I have added some more sample cover letters that give an idea of the attachments, topics and wording that might be included in a cover letter.
There's a sample letter for a visitor's visa (visa national) at
http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia/sil/sampleInvitationLetter.pdfAnd there's a sample for an Unmarried Partner's visa (same sex, visa national) at
http://www.londonelegance.com/transpondia/sil/sampleUPLetter.pdfTake note that - although the rules are ostensibly the same for everyone - the treatment for visa nationals is especially captious. So the application needs to be air-tight, hence nothing is left to chance in these letters.
Also, Americans would generally not use the invitation letter except in the case, for example, where they wanted an MEC to pursue a relationship or whatever.
Stats show the invitation letter being downloaded about 6 times a day, and the UP letter about 2 times a day.
Hope that helps!