第六節(jié)書信體作文書信是一種應(yīng)用非常廣泛的應(yīng)用文形式之一。英文書信的種類很多，但可以把它們歸為兩大類，一類是私人書信（personal letters），另一類是事務(wù)書信（business letters），例如：申請信、求職信、推薦信、證明信、感謝信等。英文書信的書寫有一定的格式。一封完整的書信應(yīng)包括寄信人的地址和日期；收信人的姓名和地址；稱呼、正文、結(jié)尾和簽名。一、書信的格式英文書信的格式與漢語不盡相同，具體表現(xiàn)在信封的寫法和英文信的結(jié)構(gòu)兩方面。1． 信封的寫法在信封正面左上方寫下發(fā)信人姓名、地址，在信封中間偏右一點，寫下收信人的姓名、地址。姓名單獨占一行，地址和名稱按從小到大的順序。一般信封的寫法有兩種形式，第一種為并列式（block form），即每行開頭要平齊。
例如： Li Ming Chinese Department Beijing University Beijing, P. R.China Mrs. Mary Smith26 Long StreetLondon, N. W. 16Great Britain第二種為縮進式（indented form），即每行開頭都要向右推進兩到三個字母，例如： Li Ming Chinese Department Beijing University Beijing, P.R. ChinaMrs. Mary Smith26 Long StreetLondon, N. W. 16Great Britain2． 信的構(gòu)成英文信一般由六部分組成。下面的實例可以說明英文信的構(gòu)成，實例之后還有對英文信結(jié)構(gòu)的詳細(xì)說明。 發(fā)信人地址→Chinese DepartmentBeijing UniversityBeijing, China100030th Jan 2004 Prof, Mary Smith 26 Long Street London, H. W. 16←收信人地址 Great Britain Dear Madam, ←對收信人的稱呼 信的正文 結(jié)束語→Sincerely簽名→Li Ming （1）寫信人地址和發(fā)信日期寫信人地址和發(fā)信日期通常寫在信紙右上方，先寫地址，后寫日期。日期的寫法英美不盡相同，以下幾種寫法皆可：Jan. 30, 2002 Jan. 30th, 200230th Jan. 200230 Jan, 2002（2）收信人姓名和地址收信人姓名、地址寫在左上方，低于寫信人地址和發(fā)信日期一至兩行，一般要在收信人姓名前加上尊稱或頭銜，如Mr., Mrs., Prof., Director等，如：Prof. WangChinese DepartmentBeijing University（3）對收信人的稱呼對收信人的稱呼自成一行，寫在收信人姓中、地址下面空一行外，信紙左邊頂格寫，稱呼一般以Dear開始。（4）信的正文信的正文是信的主體部分，一般在呼語下面空兩行開始寫，每段的第一行都要空一個字母，正文部分既要內(nèi)容完整，條理清楚，又要注意必要的禮節(jié)。（5）結(jié)束語和謙稱在信的結(jié)尾處發(fā)信人對收信人往往使用一種謙稱。這部分寫在正文下面一至兩行處，一般在信紙中間或偏右的地方寫起，首字母要大寫，末尾用“，”。常用謙詞有：Yours truly, Truly yours, Faithfully yours, Yours faithfully, Respectfully yours, Yours respectfully, Yours lovingly, Yours, Yours ever等。（6）發(fā)信人簽名信末的簽名一般低于結(jié)束用語一至兩行，從信紙中間偏右的地方寫起。一般要簽全名，除非是自己十分熟悉或親密的人。有時，還要寫上發(fā)信人的職務(wù)或頭銜。另外，有時信中還有附件，這時要在信的左下角注明Encl(enclosure)或Enc.，如：Enc. Drive License附駕駛執(zhí)照如果在寫完信后，又有需要補充的內(nèi)容，可在左下方寫P. S. (postscript) 。
二、英文書信實例1.求職申請信要寫明你要申請的工作或職務(wù)，你的學(xué)歷、能力或你的特長。求職申請信的寫作要做到簡單、明了，要用簡潔的語言清楚地反映你的才能、成績、經(jīng)歷。申請信主要用于申請入學(xué)、學(xué)術(shù)交流等。這類信件應(yīng)寫明本人的意愿、申請的理由。求職申請信的常用句型有：①I’d like to apply for the job (post, position) advertised...②In answer to your advertisement, I wish to apply for...③I have had the experience of...④I am very interested in (keen on) ...⑤I shall be much obliged if you will give me an opportunity for interview...⑥I am writing to you to apply for admission to your university to pursue my Ph. D. Degree.
［例1］Graduate School of Stanford UniversityStanford University P. O. Box 616 U. S. A May 12, 2002Foreign Affairs OfficeBeijing UniversityBeijing, P. R. China Dear Sirs,I am a postgraduate student at the Graduate School of Stanford University. I focus my studies on Chinese culture. Upon graduation, I would like to come to your university as an English instructor or tutor.I have been studying the Chinese Language and culture for the past two years in Stanford. I would like to continue my studies in China as an English instructor. In addition to my extensive educational background, I have computer and baseball coaching experience, which may also be of benefit to your university.Enclosed is a resume concerning my educational background.I look forward to your reply.Sincerely yours，John Smith
例如： Li Ming Chinese Department Beijing University Beijing, P. R.China Mrs. Mary Smith26 Long StreetLondon, N. W. 16Great Britain第二種為縮進式（indented form），即每行開頭都要向右推進兩到三個字母，例如： Li Ming Chinese Department Beijing University Beijing, P.R. ChinaMrs. Mary Smith26 Long StreetLondon, N. W. 16Great Britain2． 信的構(gòu)成英文信一般由六部分組成。下面的實例可以說明英文信的構(gòu)成，實例之后還有對英文信結(jié)構(gòu)的詳細(xì)說明。 發(fā)信人地址→Chinese DepartmentBeijing UniversityBeijing, China100030th Jan 2004 Prof, Mary Smith 26 Long Street London, H. W. 16←收信人地址 Great Britain Dear Madam, ←對收信人的稱呼 信的正文 結(jié)束語→Sincerely簽名→Li Ming （1）寫信人地址和發(fā)信日期寫信人地址和發(fā)信日期通常寫在信紙右上方，先寫地址，后寫日期。日期的寫法英美不盡相同，以下幾種寫法皆可：Jan. 30, 2002 Jan. 30th, 200230th Jan. 200230 Jan, 2002（2）收信人姓名和地址收信人姓名、地址寫在左上方，低于寫信人地址和發(fā)信日期一至兩行，一般要在收信人姓名前加上尊稱或頭銜，如Mr., Mrs., Prof., Director等，如：Prof. WangChinese DepartmentBeijing University（3）對收信人的稱呼對收信人的稱呼自成一行，寫在收信人姓中、地址下面空一行外，信紙左邊頂格寫，稱呼一般以Dear開始。（4）信的正文信的正文是信的主體部分，一般在呼語下面空兩行開始寫，每段的第一行都要空一個字母，正文部分既要內(nèi)容完整，條理清楚，又要注意必要的禮節(jié)。（5）結(jié)束語和謙稱在信的結(jié)尾處發(fā)信人對收信人往往使用一種謙稱。這部分寫在正文下面一至兩行處，一般在信紙中間或偏右的地方寫起，首字母要大寫，末尾用“，”。常用謙詞有：Yours truly, Truly yours, Faithfully yours, Yours faithfully, Respectfully yours, Yours respectfully, Yours lovingly, Yours, Yours ever等。（6）發(fā)信人簽名信末的簽名一般低于結(jié)束用語一至兩行，從信紙中間偏右的地方寫起。一般要簽全名，除非是自己十分熟悉或親密的人。有時，還要寫上發(fā)信人的職務(wù)或頭銜。另外，有時信中還有附件，這時要在信的左下角注明Encl(enclosure)或Enc.，如：Enc. Drive License附駕駛執(zhí)照如果在寫完信后，又有需要補充的內(nèi)容，可在左下方寫P. S. (postscript) 。
二、英文書信實例1.求職申請信要寫明你要申請的工作或職務(wù)，你的學(xué)歷、能力或你的特長。求職申請信的寫作要做到簡單、明了，要用簡潔的語言清楚地反映你的才能、成績、經(jīng)歷。申請信主要用于申請入學(xué)、學(xué)術(shù)交流等。這類信件應(yīng)寫明本人的意愿、申請的理由。求職申請信的常用句型有：①I’d like to apply for the job (post, position) advertised...②In answer to your advertisement, I wish to apply for...③I have had the experience of...④I am very interested in (keen on) ...⑤I shall be much obliged if you will give me an opportunity for interview...⑥I am writing to you to apply for admission to your university to pursue my Ph. D. Degree.
［例1］Graduate School of Stanford UniversityStanford University P. O. Box 616 U. S. A May 12, 2002Foreign Affairs OfficeBeijing UniversityBeijing, P. R. China Dear Sirs,I am a postgraduate student at the Graduate School of Stanford University. I focus my studies on Chinese culture. Upon graduation, I would like to come to your university as an English instructor or tutor.I have been studying the Chinese Language and culture for the past two years in Stanford. I would like to continue my studies in China as an English instructor. In addition to my extensive educational background, I have computer and baseball coaching experience, which may also be of benefit to your university.Enclosed is a resume concerning my educational background.I look forward to your reply.Sincerely yours，John Smith