Contextualization

The Reader's Letter is a textual genre very present in our society and especially relevant in language disciplines. These are letters sent by readers of newspapers, magazines, and other media, where the public can express their opinions, criticisms, suggestions, compliments, and complaints about the contents conveyed.

The Reader's Letter is not only a form of communication between the public and the media outlet but also a space for democratic participation, where anyone has the possibility to express their opinion and have their voice heard. The choice of this theme as a project for our Portuguese course is precisely due to the importance of this textual genre as a form of social participation.

The project will aim to elaborate a Reader's Letter addressing a topic chosen by the students and that will be published on the school's bulletin board. This activity will be based on the understanding of the elements that make up a Reader's Letter and the understanding of how opinions are structured within this textual genre.

Introduction

The first step of the project will be the theoretical research on the Reader's Letter. Students should study the concept, structure, and function of this textual genre. The Reader's Letter has a well-defined structure: it is composed of a header that indicates the recipient (usually the editor or director of the media outlet), followed by the body of the text, where the reader expresses their opinion, and finally a closing, with the reader's signature.

The research should also address the role and importance of the Reader's Letter as an instrument of communication and social participation. In addition, students should pay special attention to understanding how opinions are expressed in this type of text.

To delve deeper into the topic, we suggest consulting two sources:

1. Reader's Letter: what it is, structure, and example
2. How to write a reader's letter

Both resources are available for free in Portuguese and provide complete explanations about the Reader's Letter, including examples of texts and tips for writing.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: The Student's Voice - Reader Letters to the School

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to allow students to understand, practice, and apply the structure and language of the Reader's Letter, as a means of expressing their opinions and ideas clearly and effectively.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 participants. Each group should create a Reader's Letter addressing a theme or subject that is of common interest to the group members and that is related to the school or the school community. It can be a compliment, a constructive criticism, a suggestion for improvement, or any other theme they consider relevant.

Required Materials

• Computer or notebook for writing the text.
• Pen or pencil for revision and notes.
• Research material for consultation (books, magazines, internet access for online sources).

Step by Step

1. Group Meeting: Hold a meeting to discuss possible themes for the letter. Think about issues that are relevant and that directly or indirectly affect the school community. After the discussion, reach a consensus on the theme to be addressed.

2. Research and Planning: With the theme in hand, conduct research to gather information and arguments that can enrich the letter. Organize this information with the aim of presenting a persuasive and convincing argument. At this point, each group member can focus on different aspects of the theme, to later socialize the information with the others.

3. Writing the Letter: Based on the gathered information and the understanding acquired through theoretical research, write the letter. Remember to follow the structure of a Reader's Letter: addressing, body of the text, and closing.

4. Revision: Review the letter to check if the text is clear and if the arguments are well-structured. Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Each group member should review the work.

5. Presentation: The final step is the presentation of the letter to the class and, if possible, publication on the school bulletin board. The group should prepare for a brief debate on the letter's theme and be ready to answer any questions that may arise.

Project Delivery

At the end of the project, each group must deliver:

1. The Reader's Letter: The finalized and revised letter, which must be submitted in written form.

2. The Project Report: The report should follow the structure: Introduction (contextualization of the chosen theme for the letter and the project's objective), Development (explanation of the theory behind the project's central theme, detail of the activity, methodology used, and presentation of the results obtained), Conclusion (summary of the main points, lessons learned, and conclusions about the project), and Bibliography (indication of the sources used for research and project execution).

The report should demonstrate the group's understanding of the textual genre Reader's Letter, the process of selecting and developing the letter's theme, and the main learnings acquired during the project.