一、 英文書信的結構
二、 書信作文的出題形式和寫作要領
三、 書信作文練習及其參考范文
書信是重要的交際工具。英文書信分為兩大類：公務信件和私人信件。公務信件是單位與單位或單位與個人之間來往的書信，可能是推薦信、求職信、入學申請書、邀請信，或詢問、答復、反映意見（如投訴信）等的信件。私人信件是指親戚朋友之間的通信。這兩類書信各有自己的格式。一般說來，私人信件不拘形式，信文多用手寫，也可打印；公務信件要求比較嚴格，必須遵循一定的格式，信文一定要打印。
第一節 英文書信的結構
英文書信一般由以下六部分組成：信頭、信內地址、稱呼、正文、結尾、簽名。
5.1.1 信頭（Heading）
信頭是指發信人的地址和日期，通常寫在第一頁的右上角。行首可以齊頭寫，也可以逐行縮進寫。地址的書寫順序由小到大：門牌號、街道、城市、省（州）、郵編、國名，最后寫發信日期。私人信件一般只寫寄信日期即可。例如：
123 Tianhe Road
Tianhe District
Guangzhou 510620
Guangdong Province
P. R. C.
March 15, 2002
5.1.2 信內地址（Inside Address）
信內地址要寫收信人的姓名和地址。在公務信件中要寫明這一項，在私人信件中，這一項常常省略。該項寫在寫信日期下一行的左上角，格式與寄信人地址一樣。
5.1.3 稱呼（Salutation）
稱呼是對收信人的稱謂，應與左邊線對齊，寫在收信人姓名、地址下面1-2行處。在稱呼后，英國人常用逗號，美國人則常用冒號。在私人信件中可直呼收信人的名字，但公務信件中一定要寫收信人的姓。大部分信件在稱呼前加“Dear”。如：
Dear Professor/Prof. Bergen:
Dear Dr. Johnson,
對不相識的人可按性別稱呼：
Dear Sir: 或Dear Madam: Dear Ladies。
如果不知收信人的性別則可用Dear Sir or Madam:
5.1.4 正文（Body of Letter）
正文是書信的主體。與中文信件不同的是，英文書信的正文的開頭不是先寫一些問候語，再闡明寫信的目的，而是直接說明寫信人的身份及寫信的目的，然后提出寫信人的情況、想法或要求，并加以必要的解釋或說明。英文書信陳述目的時，應該直截了當，意思明確，層次清楚，言簡意賅。
書信正文的第一句話或第一段，通常被稱為起首語。一般說來，人們習慣用一些客套的寫法作為書信正文的起始，即先將對方來信的日期、主題加以簡單描述，以便使對方一看便知該信是回答哪一封信的。如果是第一次給別人寫信，也可用開頭語作必要的自我介紹，并表明自己寫信的主要目的。
5.1.5 結尾禮詞（Complimentary Close）
公務信件的結尾禮詞包含兩部分：發信人的結尾套語與署名。結尾套語寫在簽名上面一行，第一個字母要大寫，套語結尾后面要加逗號。在公務信件中，發信人常用的結尾套語有：
Yours truly, Yours sincerely, Respectfully yours, Cordially yours, Yours cordially等。
私人信件中，發信人常用的結尾套語有：
Sincerely yours, Lovely yours, Your lovely, Your loving son/daughter等。
5.1.6 簽名（Signature）
寫信人的簽名常位于結尾禮詞正下方一二行。除非是給很熟悉的人寫信，簽名一般須寫出全名。簽名常常較潦草，不易辨認，因此在簽名的正下方須打印出全名。
第二節 書信作文的出題形式和寫作要領
1990年到2002年1月之間的四級考試作文題中，書信作文共出現兩次（2001年6月和2002年1月）。下面，我們先來看看2001年6月四級考試的作文題：
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. 表示歡迎
2. 提出對度假安排的建議
3. 提醒應注意的事項
A Letter to a Schoolmate
June 23, 2001
Dear Xiao Wang,
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________.
Yours,
Zhang Ying
從上面的例子可見，書信作文不僅給出正文部分的內容的提綱，而且還給出書信各部分的結構的框架。也就是說，我們只要考慮如何表達提綱部分的內容，而不用考慮書信的結構。
在寫書信作文時，首先要把書信正文的提綱內容細化，擴展成更細的英文提綱，然后用簡潔、明了、禮貌、正確和得體的語言表達出細化了的提綱內容。例如前面的那封信就可以列出下面的提綱：
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 Schoolmate
June 23, 2001
Dear 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 寫信日期稱呼正文第一段：表示歡迎正文第2段：活動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（注意事項）： 注意事項一注意事項二結束語結尾禮詞簽名
上面舉的是私人信件的例子，下面我們再來看一封投訴信（Letter of Complaint）。
投訴信的目的是為了讓收信人讀信后同情你的遭遇,解決你所遇到的問題。所以寫投訴信時應該實事求是地反映情況，注意措辭，不使用過多的諷刺或責備的語言，也不要因為發泄怒氣而離題，以避免引起收信人的不信任或反感。
一般而言，投訴信包括以下內容：提出要求和理由；解釋詳細的情況；把請求具體化以及希望收信人采取行動的日期等。例如：
September 1, 2001
Dear 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
寫信日期 稱呼正文第一段：表明寫信的目的正文第二段：具體說明購買產品的時間、地點及出現的問題第三段：說明嘗試的解決方法 第四段：說明嘗試的解決方案無效，請求幫助結尾禮詞簽名打印的姓名
這是一封態度冷靜、措辭有理、有節的投訴售后服務不周的信。由于這類信涉及經銷商（廠家）和賣方，因此，投訴信中寫明了以下詳細的情況：
1） 購物的時間：In February of 2001
2） 購物地點： at ABC Store
3） 產品型號：Jones Typewriter, Portable Special Model
4） 使用時間：I had used it only a few days；six months later
5） 主要問題：The space bar broke
6） 產生問題的原因：factory defect
7） 為什么向你方反映：
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. (商店已沒有貴公司的打字機，但他們讓我相信，保修卡仍有效，并建議我寫信給貴公司以尋求解決辦法)
此外，寫信人還用了禮貌的結束語：
I will appreciate anything you can do to help us on this matter. (貴公司在這件事上給我的任何幫助都將令我不勝感激)
小結：1）英文書信的結構；2）書信作文的出題形式；3）書信作文的寫作要領。
下面我們進行寫作練習。我將給大家一個作文題，請大家根據這一講的內容，在30分鐘內完成。大家在寫作的過程中要注意審題，考慮文章的結構、采用的起首語和結束語等。
練習五：
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. 吸煙已成為宿舍的一大問題
2. 吸煙的危害
3. 建議戒煙
A Letter to a Roommate
March 16, 2002
Dear Xiao Zhang,
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
Yours sincerely,
Xiao Li
參考文章:
A Letter to a Roommate
March 16, 2002
Dear 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 |
