The document discusses different types of opening paragraphs that can be used in solicited and unsolicited letters. For solicited letters, the types include source openings, news item openings, personalized openings, and creative openings. For unsolicited letters, the types are summary openings, name openings, and question openings. It also provides tips for addressing salary in the letter and gives examples of strong concluding paragraphs.

1. Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Sta. Mesa, Manila
College of Tourism, Hospitality and Transportation Management
Business Communication in Report Writing
PARAGRAPH
Submitted by:
Vhanessa V. Viñan
Alondra Liza B. Concepcion
Submitted to:
Professor Xavier Aquino Velasco
Business Communication in Report Writing, ENGL 2043
© March 2017

2. BEGINNING PARAGRAPH
• The impact of the opening paragraph
cannot be ignored. The applicant should
be creative to capture the interest of the
employer.

3. Kinds of Opening
Pragraphs for a Solicited
Letter
• Source Opening
• News Item Opening
• Personalized Opening
• Creative Opening

4. Source Opening
• When responding to a job advertisment, identify
the publication in which the advertisment
appeared and briefly describe how you meet
each requirement stated in the ad.

5. Example:
Your advertisment in the October 1
issue of Mnaila Bulletin for the position of
________ caught my attention because I
belive that I am qualified for it.

6. News Item Opening
• Cite a publicized organizational
achievement, as a contemplated change,
or a new product or procedure the
company plans to launch, and then link it
to your desire to work for the company.

7. Example:
In last month's issue of the Women's
Magazine. I read an article about you
intention to open a Tarlac City branch
office that will need two administrative
assistants. Please consider me as one of
the applicants for this position.

8. Personalized Opening
• Present one of your significant interests,
or cite your present status as a means to
introduce the reason why you are suited
for the job.

9. Example:
My interest is in people and the ways to
elevate their financial status. To realize
this objective, I would want to apply for
your financial analyst postion.

10. Creative Opening
• Demonstrate your elegance and
imagination with colorful words, especially
if the job requires these qualities.

11. EXAMPLE:
Before there was imperialism
Today, there is globalization.
Tomorrow, there will be a fusion of all isms.
But, come what may, I am the same
Brian Del Rosario, possessing the following
qualifications for the position of credit lending
officer.

12. Kinds of Opening
Paragraph for an
Unsolicited Letter
• Summary Opening
• Name Opening
• Question Opening

13. Summary Opening
• Present your strongest, most relevant
qualifications.

14. Example:
I understand that a competent writerin
your company must be interested in and
knowledgeable about varied topics. He
must be an achiever and a learner eager
to advance professionally. On top of
these, he must have the abaility to write.
Believing that I possess these
qualifications I should like to be
considered for the job.

15. Name Opening
• Mention the name of the person who is
well-known to the reader and who has
suggested that you apply for the job.

16. Example:
Dr. Josefina Barrera, your former
UST prefessor, has informed me of an
opening for an English instryctor in your
university. I would like to be considered for
the position.

17. Question Opening
• Pose an attention-getting question that
shows you understand the company's
problem, goal, or need, and show a desire
to help solve or attain it.

18. Example:
Do you need a secretary who can speak
Spanish, Japanese, and English fluently and
who has experienced working for a
prestigious firm in Makati? If you do, I
should like to be considered for this position.

19. MIDDLE PARAGRAPH
• a subdivision of a written composition
that consists of one or more sentences,
deals with one point or gives the words of
one speaker, and begins on a new usually
indented line The introductory paragraphs
were written by the editor.

20. Tips for dealing with the issue of
salary:
1. Iam willing to start a salary suited to my type of job.
2. I would be happy to discuss my salary requirements
after you've had a chance to explore my background.
3. The subject of salary is rather delicate; however, I
would consider (amount) a month fair enough.
4. Assuming that the position offers market- value
compensation, Iam sure we will be able to agree on a
figure.

21. ENDING PARAGRAPH
• The conclusion should be as forceful as
possible to convince the reader to grant the
appli-cation an interview. The applicant
should impress him with his fine qualities,
and let his personality shine in the last part of
the letter. He should avoid weak, vague and
unoriginal
expressions.

22. Examples:
1. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you so
that you can evaluate the creative contribution I can
make to (company name). You can reach me at (phone
or cell number) any afternoon after one o'clock.
2. Once we have established a mutual interest, I would
be delighted to see you personally.
3. I hope you will give me the chance to discuss further
with you my personal qualifications.

24. 1. What the applicant must do to capture
the interest of the employer?
2. What you should indentify
in the source opening?
3. True or False. In summary opening, you have to presen
your strongest, most relevant qualification.

25. 4. In creative opening, you must demonstrate your
__________ and _________ with colorful words.
5. In what kind of opening paragraphs you should mention
the name of the person who is well known to the reader?
6. Give at least 1 tip for dealing with the issue of salary.

26. 7-8. Give at least 2 kinds of opening paragraphs
for a solicited letter.
9-10. Give at least 2 kinds of opening paragraphs
for an unsolicited letter.

28. 1. Should be creative
2. Publication which the advertisement appeared
3. True
4. Elegance and Imagination
5. Name opening
6. I am willing to start a salary suited to my type of job
7-8. (Source opening, News Item opening,
Personalized opening, Creative opening)
-10. Summary opening, Name opening, Question Opening

29. • Source: Book
• Language at Work:
• A Guide for Effective Business Writing
• 2011 Edition
• Optional Parts of Business Letter
• pages: 94-97
• by:
• Lourdes A. Dagdag
• Virginia A. Ranin
• Flordelis R. Roxas
• Emeteria Leonila B. Abayan
• Veronica N. Tarrayo
• Cristina C. Buturan