Writing Skills — Part 1: The Formal Letter: visual lesson, CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature

Lesson

Writing Skills — Part 1: The Formal Letter

CBSE Class 10 English, Section B (writing, 10 marks). You write one formal letter and one analytical paragraph, choosing A or B in each. This part teaches the letter; Part 2 teaches the analytical paragraph.

In this lesson you will

Lay out a formal letter in the CBSE format, part by part
Organise the body in three paragraphs: purpose, details, action
Write in a polite, formal register without slang or contractions
Write complaint, editor, order and enquiry letters within 100–120 words

CBSE 2026-27, Section B: writing 10 marks.
Board question	Task	Marks	Length
Formal letter	complaint, letter to the editor, placing an order, or enquiry (choose A or B)	5	100–120 words
Analytical paragraph	describe and analyse a chart, graph, table, map or set of cues (choose A or B)	5	100–120 words

Concept

Four kinds of formal letter

The syllabus names four types. Each has one job, one kind of reader and one tone.

Table of four formal letter types with their receiver, goal and tone: complaint, letter to the editor, placing an order and enquiry.
Letter type	Written to	Goal	Tone
Complaint	a company, shop or official	report a problem and get it put right	firm, polite
To the editor	The Editor of a newspaper	raise a public issue and suggest solutions	reasoned, public-minded
Placing an order	a supplier or shop	order goods exactly, with terms	brief, precise
Enquiry	an institution or business	ask for information before deciding	courteous, specific

Diagram

The format, top to bottom

The CBSE format, top to bottom.

Learn the eight parts in order. The subject comes before the salutation.

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