Acknowledging Receipt of Letters of Congratulations and Sympathy – Basic 5 English Lesson Note (Second Term)

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain the features of acknowledgement letter ii. Describe the styles of such letters iii. Write and compose acknowledgement letters with the right register iv. To understand the purpose and key elements of an acknowledgement letter v. Write an acknowledgement letter using appropriate language and tone vi. Distinguish between an acknowledgement letter and a receipt

Learning Activities

1. Pupils, as class, give samples of acknowledgement letters and give features of such letters 
2. Pupils in groups, state reasons for giving acknowledgement letters

 iii. Each pupil composes letters on congratulations or sympathy

Embedded Core Skills

1. Communication and Collaboration ii. Critical thinking and problem solving iii. Leadership skills and Personal Development iv. Creativity and Imagination

Learning Materials

• Samples of congratulatory letters
• Writing materials (e.g. pen and paper, computer)
• Wall charts
• Web Resources

Building Background/connection to prior knowledge

Students are familiar with letter writing and have written a good number of letters

What are letters of congratulations and sympathy

Letters of congratulations are written to express congratulations or good wishes to someone on a special occasion or achievement. They are often sent to congratulate someone on a promotion, a new job, a graduation, a wedding, the birth of a child, or other significant milestones.

Letters of sympathy, on the other hand, are written to express condolences or offer support and comfort to someone who is grieving or has suffered a loss. They are often sent to express sympathy for the loss of a loved one, a pet, or to offer support to someone who is going through a difficult time.

Features of acknowledgement letters

An acknowledgement letter is a document that confirms receipt of a specific item or document. Some of the key features of an acknowledgement letter include:

1. Date: The letter should include the date it was written. 
2. Addressee: The letter should be addressed to the person or organization that sent the item or document being acknowledged. 
3. Reference: The letter should reference the item or document being acknowledged, including any relevant details such as the date or number. 
4. Confirmation of receipt: The letter should clearly state that the item or document has been received. 
5. Thanks: It is also common to include a thank you for the item or document received. 
6. Next steps: If there are any follow-up actions or next steps required, they should be mentioned in the letter. 
7. Signature: The letter should be signed by the person writing it. [the_ad 

It is important to note that an acknowledgement letter is not the same as a receipt, which is a document that serves as proof of payment. An acknowledgement letter simply confirms that a specific item or document has been received and does not imply any financial transaction.

Format for writing an acknowledgement letter

[Your Address] [City, State ZIP Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date]

[Recipient Address] [City, State ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of the [document/item name] you sent on [date]. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

I confirm that we have received the [document/item name] and it is in good condition. We have found the information contained within the document to be useful and informative. We are grateful for your assistance in providing this to us.

Please let us know if there are any follow-up actions or next steps required on our end. We will do our best to comply with your request as soon as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation and for entrusting us with this matter.

Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Your Company Name]