Write On! - Letter Writing Made Easy - Writing a Cover Letter

Sep 13, 2026

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Guide to writing formal letters with an emphasis on cover letters. Explains purpose and structure: warm-up writing, overview of formal letter types, and a clear three-paragraph cover-letter format covering introduction, detailed qualifications, and a request for action. Includes a full sample cover letter and a practical exercise (“Your Turn”) for drafting the first paragraph and body content tailored to a real job posting, plus guidance on salutations and formatting details.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Writing Letters

Writing a Cover Letter

Parts of a Formal Letter (Address, Date, Salutation)

The Introduction: Paragraph One

The Body: Paragraph Two

Your Turn

Write On! Letter Writing Made Easy Writing Warm Up Spend at least five minutes writing about the topic below. Do not worry about spelling or grammar. People in today’s society change jobs often. If you could work at any job you wanted, what would it be and why? | | | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Writing Letters Letter writing has a long and glorious history. Not so long ago, letters were used to invite people to parties, introduce people to each other, and conduct business. Today most of our letter writing is done through e-mail or texting, but occasionally you may want to send a formal letter to someone. Some types of formal letters include a letter of reference, a letter of complaint, a letter to request information, or a cover letter. A cover letter is a letter you would send to an employer you would like to work for. You would send it along with a résumé (a summary of your work experience and qualifications) . In this lesson, you will write a formal cover letter. Let’s look at one possible format for a formal letter. Your street address Your town, state, and zip code Today’s date The recipient’s name The recipient’s street address The recipient’s town, state, and zip code Dear [the recipient’s name]: The first paragraph of the letter is the introduction. Why are you writing? Do you want to request information? Do you want to apply for a job? The second paragraph of the letter explains in detail the reasons why you are writing. If you want information, what exactly do you want to know? If you are applying for a job, why do you think you are the best person for the job? The third paragraph of the letter asks for an action. Send me the information. Hire me for the job. Sincerely, Your signature Your printed name Writing a Cover Letter Now, let’s see what a cover letter looks like when we follow that format. It is persuasive. That means you are trying to convince the employer that you are the best person for the job. You will send it with your résumé . 1234 Main Street Any town, Any State 45678 Today’s date Mr. Jose Smith Brock’s Farms 2233 Brock Road Any town, Any State 45678 Dear Mr. Smith: I am sending this cover letter and résumé to apply for the job of farmhand for Brock’s Farms. I saw the ad in the local newspaper. I have many skills which will make me a good employee. You are looking for someone who can work weekends and I have been working weekends for the last five years at Jasper’s. I would be happy to continue working weekends. I also have ten years of experience working as a farmhand. I can milk cows, fix fence, feed calves, hogs, and other animals, drive both small and large farm vehicles, and know about equipment safety. With these skills I will be able to work wherever you need me. I would be a talented and useful farmhand on Brock’s Farm. Please call me at 555-234-9876 to set up an interview so we can talk about my skills and how I can help you. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and look at my résumé . Sincerely, John Doe John Doe Your Turn You see a job advertised in the newspaper. You want to apply for the job so you call the company. They tell you to send in a résumé and a cover letter. What do you do now? A cover letter follows the same format as the example you just read. A cover letter tells the employer that you are the best candidate for the job. Following is a notice that you saw in your local newspaper. You want to send in a cover letter and résumé for the job. Let’s complete a good cover letter. Wanted: Crew boss for ten employees. Must be able to speak Spanish and work holidays and weekends. Knowledge of farm equipment a plus. Need at least five years of farm work experience. Send résumé to Watson Farms. You know you would make a great supervisor because you have all the skills listed in the ad. You speak Spanish. You already work holidays and weekends. You have worked

FAQs

What are the basic parts of a formal cover letter format?

A cover letter follows a structured layout: sender address, today’s date, recipient’s name and address, a salutation, then three main paragraphs (introduction, body, and action request), followed by a closing such as “Sincerely,” plus signature details.

What should the first paragraph of a cover letter include?

The first paragraph should state which job you are applying for, the company name, where you found the job listing, and a brief statement that you are the right person with several supporting reasons.

What should the body (paragraph two) focus on?

The body should explain why you believe you are the best candidate. It provides detailed reasons tied to the job requirements, such as relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.

Sep 13, 2026

Upload by Kurz