This site provides some good examples and instructions for a variety of letter types, including such specialty items as fax cover sheets: http://www.letterwritingguide.com/ (You may want to add it to your favorites/bookmark it for future use.)
For this week’s blog assignment, describe a goodwill message you have written or have received from someone else. Explain what the situation was (thank-you note, sympathy letter, or other expression of goodwill). Analyze how well you think the purpose was accomplished based on the “Five Ss of Goodwill Messages” discussed in your textbook. What could have been done differently? What was particularly good about the message?
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I recently wrote a thank you note to my neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Makeef. Shortly before Christmas, Mr. Makeef brought over a card and a loaf of homemade banana bread. He said it was because my boyfriend, Joe, shovels his sidewalk. He said he hated getting his snow blower out when there was a small amount of snow and he really appreciated Joe shoveling. I felt really bad because he snow blows for us when there is a lot of snow and I couldn’t afford to get him and his wife anything. They are really nice people so I knew a thank you card would be enough. I chose a card with a short saying so I could write a more personal note in it. I first thanked them for the delicious banana bread and told them we loved it so much, it was gone the next day. I added in the note that I appreciated their help with snow blowing, especially since I was having shoulder surgery and couldn’t help Joe shovel. I thought putting that information in the note, showed them that my thank you was sincere. I believe that I followed the five Ss pretty well. I am happy with how I wrote the note. I think what made it good was that it accomplished what I wanted, which was for them to know how much we appreciate what they did.
My friend had a baby last month, and since she is in New York for several more months, I decided to write her a personal letter. I did speak with her on the phone, but knowing her as I do, I decided that she needs something tangible to let her know I care.
I followed the 5 S's pretty good. I was afterall very sincere about how happy I was for her and her husband. I was specific about the details leading up to the birth. Spontanous is a given, I didn't give her the tried and true "congrats" line. I kept it short and sweet. After she read my letter she called me and told me that it made her cry.
I wanted her to feel proud of the beautiful baby boy she delivered and let her know that she will be a great mother. The only emotion I showed was simple happiness for her. I did not go on and on about my kids or my experiences. It was all about her.
I received an e-mail from one of my teachers, thanking me for helping him out during one of his classes. It was a short e-mail, and I had not really thought much of it, but I thought that it was really nice that he would thank me. I had just helped him because no one else would.
It had all of the five S's. It was short, sincere, selfless, Spontaneous, and specific.
After the death of my husband, a cousin of mine who I have not spoken to in a year, stopped over and had a huge ham dinner prepared for my children and me. Her gesture was so greatly appreciated. I sent her a heartfelt thank you card expressing how grateful we were for her thoughtfulness. The dinner allowed me to have a few extra hours to concentrate on the funeral and I will always remember that gift and be forever thankful.
After the death of my husband, a cousin of mine who I have not spoken to in a year, stopped over and had a huge ham dinner prepared for my children and me. Her gesture was so greatly appreciated. I sent her a heartfelt thank you card expressing how grateful we were for her thoughtfulness. The dinner allowed me to have a few extra hours to concentrate on the funeral and I will always remember that gift and be forever thankful.
A few months ago my car needed to get fixed. I was looking into buying a new car because there is always something going wrong with it. My mom and I were looking at cars but my dad being God said no. I was really annoyed but my car was at least getting fixed. When I finally got my car back I sent a thank-you note to my parents because they paid for most of it, so I didn't really have to worry about the bill. I was really happy with what I wrote, I let them know how much I really did appreciate all of the things they do for me. My dad was actually really surprised that I actually took the time to write the note but I wish that I said thank-you more to them because I feel like I don't do it enough.
I went out to the mail last July, and to my surprise I got a birthday card. The birthday card itself wasn't the sursprise, it was who it was from. We bought a house two years previous, and it was from my mortgage company! When I opened it, I about fell over. Enclosed was a Menards gift card for $50.00! It was also hand written. Everyone knows that Margaret is my legal name, but anyone who really knows me calls me Peggy. I was shocked! It said Peggy! It also said to say "Hi" to John and the kids. That was a definite clue to me that I wasn't just on a mailing list. It had all of the five s's. It made my day! I bought a new faucet with the money. It works wonderful!
I recently gave my aunt a sympathy card with some of my own notes in the card. She just put her beloved dog down after 14 years. Since I just recently put a dog of mine down who was 15 years old, I can easily sympathize with her. Other than spontaneous, because it wasn’t all that unexpected, I did do the rest of the 5 Ss of goodwill. It was a card that said I was thinking of her and the family and sorry for the loss of her dog. It was specific, short, sincere and selfless.
I feel that goodwill messages are great. It’s always nice to know someone is thinking about you, or think you did a job well done!
I recently wrote my Accounting teacher an e-mail asking her for an extra day for an assignment. I explained to her that it was on my flash drive, and I thought it was at school. She said that I could have an extra day, and to let her know when I turned it in.
I sent her another e-mail thanking her for giving me the extra day, and that I appreciated it, because some teachers wouldn't do that for a student. I told her,it ment a lot to have a teacher that would give me extra time to turn in my assignment.
I recently sent a letter of goodwill to our website manager at QISC. The letter’s intention was to convey Creative Farming Studios’ great appreciation for the pro bono work QISC did for us, in 2008. The letter did not utilize all five of the goodwill message S’s. However, the letter did exhibit selflessness, sincerity, and spontaneity. The message was undoubtedly focused solely on the receiver. I mentioned her dedication to helping our company become established, her professionalism in her work, and her willingness to meet our unique needs. I was also very sincere in my address. I told her the value she brings to her work and explained the meaning of her contributions to our company. The letter was also unplanned. I felt the need to write the note, drafted it, edited the content, and sent it off, all in an afternoon. The letter did not follow two of the goodwill message S’s. The message was neither short nor specific. I know that our webpage manager enjoys praise, regardless of its specificity. I also know she is able to digest long letters. Due to this personal knowledge, my letter strayed from the formal goodwill letter structure. That is just one more reason why it is great to work with family. All things considered, the letter was effective and I am confident we will benefit from its creation.
It was my grandpa’s birthday this past week so I got him a birthday card. My grandparents send me money every month to help with school and they also helped pay for some of my school. Within the card I wrote a thank you note for everything he does for me, and of course how much I appreciate it. The message did include the five Ss’. I’m sure my grandpa was surprised to find a thank you note in his birthday card! After reading everyone’s messages it made me realize that I should send thank you letters more often.
This hasnt benn recently, but almost two summers ago i had a big knee surgery. I got alot of wet well sonn cards. It made me fell happy becaus ei knew people cared an dwanted me to get better.
The best example of this is when I graduated and received congratulation cards from friends and family. The reason I chose this is because not only did I receive goodwill messages, but I also ended up having to write them in return for the cards and gifts. When I received the goodwill messages, some of them would have what I would call the generic comments. For the most part they followed the rules of the 5 S's, however, there were some cards from my friends that were not anywhere close to the 5 S's. Just like my friends cards to me the cards I returned to others were not in accordance with the rule of the 5 S's, but I feel that my message was still understood and appreciated.
I have receive a thank you letter from salimae stating that they appreciate doing business with me. The letter is short and percise and to the point; it is very direct. Include with the letter they attach another sheet with all the information on it.I was happy to have received it.
I recently received a thank-you note from my niece for going to her husband's going away party. She followed the 5 Ss very well. It was short and to the point that she appreciated that we took time to come and wish him well. She expressed herself very well in her short note.
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