
to the editor of a newspaper highlighting this problem and suggesting some solution
for it.

232, New Friends Apartment

M.D. Road
Noida

07 April, 2020

The Editor
The Hindustan Times
Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi

Subject: Chaotic Traffic Condition

Sir
Through this letter of mine, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities towards the
problems faced by students everyday. We reach our school fifteen minutes late as
our school bus _____________________________________________________
People park their vehicles in a haphazard way. Beggars crowd
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
It is my humble request that a parking area should be allotted to the Temple site so
that people can park their vehicles in a proper way. The Temple Trust should appoint
someone who can make the beggars sit in a queue and that too on the footpath and
not on the road. And last but not the least, a police-picket
___________________________________________________________________
I hope you’ll publish this letter in your esteemed newspaper so that some actions can
be taken in this matter.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely
Akriti

TASK 2

Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily expressing your concern

over the Covid-19 pandemic and suggesting ways how to utilize the
lockdown period fruitfully by the people of different age groups. (Word
limit: 150-200 words)