二、常见信函的基本类型及内容要点
1.信的基本类型
英文书信主要分为两大类：私人信函和公务信函。私人信函是指与朋友、家人之间的往来书信，其内容比较自由，只需要包括以下几个部分即可：日期、称呼、正文、落款。公务信函类型多样，应用范围非常广泛，属正式文体，包括求职信、辞职信、拒聘信、询问信、复询信、留学和奖学金申请信、投诉信、答复赔偿信等。此类信件的共同特点是：1.内容明确，不可漫无目标；2.措辞诚恳，坦然，不能感情夸张；3.语言清晰、简洁、有礼。从形式上看应该侧重考查公务信函，因为只有此类信函才需用到书面语的正式语体。
2.各类信函的内容要点
以下主要针对公务信函，介绍几种常见信函的基本特点。对于其他不同功能的信件，考生可以根据本书的介绍做到举一反三。在备考阶段，考生应熟悉各类信函的书写模式及常用话语并加强练习。
（1）求职信（Letters of Applying for a Job）
通常包含三个部分：a)引言部分写明写信原因、具体谋求的职位、获得申请信息的来源（如：报纸广告、熟人介绍）等。b)发展部分叙述自己能够胜任该职位所具备的条件，包括教育背景、工作经历、社会实践等。这部分内容要具体，不要空洞游说或者列举，用事实说服会更有力。C)结尾部分再次表达对职位的渴望，争取面试机会。如请求及时回信、希望当面洽谈、提供进一步接触的联系方式或指出附件中有相关的证明文件等。
求职信的语言应严谨、规范、得体。其常用套语有：
引言：I am writing to apply for the post of... advertised in...
In answer to your advertisement in... for the post of... , Iwould like to apply for...
Ihave learned from... (sb) of your opening/vacancy for... (job), and am therefore writing to apply for the post.
发展：Iam now a senior student in (Department) of (University), and Iexpect to graduate in (date) with a degree in (discipline).
Ireceive my (degree) in (subject) from (name of university) in (date).
Since graduation, Ihave been working with (name of company/organization) as (job title)
Iwas awarded the prize of (title) in (month/year) for (eg. good performance in etc.)
Iam confident that my academic training has prepared me to handle the job.
结尾：Enclosed are testimonials from my university teacher and my present employer.
If these meet your requirements, please grant me an interview.
范例：
Directions:
You come across a want advertisement in 21st Century Talent Report for a store manager of a Panda chain restaurant. Write a letter to apply for the job by providing the following information: 1）your interest in the position, 2）your qualifications, 3）your hope for an interview opportunity.
Dear Sir or Madam:
Your advertisement in 21st Century Talent Report appealed to me for two reasons. I seek the opportunity to manage a newly opened store and your plan to open up a new branch of Panda restaurants can realize my wish. I am also interested in building my career in the food industry which is just your main business. Therefore, I have decided to submit my resume in application for the position of Store Manager.
My relevant experience includes being a chef in a Sichuan restaurant for three years and an assistant store manager of New China restaurant till now in Beijing.
I look forward to discussing opportunities at Panda with you. I will call you next week to make sure you have received my resume and to set up a mutually agreeable time for us to speak.
Yours truly,
Li Ming
（2）辞职信（Letters of Resignation）
正式的辞职信应具备以下要素： a)受理者恰当的称呼； b)辞职决定及其理由（如：未受公司重用或尊重，健康、家庭或个人原因，另觅一份更适合自己的工作等）； c)缓和气氛的语句，如对原单位所给予工作机会以及提供的工作经历表示感谢，对因自己辞职而给对方带来的不便表示歉意，表达对原单位的良好祝愿等等。
需要注意的是：避免负面评论。不论什么原因，不要对你的公司政策、老板、管理人员、同事做任何负面评价。
常用套语如下：
称呼：Dear Mr. Smith
辞职决定和理由： With regret, I am writing to inform you about my decision to resign from my current position.
I hereby confirm in writing my resignation from ABC Company because of family reasons.
缓和语气的话：I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks for all the support that Ihave received over the last few weeks, and for the enjoyable experience of having worked for your company.
I hope you will consider my request, and Iapologize for any inconveniences Imight have caused.
I wish all of you a prosperous future
范例：2005年硕士研究生入学考试作文题（见真题分析）
（3）留学和奖学金申请信（Letters of Applying for Admittance and Scholarship）
申请者是通过申请信争取继续学习和获得奖学金的机会，而申请学校负责人则是通过该信决定其是否具有这样的机会。因此这封信需要尽可能得表现写信人所具有的优势，比如个人性格优点，学业工作成绩等等。信的内容通常涉及：
a) 申请该学校/奖学金的原因;
b) 使你对某个专业产生兴趣的学术背景和训练;
c) 工作经验;
d) 能证明你潜能的研究;
e) 未来职业计划。
如果对方学校有要求，还应附上“个人简历”、学习成绩、研究成果的摘要等。
虽然申请信需要表现自己去争取机会，但其语言不应过于夸张，避免使用像excellent，remarkable，wonderful，great之类的形容词吹捧申请的学校或夸耀自己，而应自然而平实。其常用套语有：
I am a student in... , expecting to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree this summer.
I am interested in... and plan to apply for admission for (time).
Iam writing in the hope that Imay obtain an opportunity to further my study in...
I should be pleased to forward my credentials, such as references, transcripts and photocopies of IELTS scores.
范例:
Directions:
Suppose you are a major in Environmental Engineering of Beijing University. After graduation you decide to pursue study in the graduate school in State University of New York. Write a letter of application for admission, which should include the following points:
1) make an application 2) provide your personal information and academic documents 3) express your hope for a reply
To Whom It May Concern:
I would like to apply for admission to the master’s program in environmental science at your graduate school, beginning in fall 2006.
As a bachelor of science, I will graduate from Beijing University, Beijing, China in the summer of 2005 where I majored in Environmental Engineering. I have completed all the required undergraduate courses with satisfactory scores. Official copies of my transcript and of my TOEFL and GRE scores are being sent separately from the offices concerned. Three recommendation letters are also being sent by my professors. I do not have the funds to finance my education; therefore I will be applying for an application fee waiver and full financial support from the university to cover tuition and living expenses.
I look forward to your early reply. Please do not hesitate to contact me if my supporting documents are not enough for consideration of my application. You can contact me by e-mail at LiMing@yahoo.com. Thank you for your kind assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
Li Ming
（4）询问信（Letters of Inquiry）
询问信是请求对方提供需要信息的信件。可分三大部分：引言部分自我介绍并讲明询问目的。发展部分是询问的主要内容，如果包括多个方面，为了让对方一目了然，也便于回答，在内容的安排上应简明扼要，可以用数字列出具体问题，如first, second, third或1、2、3。结尾部分真诚地感谢对方。
由于询问有可能给对方带来麻烦，所以措辞要谦虚、诚恳。其常用套语有：
引言：As a student at... university, Iam preparing for...
Your answers to the questions below would help me...
As we are particularly interestedin... , we should be grateful if you would kindly...
发展：Could you please send me the relevant information and application form?
结尾：Your answer will contribute to my project.
Iwould appreciate receiving your answer by... ( time ).
范例1：
Directions:
You are preparing for an English test and are in need of some reference books. Write a letter to the sales department of a bookstore to ask for:
1) detailed information about the books you want, 2) methods of payment, 3) time and way of delivery.
Dear Sir/Madam,
As a student preparing for TOEFL in the coming May, I am writing to ask if you have Approaches to TOEFL written by Professor Wang Siming and published by University College Press in 2004.
If you have the book for sale, I’d like to mail order it and please let me know if I can pay for it by money order or MasterCard.
I’d appreciate it if you could send me the book at your earliest convenience by EMS to the following address:
Li Ming
Room 239, Student Dormitory No. 11
West Campus, Baoshan University
Baoshan, 103008
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours truly,
Li Ming
范例2：
Directions:
You are doing a research project on the future of the printing industry. Write a letter to the industry market analyst Mr. Wang to ask for:
1) the challenges the industry is facing 2) the role of technologies 3) the trend in the industry
Dear Mr. Wang:
As a student at Beijing College of printing, I am currently doing a research project on the future of the printing industry. I feel that an inside view of the market situation at this time is necessary for me to have a convincing conclusion so I am eager for your suggestions. Would you please spare a few minutes answering a few questions about the market for printing industry?
1．In general，what challenges is the printing industry facing at this time, and what types of strategies are being used to meet them?
2．What types of technologies are important to this industry at present and what technologies do you feel will play an important role in the near future?
3．Do you think that this industry will experience growth in the future, and, if so, what trends do you expect to see occurring?
If you would kindly take the time to answer these questions, I’d venture to hope you can reply it before the end of April-the deadline of my report. Thank you in advance for your attention to my request.
Sincerely,
Li Ming
（5）投诉信
投投诉信是因为对服务、商品等不满而向诸如商店、厂家、消费者协会等相关负责机构写的信件。写此类信件时候，应注意写信的目的不仅仅是表示不满，更重要的是让对方了解并解决你所遇到的问题。因此投诉信的内容可包括：
1)反映问题。比如应具体说明什么质量问题，并提供确切的发票，问题的内容要明确而具体。
2)说明由此问题所带来的不便、比如时间或精神上的损失等，内容要实事求是。
3)提出解决方案，赔偿方法和方式等，所提出的要求要合理。
4)结尾既要提出希望，比如要求对方尽快解决问题，同时又要为对方做出的努力表示感谢，这样对方才可能以积极的态度处理并解决你的问题。
投诉信的语气要坚决，但注意礼貌用词，不宜过分尖锐，叙述问题时用过去时态。其常用套语有：
引言：I am returning... which Ibought from your store in... (time).
Imust complain about...
发展：This has put us to great inconvenience.
Therefore, Iam returning... and would greatly appreciate if you could replace it.
结尾：We hope that you will understand our expectation of the compensation for our damaged goods.
Iwould be grateful if this matter would have your immediate attention.
Having been given your excellent reputation, Iam sure you will do everything possible to...
范例：
Directions:
You bought a pair of tennis bats from website. When you received them, you found they were used with dirt all over around and a small tear in the handle. Write a letter to the customer service manager of the store to
1) tell him about the used bats 2)ask for a refund
Dear Sir or Madam:
I have recently ordered a new pair of tennis bats from your website on June 21. I received the order on June 26. Unfortunately, when I opened it I saw that the bats were used. They had dirt all over around and there was a small tear in the handle. My order number is AF26168156.
To resolve the problem, I would like you to credit my account for the amount charged for my bats, I have already went out and bought a new pair at my local sporting goods store so sending another would result in me having two pairs of the same bats.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I have been a satisfied customer of your company for many years and this is the first time I have encountered a problem. If you need to contact me, you can reach me at (555) 555-5555.
Sincerely,
Li Ming
（6）建议信
建议信是写信人希望对解决问题有所帮助而向相关部门或者个人写的信件，其主要目的是提出自己的意见，希望对方能够采纳并采取相应行动。为了达到交际目的，所提建议要合理、可行、容易让对方接受。除此之外还需要注意语气要和善，要与对方拉近距离而不可盛气凌人。
建议信的内容一般包括：1）提出亟待解决的问题；2） 分析造成问题的原因；3）提出解决办法。
常用套语有：
提出问题：It seems that … (not have desired effects, not have obtained the full attention; be not satisfactory/ perfect; have harmful/ deadly/ serious/negative effects)
I am …(deeply/ really/ seriously/ terribly/greatly) concerned / worried / sad / confused about…
分析原因：Currently, … especially … ;Therefore,… ;This leads to…; one of the factors is …;
It is understood that if…it will….
提出解决方法：In order to combat the growing problem of… , … should reduce/ increase/ ensure…; I think it would be more beneficial if you could….; I think it would be helpful to….
范例：2007年、2009年硕士研究生入学考试作文题（见真题分析）
