Writing Skills | Class 9 english — JEE Foundation Syllabus

What you'll learn

Write a formal and informal letter using the correct structure
Compose a factual report with appropriate format and tone
Write a well-structured article for a school magazine or newspaper
Deliver a speech or debate with a strong opening, organised arguments, and a compelling close

Key concepts

Formal vs Informal Letters

Feature	Formal Letter	Informal Letter
Purpose	Official requests, complaints, applications	Personal communication with friends/family
Tone	Polite, professional, impersonal	Friendly, casual, personal
Language	No contractions; full forms	Contractions (I'm, we'll) acceptable
Salutation	Dear Sir/Madam; Dear Mr/Ms [Surname]	Dear [First name]; Hi [Name]
Closing	Yours faithfully (unknown) / Yours sincerely (known)	With love / Your friend / Take care

Formal Letter Structure

Your Address (Sender's address)          [Top right]
Date                                      [Below sender's address]

Recipient's Name / Designation
Organisation / Address                    [Top left]

Subject: [One-line summary of the letter's purpose]

Salutation: Dear Sir/Madam,

Body:
  Paragraph 1 — State your purpose clearly.
  Paragraph 2 — Provide details, evidence, or explanation.
  Paragraph 3 — State what you expect/request.

Closing: Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Printed Name]

Yours faithfully is used when you do NOT know the recipient's name (you wrote "Dear Sir/Madam"). Yours sincerely is used when you DO know their name ("Dear Mr. Sharma").

Report Writing

A report presents facts, findings, and sometimes recommendations. It is written in third person, past tense and uses formal, objective language.

Standard structure:

Section	Content
Title	"Report on [Topic]"
Submitted by / Date	Name, class, date
Introduction / Objective	What the report is about and why
Findings	What was observed/discovered (use subheadings)
Conclusion	Summary of findings
Recommendations (if asked)	What should be done

Language features:

Passive voice: "The event was inaugurated by…"
Formal connectors: "Furthermore," "It was observed that," "According to…"
Precise nouns: "The Principal," "The class teacher," — not "the person"

Worked example opening: "This report aims to document the proceedings of the Annual Science Fair held on 15 March at [School Name]. The event was attended by over 200 students and 15 judges from across the district."

Article Writing

An article is written for a newspaper, magazine, or school journal. It may inform, persuade, or entertain — the tone depends on the purpose.

Structure:

HEADLINE (Bold, catchy, relevant)
By [Name], Class [X]

Introduction: Hook + what the article is about

Body Paragraph 1: Main point with evidence
Body Paragraph 2: Second point or different angle
Body Paragraph 3: Counter-view or further detail (for opinion pieces)

Conclusion: Wrap up with a memorable line or call to action

Headlines should be short (5–8 words), active, and specific. Avoid vague titles like "About Pollution." Prefer: "Air Pollution: The Silent Killer in Our Cities."

Tone options:

Informative article: neutral, factual
Opinion/editorial: confident, persuasive
Feature article: engaging, descriptive, may use anecdotes

Speech and Debate Writing

Speech Structure

Part	Purpose
Greeting	"Respected judges, teachers, and dear friends…"
Introduction	State your topic and your position on it
Body	2–3 arguments, each with evidence/example
Acknowledgement (debate)	Address the opposing view and refute it
Conclusion	Powerful closing line — call to action or thought-provoking statement
Vote of thanks	"Thank you for your time and attention."

Opening hooks for speeches:

Startling statistic: "Did you know that over 8 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans every year?"
Rhetorical question: "How long can we look the other way while our planet burns?"
Quotation: "As Mahatma Gandhi said, 'Be the change you wish to see in the world.'"

Debate-Specific Language

Function	Phrases
Stating your position	"I firmly believe / strongly oppose the motion that…"
Adding a point	"Furthermore, it must be noted that…"
Refuting the opposition	"While my opponents argue that…, the evidence clearly shows that…"
Concluding	"For all these reasons, I urge you to support/oppose the motion."

Choosing the Right Format — Quick Guide

Task	Format	Key thing to get right
Write to the Principal about a problem	Formal letter	Subject line + Yours faithfully
Write about a school event for the notice board	Report	Findings with subheadings
Write your opinion on social media for a magazine	Article	Catchy headline + 3-paragraph body
Argue for/against a topic in front of an audience	Speech/Debate	Opening hook + logical arguments + strong close

Quick check

When do you use "Yours faithfully" vs "Yours sincerely" in a formal letter?
List two language features that distinguish a report from a letter.
Write a headline for an article about the dangers of excessive screen time.
What is the purpose of acknowledging the opposing view in a debate?
In what person (first/second/third) and tense is a formal report typically written?

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Writing Skills.