虽然考研英语大纲中罗列了多种应用文类型，包括：投诉信、建议信、申请信、求职信、辞职信、求学信、求助信、感谢信、号召信、邀请信、道歉信、简历、备忘录、寻物启事、招领启事等，但是在具体的实践中，常常考到的是书信。尤其在近几年的考研中，应用文写作考得最多的就是书信体应用文。下面我们就来先总体了解一下考研英语的书信写作。
一、首段的写作方法
1.问候收信人
Dear Sir/Madam
2.解释写信的原因
申请：I’m writing for an opportunity to work in your esteemed company that boasts of decades of reputation
邀请：I’m writing to request your attendance to a dinner party that is to be held in Beijing on August.
感谢：I am writing to extend my heartfelt thanks (sincere gratitude)toward…
投诉：I am writing to complain about the poor quality of a product that I purchased from your store two weeks ago.
祝贺：I am writing to extend my sincere greetings, wishing you a happyNew Year, your career greater success and your family happiness.
二、中间段的写作方法
1.阅读题目要求，找到可以用到的名词或动词。
【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.注意题目文字暗示，把名词具体化，把动词近义词化
【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、结尾段的写作方法(三句话)
【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，一般格式为：Your sincerely…
考试大纲规定，考生除了能写不同类型的应用文以外，还要能撰写一般描述性、叙述性、说明性或议论性的文章。做到语法、拼写、标点正确，用词恰当;遵循文章的特定文体格式;合理组织文章结构，使其内容统一、连贯;根据写作目的和特定读者，恰当选用语域。
书信写作看起来复杂，但其实都有规律可循，最后为各位总结一个应用文写作的七字诀，大家只要熟记并有效运用就没问题：开门见山说意图，信息要点覆盖到，举一反三讲细节，语言正式词多变，感谢客气不能少，期待回信成老套。