Sample PAT Business Letter

On your ELA 9 exam and PAT, you will be asked to write a business letter such as for the following sample assignment:


You are Pat Smith, a grade nine student who attends Crowflies Junior High School in Anytown, Alberta.

Along with many other students, you believe the school deserves a $20,000 grant for new arts and sports equipment. This would promote school spirit and build strong option programs for students in this Northern Alberta School.

You and your classmates write a proposal that includes the following persuasive reasons for the new equipment:

  • school location and size
  • student interest and participation
  • benefit to community

You have decided to write a letter to the chairperson of the Northern Alberta Grant Committee, Mrs. Victoria Osgood, to persuade the committee to select your school for the new equipment. In your letter, be sure to highlight why your school deserves this new equipment and consider how any potential problems could be addressed.


Write a business letter to Mrs. Victoria Osgood, chairperson of the Northern Alberta Grant Committee.
In your letter, present your ideas regarding why your school is best suited to receive this new equipment. Provide enough information to convince Mrs. Osgood and members of the committee of the benefits of giving your school the grant.

Remember, you must be appropriate in tone and format.

Address Information
Use the following information for your letter and to address the envelope below.

Mrs. Victoria Osgood
Mrs. Victoria Osgood is the chairperson of the Northern Alberta Grant Committee. The board office is located in the city of Waterfall, Alberta. The board's street number is 4306-112 Street, and the postal code is T2A 4S7.

Pat Smith
Pat Smith resides in the town of Anytown, Alberta. The postal code is T9J 0XO. Pat's post office box is number 55.
(You may choose to include imaginary contact information (phone number and email address) at the end of your letter).

You have three jobs to complete in this assignment:
      • Complete a business letter and envelope.
      • Provide reasons and evidence to persuade the board to give your school the grant.
      • Use business letter format.

Answer the question(s) completely.
  • The question asks for number of reasons ( at least three) in your response. Provide a detailed response for the best mark.

Student Example: Justin's Business Letter - "Acceptable" level (so there is room for improvement!)
Pat Smith
PO Box 55
Anytown, AB T9J 0XO

June 30, 2017

Mrs. Victoria Osgood, Chairperson
c/o Northern Alberta Grant Committee
4306-112 St.
Waterfall, AB T2A 4S7

Dear Mrs. Victoria Osgood:

I am Pat Smith, a grade nine student who attends Crowflies Junior High School in Anytown, Alberta. I was recently made aware of a $20,000 grant for new arts and sports equipment offered by your committee. My school is a small rural school of 100 students.

We would like to increase opportunities for our students to participate in physical activity and the arts. Because we have a small community population of 300, we have very few arts teachers and physical education coaches in our community. We have a strong community spirit and often fund-raise for sports events and band but there are few opportunities for fundraisers outside of our community.

Our school is the starting point for many lifelong activities events, including drama, art, music, and physical activity. We would spend the grant money on new gym equipment: soccer and volleyballs, band equipment, uniforms, easles, paints, and paint brushes, art paper, and travel to and from events.

We would know our programs were successful by the number of students participating in after-school programs.

I am including a permission letter from the school board with this letter.

You are welcome to contact me at (780)928-4019 or email me at Pat.Smith@mymail.com.

Sincerely,

Pat Smith

Pat Smith
Encl.