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A Letter to the Editor used to be a quite common essay type. The trick here is to recognize this essay type! A letter to the editor is NOT a regular letter! It is something you write to be published in a newspaper, usually to complain about something and suggest a solution. In Finnish, this is YLEISÖNOSASTOKIRJOITUS. Sometimes it is to react to an article you've read in the newspaper, other times it's about an issue you have.
The difficulty with this type of essay is that students often write a regular letter, and lose points because it's the wrong essay type! If you have to write a letter to a (local) paper or to a magazine, it's a letter to the editor! You are not really writing to a person, you are writing to all the people who will read your letter!
start immediately, no 'hello', Dear Sir', or anything like that is necessary.
'Hello' would be too informal in any case
'Dear Sir' is problematic as you might not know the gender of the Editor.
These are OK to use: 'To the Editor,' or 'Dear Editor,'
Below is an example (source). As you can see, it starts straight away.
end with your name or nickname. You can also add you profession or another appropriate description such as 'a concerned citizen', 'a tired housewife', 'a stressed student', etc.
paragraph 1: straight to business: what is the issue? Clearly state your opinion.
paragraph 2: explain why the issue is important. Give reasons/evidence.
paragraph 3: state your opinion on what should be done.
SIGN you letter (!!!!!!!!!!)
<- example of a real Letter to the Editor.
Option 6
Autumn 2019:
You have read an article of a grandmother who became an activist (text 11). Avaa aineisto
Write a Letter to the Editor taking a stand either in favour of or against this kind of activism.
Option 5
Spring 2012
“If I ran the country, I’d throw Halloween on the bonfire”
This is what Dominic Sandbrook writes in the BBC History Magazine. Is there any festive day you consider useless and why? Write a letter to the editor of this magazine and explain your reasons for getting rid of the festival you have chosen.
Option 4
Spring 2011
Shopping on Sundays
Is it necessary to have shops open all days of the week? What advantages or disadvantages has it brought? Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper.
Option 3
Spring 2010
No way!
You live in England and there are plans to build a new motorway which will pass very close to your home. Write a letter to be published in a local paper giving your opinion about the plan.
Option 2
Autumn 2019
Seeking Notoriety on the Net
“There seem to be people who think that humiliating others publicly on the Net is fun. I think that this kind of ‘joke’ can affect someone for life. On the other hand, I have also heard of teenagers taping themselves doing ridiculous things. Then they put the video on the Internet. I wonder how low your self-esteem has to be that you would want to be ‘recognized’ by humiliating yourself. I believe young people have too much leisure time, and that they should start doing something beneficial in their lives.”
This is an extract from a letter to the editor of Newsweek, 2008. React to this letter. Address your comment to the editor.
Option 1
Spring 2008
In praise of reading
Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper, praising the pleasures of reading. Suggest some ways to get people to read more.
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