Q&A for How to Write a Letter of Request

Find the address of the club, write your letter, send it. However, most clubs spend a lot of time considering their interiors, including windows to the outside, and what that does psychologically to the patrons. I assume this club would have also given this careful thought before choosing to make the interior visible to passers-by, so your request is not guaranteed to get the result you'd like, and you may need to find a new club that better suits your preference.

Address your letter to the relevant recipient, such as the head of the person in charge of demolishing the ship. Introduce yourself, offering just enough information to make your letter personal and ingratiate yourself to the recipient, but stay on topic: let them know you're concerned about the possible scrapping of a historic ship, and that you would appreciate if they would reconsider demolishing it. In your body paragraph, explain why you believe the ship should be preserved, addressing its significance not only to yourself, but its historical significance as well. Lean on both emotional persuasion (but avoiding becoming too passionate, as this may deter your reader) and on facts pertaining to the ship's history. This combination of personal and emotional persuasion as well as historical research is sure to affect your reader. Finally, close your letter by thanking the reader for their time, and respectfully signing off.

If "I am writing this letter to..." feels too stiff, brainstorm other ways you can introduce yourself and your purpose while still coming across respectful and concise. You might begin with "Hello, I hope you're well," or by addressing the weather or time of year: "I hope you're managing to stay warm in the cold February weather," or "Happy New Year!" If you're on casual terms with the recipient, formality may be less important, but if you don't know the recipient, you can still spice things up without sacrificing politesse: for instance, you may try something like, "As a lover of history and a strong believer in the need to preserve our town's vibrant lore, I was saddened to hear of the impending demolition of the old clock tower. I felt compelled to reach out to you today..."

Many university websites offer templates for request letters. A Google search will yield a number of options, but if you are a current student, you may also be able to reach out to a professor or advisor for a template, and perhaps even advice specific to your situation.