Class 12 Functional Writing: Complete Concepts and Practice

Big picture

Functional writing tasks are short, practical texts that people write in real life: a notice on a school board, an invitation to an event, a letter to the editor about a public problem, or a job application. Each has a fixed format, expected content and a formal tone.

Marks are usually split among format, content and expression (language accuracy and fluency). Learn each format exactly, stay within the word limit, and cover every point asked in the question.

Learning goals

• Write a notice in the correct boxed format.

• Write formal invitations and replies in the third person, and informal invitations.

• Write a letter to the editor about a public issue.

• Write a job application with a separate résumé.

• Use formal language, the passive voice and precise details.

Core ideas

1. Notice

A notice is a formal announcement to inform a group of people about an event, change or requirement. It is usually written in a box, in about 50 words.

Format:

1. Name of the institution (at the top)

2. The word NOTICE

3. Date (left side)

4. Heading (a short title in capitals)

5. Body: what, when (date and time), where, who can take part, how to register, contact person

6. Name and designation of the writer (with signature)

Model notice:

            GREENFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL, LUCKNOW
                         NOTICE
15 July 2025
            INTER-HOUSE QUIZ ON SPACE SCIENCE
An inter-house quiz on space science will be held on 25 July
2025 in the school auditorium from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Teams of
three students from Classes 9 to 12 may participate. Interested
students should give their names to their house captains by
20 July 2025.
Ananya Verma
Secretary, Science Club

Language tips: use the passive voice ("will be held", "may be submitted") and give exact dates, times and venues. Don't use "you" too much, and don't add unnecessary details.

2. Formal invitation and reply

A formal invitation is written in the third person, without a salutation or closing signature line, often in a box. It includes the host, event, chief guest (if any), date, time, venue and an RSVP line.

Model formal invitation:

The Principal, staff and students of Greenfield Public School
request the pleasure of your company
at the inauguration of the new Science Laboratory
by Dr. Rakesh Sharma, eminent physicist,
on Monday, 4 August 2025, at 11 a.m.
in the school premises.

RSVP: 0522-2456789 (Office)

A reply to a formal invitation (acceptance or refusal) is also in the third person, with the writer's address and date, and states the reason for declining if refusing:

12, Park Road, Lucknow
28 July 2025
Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor thank the Principal of Greenfield Public
School for the kind invitation to the inauguration of the new
Science Laboratory on 4 August 2025 at 11 a.m. They are pleased
to accept it and will be present at the function.

An informal invitation is a friendly letter in the first person ("I would love you to come to…"), with a salutation (Dear Riya) and a warm closing (Yours lovingly).

3. Letter to the editor

A letter to the editor draws public and official attention to an issue (pollution, traffic, waste, stray animals, water shortage) through a newspaper. It follows the formal letter format.

Format:

1. Sender's address

2. Date

3. Receiver's address (The Editor, newspaper name, city)

4. Subject line

5. Salutation: Sir/Madam

6. Body: introduction (purpose of writing); problem with details, causes and effects; suggestions or solutions; conclusion (request to publish and hope for action)

7. Complimentary close: Yours faithfully / Yours truly

8. Signature and name

Model letter to the editor:

24, Shanti Nagar
Jaipur
10 August 2025

The Editor
The Daily Herald
Jaipur

Subject: Need to stop plastic waste in public parks

Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the
attention of the authorities to the growing problem of plastic
waste in the public parks of our city.

Visitors leave plastic bottles, bags and food wrappers everywhere.
The waste chokes drains, harms birds and stray animals that eat it,
and spoils the beauty of the parks. The few dustbins provided are
often broken or overflowing.

I suggest that the municipal corporation install more covered bins,
impose fines for littering, and run awareness campaigns with local
schools. Shopkeepers near the parks could be encouraged to use
cloth or paper bags.

I hope this letter will prompt the authorities to take immediate
action.

Yours faithfully
Rohan Mehta

4. Job application and résumé

A job application has two parts: a covering letter and a separate résumé (bio-data / curriculum vitae).

Covering letter content: the source of the advertisement (newspaper, date); the post applied for; a brief statement of suitability (qualifications, experience, skills); a mention that the résumé is enclosed; and availability for an interview.

Model covering letter (body):

Sir/Madam
In response to your advertisement in The Times of India dated
5 August 2025 for the post of Computer Instructor, I wish to offer
myself as a candidate. I hold a B.Sc. in Computer Science and have
two years' experience of teaching Python and MS Office to school
students. I am patient, well organised and enjoy working with
young learners.

I enclose my résumé for your kind consideration and would be glad
to attend an interview at your convenience.

Yours faithfully
Priya Nair
Encl.: Résumé

Résumé headings: Name; Address and contact details; Date of birth; Educational qualifications (in a table: examination, board/university, year, marks); Professional qualifications; Work experience; Skills; Languages known; Hobbies (optional); References (name, designation, contact).

5. Formal letter conventions

6. Word limits and marking

Follow the word limits in your current board pattern (for example, about 50 words for a notice or invitation, and about 120–150 words for a letter). Typical marks split: format (correct layout and conventions), content (all relevant points), and expression (grammar, vocabulary, coherence).

A reliable routine for functional writing

1. Underline the key details in the question: who is writing, to whom, about what, when and where.

2. Decide the format and write it correctly first.

3. List the content points, making sure every point in the question is covered.

4. Write in formal language; use the passive voice in notices.

5. Check the word limit, spelling and the closing.

Connections that matter

• Grammar and sentence craft: the passive voice and accurate tenses matter in notices and letters.

• Vocabulary and language use: formal register and precise words.

• Creative and discursive writing covers longer articles and reports.

Common mistakes

• Leaving out the date, heading or name and designation in a notice.

• Writing a formal invitation in the first person or adding "Dear Sir".

• Using "Yours sincerely" with "Sir/Madam".

• Forgetting the subject line in a formal letter.

• Writing a letter to the editor without suggestions.

• Exceeding the word limit or missing points given in the question.

Revision checklist

• I can write a notice in the correct format.

• I can write a formal invitation, a reply and an informal invitation.

• I can write a letter to the editor with problem, causes, effects and suggestions.

• I can write a job application with a résumé.

• I can follow formal letter conventions and word limits.