IB DP Language A Language and Literature – Sample text analysis – formal letter

Text: Letter from school district to Minister of Education

Before you read the “spoiler” bullet points below take a careful look at the text. Imagine it is a text you are using for your DP Language A Language and Literature assessments: the individual oral, the HL essay, or Paper 1 and analyze it accordingly. (This text would not be appropriate for Paper 2).

  • The logo, slogan, and contact info at the top of the text
  • The use of the first person (“we,” “our”)
  • The conventions of a formal business letter
  • How the first paragraph outlines the problem that the school district wants addressed
  • The use of data in the second and third paragraphs to support the school board’s arguments
  • The fairly positive and conciliatory tone of the last two paragraphs – perhaps an attempt to maintain a good relationship with the ministry of education
  • The cc’ed names near the end of letter indicating that other members of the government received the letter
  • The conventions of a formal business letter at the bottom of the letter

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