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Questions

1. What is the writer’s concern in the letter to the editor above?
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
2. What does the writer propose to be done to solve the problem?
3. What is your opinion on the writer’s proposition to solve the problem?
4. What other matters of concern would you like to write to the editor?

(d) Read the text about letters to the editors and then reread the letter to the editor
in Activity 1(c) to answer the questions that follow.

A letter to a newspaper should be addressed to its editor and set out as any other
formal letter. There is no set pattern for the contents of the letter, but it should
always be short, to the point, and well-reasoned. The subject matter of the letter
may be anything, but most of the letters to the editors may be divided into the
following types.

1. Letters conveying information: The reader may have some knowledge that
they wish to share as they consider it useful or interesting, for example,
advising the community or authority on a particular phenomenon.
2. Letters for seeking information or help: Information may be sought from the
newspaper or any other reader who may have it. It may cover a wide range
of topics.
3. Letters making suggestions or stating opinions and beliefs: These may cover
local, national, or international affairs. They may also be on more general
topics such as animal cruelty, the degeneracy of the modern youth, etc.
4. Letters of complaint: These complaints could be about something that has
appeared in the newspaper, written by newspaper staff or another reader in
the correspondence columns.
5. Letters of appreciation: Such letters are written to express the writer’s
pleasure at something they have seen in the paper or his/her feelings that
some praiseworthy aspect of public life or conduct should be made known
through the newspaper.

Adapted from Gordon (2004: 100).

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