一、 英文书信的结构二、 书信作文的出题形式和写作要领三、 书信作文练习及其参考范文书信是重要的交际工具。英文书信分为两大类：公务信件和私人信件。公务信件是单位与单位或单位与个人之间来往的书信，可能是推荐信、求职信、入学申请书、邀请信，或询问、答复、反映意见（如投诉信）等的信件。私人信件是指亲戚朋友之间的通信。这两类书信各有自己的格式。一般说来，私人信件不拘形式，信文多用手写，也可打印；公务信件要求比较严格，必须遵循一定的格式，信文一定要打印。第一节 英文书信的结构英文书信一般由以下六部分组成：信头、信内地址、称呼、正文、结尾、签名。5.1.1 信头（Heading）信头是指发信人的地址和日期，通常写在第一页的右上角。行首可以齐头写，也可以逐行缩进写。地址的书写顺序由小到大：门牌号、街道、城市、省（州）、邮编、国名，最后写发信日期。私人信件一般只写寄信日期即可。例如：123 Tianhe RoadTianhe DistrictGuangzhou 510620Guangdong ProvinceP. R. C.March 15, 20025.1.2 信内地址（Inside Address）信内地址要写收信人的姓名和地址。在公务信件中要写明这一项，在私人信件中，这一项常常省略。该项写在写信日期下一行的左上角，格式与寄信人地址一样。5.1.3 称呼（Salutation）称呼是对收信人的称谓，应与左边线对齐，写在收信人姓名、地址下面1-2行处。在称呼后，英国人常用逗号，美国人则常用冒号。在私人信件中可直呼收信人的名字，但公务信件中一定要写收信人的姓。大部分信件在称呼前加“Dear”。如：Dear Professor/Prof. Bergen:Dear Dr. Johnson,对不相识的人可按性别称呼：Dear Sir: 或Dear Madam: Dear Ladies。如果不知收信人的性别则可用Dear Sir or Madam:5.1.4 正文（Body of Letter）正文是书信的主体。与中文信件不同的是，英文书信的正文的开头不是先写一些问候语，再阐明写信的目的，而是直接说明写信人的身份及写信的目的，然后提出写信人的情况、想法或要求，并加以必要的解释或说明。英文书信陈述目的时，应该直截了当，意思明确，层次清楚，言简意赅。书信正文的第一句话或第一段，通常被称为起首语。一般说来，人们习惯用一些客套的写法作为书信正文的起始，即先将对方来信的日期、主题加以简单描述，以便使对方一看便知该信是回答哪一封信的。如果是第一次给别人写信，也可用开头语作必要的自我介绍，并表明自己写信的主要目的。5.1.5 结尾礼词（Complimentary Close）公务信件的结尾礼词包含两部分：发信人的结尾套语与署名。结尾套语写在签名上面一行，第一个字母要大写，套语结尾后面要加逗号。在公务信件中，发信人常用的结尾套语有：Yours truly, Yours sincerely, Respectfully yours, Cordially yours, Yours cordially等。私人信件中，发信人常用的结尾套语有：Sincerely yours, Lovely yours, Your lovely, Your loving son/daughter等。5.1.6 签名（Signature）写信人的签名常位于结尾礼词正下方一二行。除非是给很熟悉的人写信，签名一般须写出全名。签名常常较潦草，不易辨认，因此在签名的正下方须打印出全名。第二节 书信作文的出题形式和写作要领1990年到2002年1月之间的四级考试作文题中，书信作文共出现两次（2001年6月和2002年1月）。下面，我们先来看看2001年6月四级考试的作文题：Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a letter. Suppose you are Zhang Ying. Write a letter to Xiao Wang, a schoolmate of yours who is going to visit you during the week-long holiday. You should write at least 120 words according to the suggestion given below in Chinese:1. 表示欢迎2. 提出对度假安排的建议3. 提醒应注意的事项A Letter to a SchoolmateJune 23, 2001Dear Xiao Wang,______________________________________________________________________________________________________.Yours, Zhang Ying从上面的例子可见，书信作文不仅给出正文部分的内容的提纲，而且还给出书信各部分的结构的框架。也就是说，我们只要考虑如何表达提纲部分的内容，而不用考虑书信的结构。在写书信作文时，首先要把书信正文的提纲内容细化，扩展成更细的英文提纲，然后用简洁、明了、礼貌、正确和得体的语言表达出细化了的提纲内容。例如前面的那封信就可以列出下面的提纲：Topic: A Letter to a SchoolmateQuestion: What are the holiday arrangements and points for attention?Outline:I. Extending my welcomeII. Holiday schedule1. 1st day – campus2. 2nd day – the art gallery & music hall3. 3rd day – mountain climbing4. next 3 days – other places of interest (Swan Cave, Golden Lake …)5. Last day -- departureIII. Points for attention1. Train number & time of arrival2. SunglassesIV. Looking forward to seeing you.Introduction Body 1Body 2Conclusion范文：A Letter to A SchoolmateJune 23, 2001Dear Xiao Wang,I’m very glad to learn that you’re going to visit me during the week-long holiday. My parents will also be happy to see you again. I am sure you will enjoy every minute here.I have arranged our schedule for the holiday as follows. On the first day you arrive, I’ll show you around our campus. On the second day, we’ll visit the art gallery and the music hall. Next day, we’ll climb a hill in the northeastern part of the city. On the top of the hill, we can have a wonderful bird’s eye view of the city. During the next three days, we’ll make some short trips to some places of interest nearby, such as the Swan Cave, the Golden Lake, etc. On the last day, I’ll see you off at the railway station.Please remember to call and tell me your train number and time of arrival so that I can meet you at the railway station. By the way, it’s very hot here and we have a lot of sunshine, so don’t forget to wear you sunglasses.I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.Yours,Zhang Ying

写信日期称呼正文第一段：表示欢迎正文第2段：活动安排第一天的安排第二天的安排第三天的安排第4-6天的安排第七天：送行正文第三段（注意事项）： 注意事项一注意事项二结束语结尾礼词签名上面举的是私人信件的例子，下面我们再来看一封投诉信（Letter of Complaint）。投诉信的目的是为了让收信人读信后同情你的遭遇,解决你所遇到的问题。所以写投诉信时应该实事求是地反映情况，注意措辞，不使用过多的讽刺或责备的语言，也不要因为发泄怒气而离题，以避免引起收信人的不信任或反感。一般而言，投诉信包括以下内容：提出要求和理由；解释详细的情况；把请求具体化以及希望收信人采取行动的日期等。例如：September 1, 2001Dear Sir or Madam:I’m writing to complain about a typewriter I bought seven months ago.In February of 2001 I bought a Jones Typewriter, Portable Special Model, at ABC Store, I had used it only a few days when the space bar broke.I took it to a local shop, they told me it was factory defect and suggest I take it back to ABC. ABC accepted the machine and sent the part in. I waited three months, and since your company did not send a replacement, they let me have the space bar from another typewriter.Now, six months later, it has broken again. I took it back to ABC. They are no longer carrying your typewriter, but they assured me that the guarantee is still good and suggested that I write you for further instructions as to what steps to take.I will appreciate anything you can do to help us on this matter.Respectfully,(Signature)James Bergen写信日期 称呼正文第一段：表明写信的目的正文第二段：具体说明购买产品的时间、地点及出现的问题第三段：说明尝试的解决方法 第四段：说明尝试的解决方案无效，请求帮助结尾礼词签名打印的姓名这是一封态度冷静、措辞有理、有节的投诉售后服务不周的信。由于这类信涉及经销商（厂家）和卖方，因此，投诉信中写明了以下详细的情况：1） 购物的时间：In February of 20012） 购物地点： at ABC Store3） 产品型号：Jones Typewriter, Portable Special Model4） 使用时间：I had used it only a few days；six months later5） 主要问题：The space bar broke6） 产生问题的原因：factory defect7） 为什么向你方反映：They are no longer carrying your typewriter, but they assured us that the guarantee is still good and suggested that I write you for further instructions as to what steps to take. (商店已没有贵公司的打字机，但他们让我相信，保修卡仍有效，并建议我写信给贵公司以寻求解决办法)此外，写信人还用了礼貌的结束语：I will appreciate anything you can do to help us on this matter. (贵公司在这件事上给我的任何帮助都将令我不胜感激)小结：1）英文书信的结构；2）书信作文的出题形式；3）书信作文的写作要领。下面我们进行写作练习。我将给大家一个作文题，请大家根据这一讲的内容，在30分钟内完成。大家在写作的过程中要注意审题，考虑文章的结构、采用的起首语和结束语等。练习五：Directions: For this part, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a letter. Suppose you are Xiao Li. Write a letter to Xiao Zhang, a roommate of yours who is a heavy smoker. You should write at least 120 words according to the suggestion given below in Chinese:1. 吸烟已成为宿舍的一大问题2. 吸烟的危害3. 建议戒烟A Letter to a RoommateMarch 16, 2002Dear Xiao Zhang,___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.Yours sincerely,Xiao Li参考文章:A Letter to a RoommateMarch 16, 2002Dear Xiao Zhang,March 16, 2002Dear Xiao Zhang, Recently I have noticed that you have been smoking heavily, which is becoming a serious problem. As long as you are in, our bedroom is filled with that terrible smell. The ashtray always overflows with cigarette butts.Your are ruining your health, destroying brain cells which can never be replaced, not to mention the damage to your lungs and windpipes. Smoking, especially heavy smoking, correlates highly with lung cancer. It is possible that you'll be caught up with it. I'm not scaring you. Besides, smoking is also harmful to the health of our roommates and the friendship among us. The roommates avoid being in the bedroom for fear of being polluted. As a result, the brotherhood among roommates is gradually fading.If I were you, I would try to get rid of the bad habit. It is not difficult to break away from it if you are really determined to quit. Remember 'Where there is a will, there is a way'. I will always be there to help, if you need.Yours sincerely,Xiao Li