The Mother Tongue, Book I: Lessons in Speaking, Reading and Writing English · Secs. 411–413 · Part 2: Part Second
113. Formal invitations and replies
Goal: Your child writes a formal note of invitation and a formal reply, and knows when a friendly note is better.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- Paper and pencil (a notebook kept just for this book works well)
What's in the book
Section 411 gives Mrs. Mason's formal invitation to dinner and two formal replies from Miss Newton, one accepting and one declining, written in the third person. Section 412 asks for an invitation and an acceptance; Section 413 for an informal note to an old friend and a formal note to an acquaintance.
The lesson, step by step
Read the models (Section 411)
Read the invitation and the two replies aloud.
Mrs. Mason requests the pleasure of Miss Newton's company at dinner on Thursday, October ninth, at seven o'clock.
What is different?
Ask: Is there a "Dear ..." or a signature? (No.) Does she say "I" or "you"? (No; she writes as if about someone else: "Mrs. Mason requests ...".) Notice the date written out in words and the address at the bottom.
Write a formal pair (Section 412)
Your child writes a formal invitation (to a birthday tea, perhaps) and a formal acceptance, following the models exactly.
Formal and friendly (Section 413)
Your child writes a short friendly note to an old friend for the same event. Compare the two: which would you send to your best friend? To your father's business friend?
Check it gently
Check the formal notes against the models: third person throughout, same order of facts, address and date at the end. Your child fixes any slip.
What a good result looks like
Example (written for this guide, not from the book):
Miss Ruth Alden requests the pleasure of Master John Lee's company at a birthday tea on Saturday, May fourth, at four o'clock.