THE reader's letter it is a textual genre used when a citizen wants to take a critical stand on some issue or current event. It is a short text, with concise and assertive language. In its structure, there is a strong presence of the argumentative and expository textual type, seeking to defend a perspective that converges or disagrees with the source-text.
Read too: Argumentative letter — genre that seeks to defend a point of view about something
What is a reader's letter?
The Reader's Letter Textual Genre is for when a person wants to express their opinion. or your critical position on some relevant issue at the time. This genre fits as an exercise in citizenship and it can be aimed at both newspapers and magazines in different segments.
For your broad functionality, the reader's letter is found as a genre in different contexts. A citizen can take a stand before a newspaper, after report or published news, which the author intends to make a critique, but can also use the same genre to to position itself in front of a magazine with a specific theme, such as a music, literature, architecture, engineering magazine, etc.
Structure and characteristics of the reader's letter
The reader's letter has a small size and it is commonly presented on one of the pages of the newsletter, in an area specific to this production. The author needs to present his critique objectively, to adapt to the space.
Although it is named as “letter”, this textual genre is very similar to argumentative genres, this is because, as the intention is to express a critical opinion, it is necessary to resort to strategies that contribute to convincing the reader.
Therefore, the reader's letter presents the elements and strategies of argumentation as a strong feature of its structure, being fundamental for the letter to have a greater impact on the journal and to convince other readers about the thesis defended.
In addition, since it is a matter or problem highlighted at the moment, the genre requires the presence of an exposition of the topic addressed. So, the textual type expository is also a feature present in this type of letter.
O text it develops from a “conflict”, not necessarily in the literal sense, but from the fact that there is an opposition between the author's opinion and the criticized opinion. From this interaction, the author can choose some strategies to analyze the issue.
- Situation-Assessment: strategy in which there is a situation in the real world that will be explained and the argumentation is the critical assessment regarding this circumstance.
- General-Private: strategy used when there is a superordinate situation, a generalizing statement and specific argumentation, through examples that are compatible or not.
Read too: Open letter - argumentative genre that has a social function
How do you make a reader's letter?
To make a reader letter, first of all, it is necessary to have a critical position about something that was published in some journal. It is important to consider recent and relevant issues and themes. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the vehicle in which the letter will be published: what is your profile and that of your readers?
Paying attention to issues pertaining to the textual genre and the production context is essential for a good production. The author needs to consider that his argument will only have a purpose if he manages to target the target audience, and this is only achieved with a previous analysis of the characteristics of this audience, to better adapt the language.
Having chosen the subject and the periodical that will receive the letter, the author must start his text with the exposure of the problem that will be criticized. This presentation must consider what information is already known by the general public, to avoid unnecessary repetition.
In sequence, the necessary arguments are presented. to prove the point of view defended. The author can present his criticisms in an objective and assertive way, but he must base his notes, to guarantee greater convincing power to the text.
The text can be accompanied by a small title and yours language must be concise, direct and assertive.. The reader needs to work on the writing in order to polish it to take up little space, but be able to defend the author's punctual statement.
Read too: How to improve writing?
Reader Letter Examples
Below are some examples of readers' letters, taken from the Folha de São Paulo newspaper. The selected texts address different subjects and serve as material for studying the genre.
TSE
“Is the TSE campaigning for us to buy cell phones? I don't have and I don't want to have a cell phone, I'm not required by law to have one. But I am required by law to vote, now what? I'm in a small town in the interior of São Paulo, fleeing the coronavirus, and I went to the registry office to justify my absence in the second round. But he was closed. How can a voter who does not want to have a cell phone justify his absence?” Francisco José Bedê e Castro (São Paulo, SP)
Bravery
“The small monument in memory of the bravery of Marshal Bittencourt, in front of the National Historical Museum, was destroyed. The history of the Republic is not respected, even when materialized in front of the door of a historical museum. Poor country that despises the past and does not maintain the foundations to build its future.” Luiz Felipe Pupe de Miranda (Rio de Janeiro, RJ)
The letters above have similar structural points, although they refer to different subjects. All examples are reduced in size, approximately one paragraph. The topics covered are recent and relevant to all or part of Brazilian society. Thus, it is clear that the genre focuses on social and collective themes. In addition, given the short space for the text, the authors produce notes and direct reflections, strongly demarcating their position.
To contextualize the problems, many authors briefly point out some fact that serves to situate the circumstance that triggers the criticism. Some choose to submit assertive statements: “Poor country that despises the past and does not maintain the foundations to build its future.”. Others use provocative and rhetorical questions to indicate his criticisms: “Is the TSE campaigning for us to buy cell phones? I don't have and I don't want to have a cell phone, I'm not required by law to have one. But I am required by law to vote, now what?”.
By Talliandre Matos
grammar teacher
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/redacao/a-carta-leitor.htm
