Communication is Power

Objective(s): The students will be able to …
o Compose at the keyboard
o Format business letters
Standard(s): The learner will be able to …
o B.3 Use touch techniques to key information
o C.1 Follow oral and written instructions
o C.3 Apply rules for punctuation, grammar, spelling, number expression, word division, and capitalization.
o C.4 Compose paragraphs at the keyboard
o D.3 Identify the basic parts of business documents.
o D.5 Format, key, edit business letters
Lesson Plan Components Steps Time
Hook o When students enter the classroom “You’ve Got Mail” will be flashing on the Smart board at the front of the classroom. (visual)
o The teacher will also greet the students with the saying “You’ve Got Mail.” (auditory)
o As students approach their seats they will find an envelope addressed to each of them containing a letter from one of the following corporations: Microsoft, Dell, Apple, IBM, Toshiba, or Sony welcoming students to their first business/technology class. Students will open and read their letters. (kinesthetic)
o Teacher will tell students “Congratulations on receiving your first business letter!”
Transition: I will inform students to open Glencoe software and begin to key the warm-up. 5 min
Instructional Design:

Presentation/
Demonstration

o Teacher will explain that business letter represents a company, not an individual. Better letters are usually printed on company stationary called letterhead. The letterhead usually includes the company’s name, address, and telephone number. (auditory)
o Teacher will display and discuss the components of a business letter on the Smartboard while the students take notes. (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)
1. Heading
2. Inside address
3. Salutation or greeting
4. Body
5. Closing
6. Signature
o Teacher will display and discuss the steps for formatting a business letter on the Smartboard while the students take notes. (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)
1. Center page the document.
2. Use the default side margins or change the side margins to one inch.
3. Everything begins at the left margin.
4. Key the current date. Use the Month/Day/Year format (ex. December 14, 2004)
5. Quadruple space. (press space bar 4 times)
6. Key the Inside Address
a. Key courtesy title, first name, last name
b. Key company name
c. Key the street address.
d. Key the City name followed by a comma, the state abbreviation followed by one space, and Zip Code.
7. Double space.
8. Key an appropriate salutation. (Dear<Courtesy Title><Last Name>) or (Dear Sir or Madam)
9. Double space.
10. Key the body of the letter single-spaced. Don’t indent paragraphs.
11. Double space between paragraphs.
12. Double space after the last paragraph.
13. Key the complimentary close (ex. Sincerely, Yours truly, Yours very truly, Sincerely yours). Only the first word is capitalized.
14. Quadruple space.
15. Key the writer’s name.
16. Single space.
17. Key the writer’s title. 20 min
18. Double space.
19. Key the reference initials in lower case.
20. Single space.
21. If something is being sent with the letter, note this with an enclosure notation. For one enclosure use the word Enclosure (or Attachment). For more than one use the word Enclosures (or Attachments).
o Questions to lead discussion (verbal/linguistic):
* Describe in your own words how to format a
business letter. (understanding)
* List major components of a business letter.
(remembering)
* Outside of class when would you use a business
letter? (applying)
* Differentiate between business letters and
Friendly Letter? (analyzing)
* How effective can a business letter be when
communicating? (evaluating)

Transition: I will tell students will retrieve their textbooks and open a word document it is time to practice.
Guided Practice o Teacher will lead students through typing the following business letter found on page 182 of their textbooks (kinesthetic):
November 23, {year}/ Mr. Keith MacPhee/ Indiana State Insurance Company/ 2500 Wabash Avenue/ Terre Haute, In 47803/ Dear Mr. MacPhee:
I would like to invite you to speak at our business club meeting on December 14.
The Terre Haute High School Business Club is over 20 years old and has been recognized by the State Department of Education as one of the most active in the state. At the national level, our club is a member of both the Future Business Leaders of America and Business Professionals of America associations
Transition: I will tell students now it is their turn to format their own business letter. 15 min
Independent
Practice o Teacher will provide students with the web address http://businessletterpunch.com (auditory and visual)
o Students will be given the prompt through the website:
"Your Company has regularly purchased storage boxes for its computer software products from one supplier. Recently orders have not been filled promptly, and deliveries have arrived with an unusual number of broken boxes. Write a letter to the supplier presenting your company's complaints," (visual)
o Students will go through the process of creating a letter that is written within this business environment. Prewriting, writing, organizing, editing, rewriting, and publishing are required steps to complete the business letter. (kinesthetic)
o Students will then transfer their business letter to Microsoft Word for saving and printing. (kinesthetic)
o Students will then conduct a pair share peer review of their business letters and revisions will be made before turning in.
o Teacher will monitor and provide assistance if needed. (kinesthetic)
o Teacher will have soft music playing in the back while students work. (musical)
o During independent practice natural lighting will be used from the windows to reduce glare on the computer. (naturalist)
45 min
Closure: o Teacher will distribute a KWL chart to each students
o Students must complete the KWL chart and use it as an entrance slip to class on the next day. 5 min
Evaluation: Formal Assessment:
o Students will turn in the business letter created using the prompts from http://www.businessletterpunch.com for grading. (kinesthetic)

Special Needs
Accommodations: ELL
o Read instructions and prompts on http://businessletterpunch.com for student
o Promote interaction with English speaking students through class discussions and pair share/peer review.
o Allow extra time to complete or respond to assessments and tasks

Materials
Handout of lecture notes, business letter creator program at http://www.businessletterpunch.com, Smartboard, textbook: Glencoe Keyboarding with Computer Applications, computer for each student with Glencoe software, music cd, handout KWL chart, business letters from Microsoft, Dell, Apple, IBM, Toshiba, Sony