WRITING TO AN AUTHORITY

WRITING TO AN AUTHORITY

Letters to authorities are formal pieces of writing. They express a person’s concern about and views on a certain matter and usually contains suggestions on how to tackle a problem. You need to state the nature of the problem and its causes and effects.

Each point should be presented in a separate paragraph containing a clear topic sentence supported by examples and/or justification.

 Follow this outline and remarks:

Set out the name and address of your AUTHORITY in the top left-hand corner of the page. As a general rule, MPs should be addressed ‘Mr/Mrs/Dr/Ms, first name initial, last name, MP’. For example:

 Dr A. Aly MP

 Member for Cowan

 PO Box 219

 Kingsway WA 6065

 Politicians who have been or are government ministers will have the title “The Honourable” prefixing their name. For example, Hon A. N. Albanese MP.

 Start your letter as follows: ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘Dear Mr/Mrs/Dr/Ms Last Name’.

SUBJECT LINE 

INTRODUCTION: State your reason(s) for writing and opinion and introduce yourself. For example, in your opening sentence you could mention you are constituent (voter) .

MAIN BODY

Paragraph 2: Describe the problem and consequence(s)

Paragraph 3: suggest solutions/measures to be taken.

CONCLUSION: Closing remark

FULL NAME

 Take into account this useful language:

To begin letters:

I am writing to/ draw (bring) your attention to … /you on behalf  of .../ you in my capacity as .../ express my approval (support) or disapproval of  (protest about)…

To state your opinion:

In my opinion(view)/ I feel(believe, think)/It seems to me that/ I am totally opposed to/in favour of / It is my firm opinion(belief, conviction) that … / I am convinced that …

To express cause:

Because/Owing (Due) to the fact that/ On the grounds that / Since / As / In view of / Because of / Owing to / For this reason / Seeing that

To express effect:

Thus / Therefore / Subsequently, / As a result,  / As a consequence, / for this reason, 

To end letters:

I look forward to hearing from you.

I hope (that) you will give you this your urgent / careful, further) attention (consideration). 

Use conditionals to express problems and results