雖然考研英語大綱中羅列了多種應用文類型，包括：投訴信、建議信、申請信、求職信、辭職信、求學信、求助信、感謝信、號召信、邀請信、道歉信、簡歷、備忘錄、尋物啟事、招領啟事等，但是在具體的實踐中，常常考到的是書信。尤其在近幾年的考研中，應用文寫作考得最多的就是書信體應用文。下面我們就來先總體了解一下考研英語的書信寫作。
一、首段的寫作方法
1.問候收信人
Dear Sir/Madam
2.解釋寫信的原因
申請：I’m writing for an opportunity to work in your esteemed company that boasts of decades of reputation
邀請：I’m writing to request your attendance to a dinner party that is to be held in Beijing on August.
感謝：I am writing to extend my heartfelt thanks (sincere gratitude)toward…
投訴：I am writing to complain about the poor quality of a product that I purchased from your store two weeks ago.
祝賀：I am writing to extend my sincere greetings, wishing you a happyNew Year, your career greater success and your family happiness.
二、中間段的寫作方法
1.閱讀題目要求，找到可以用到的名詞或動詞。
【示例】Write a letter of application according to the following situation. You saw an advertisement in this morning’s newspaper. A company needs a secretary and you are interested. Write an application letter to that company.
2.注意題目文字暗示，把名詞具體化，把動詞近義詞化
【示例】I am pleased to discover from Beijing Youth that your company is calling for a secretary. I wonder if you could consider my application, for I am delighted to join your esteemed company. First, I can speak and write English fluently, which happens to meet your current requirement for the vacancy. Second, I have a good command of Microsoft Office System, Graphic Design and ADOBE system. Third and last, I am always ready to help other people because I’m patient, enthusiastic and sincere. Given these considerations, I sincerely hope that I can be a member of your esteemed company.
三、結尾段的寫作方法(三句話)
【示例】I would appreciate your assistance in this matter. If you have any question, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at…Look forward to your reply.
四、署名
在文章右下角署名，一般格式為：Your sincerely…
考試大綱規定，考生除了能寫不同類型的應用文以外，還要能撰寫一般描述性、敘述性、說明性或議論性的文章。做到語法、拼寫、標點正確，用詞恰當;遵循文章的特定文體格式;合理組織文章結構，使其內容統一、連貫;根據寫作目的和特定讀者，恰當選用語域。
書信寫作看起來復雜，但其實都有規律可循，最后為各位總結一個應用文寫作的七字訣，大家只要熟記并有效運用就沒問題：開門見山說意圖，信息要點覆蓋到，舉一反三講細節，語言正式詞多變，感謝客氣不能少，期待回信成老套。