Word Processing - Letters - Teacher Tips

Goals for students:

 - To learn and remember letter formatting basics:

• Block Style and Modified-Block Style
• Standard and Open Punctuation

These basics are outlined in PROCEDURES and guided by illustrations:

• Display a hard copy of the Letter Format Guide
• See business letter models on Page R-3,in the purple reference section of Keyboarding and Word Processing

 - To develop word processings skills: margins, tabs, headers and footers, vertical centering

Students should access the FGCU tutorial (RESOURCES) as needed to learn unfamiliar functions

 - To learn basic style formats for different types of written communication

Link to Types of Business Communication

 - To practice forms of communication they will use in their education and job paths

This is a good place to link with the Career and Educational Planning Module where students will write a resume and cover letter.

TASKS:

In the textbook assignments, students reproduce copy, but with each letter there are more formatting decisions.  If they approach this work mindlessly they may type exactly what they see--for instance, where it says (Your Initials), they type (Your Initials)!  Give them some instruction and reminders:

• Use the current date on all letter assignments (with full month name and year number)
• Review acceptable forms for salutation and closing (read the side note on page 55)
• The slash (/) sign between parts of an address indicates the information is keyed on different lines
• Tell students whether you prefer a header or a footer for their name, class period, etc.

Letter 9

• Check the completed letter and okay printing.
• The student can use a contrasting color of ink or pencil to mark the letter.
• The marks should reinforce knowledge of format, such as: labels for parts, X's for line spaces, margin widths, alternative salutation and closing, etc.
• The marked letter can serve as a guide for the other assignments.

Letter to a Business

• Bring a product box or package to describe this assignment, and show where to find contact information
• Encourage students to write about products they use and can react strongly to, like sports equipment, clothing, foods, or cosmetics
• If students write to a company about service, help help them with guidelines for the paragraph contents and locating a contact address
• Students should make sure their letters meet Mailability Standards, and then send them

Letters 17 & 18

• The student-designed letterhead can be used for both LETTERS 17 and 18
• Since no address is shown for Garner Homes, students can make up a fictitious address in a city in our relative area (The letters are written to customers in Bellingham and Mount Vernon)
• Remind students that they are to type LETTER 18 in modified-block style with indented paragraphs
• Review and practice of proofreaders' marks (pages R13 and 66) might be helpful

Memo 6

Encourage students to use a memo template or the Memo Wizard in MS Word so they can become familiar with some of the helpful features of wizards.

Compose a Memo

• Do some class brainstorming about the "hot" topics at their grade level in your school, or in the local community
• Students will email this memo directly to you with File> Send To...
• Depending on the interest of your class, this might be an opportunity to explore other features in Email, such as distribution lists
• Emphasize the importance of a brief and pertinent subject entry when using email
• Emphasize that memos should be worded concisely
  • Discuss the volume of mail that someone typically receives at work, and the limited time there is to read messages
  • Do a group exercise in "whittling down" a wordy memo