Business Letter Format
Joseph Mark Warner
Objectives:
NCSCS-
7th grade, 8th grade.
Competency
Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
6.02 Continue to identify and edit
errors in spoken and written English by:
. producing
final drafts/presentations that demonstrate accurate spelling
and the
correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and format.
NCTE- 6th grade, 7th
grade, and 8th grade.
Standard #12: Students use spoken,
written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for
learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information.)
Purpose:
The purpose of teaching the business letter format is so that when the students enter the real world of business they will be able to write the letter in the correct format. Business letters are also important for doctors, teachers, consumers, etc. This is very important when dealing with people. The student wants to be seen as a professional.
When to teach:
I consider this to be a late in the year course to be taught as a concept/skill lesson. It is a very important minilesson; however, during this period of the middle school students’ understanding of the other genres is much more important.
Script:
Good morning! Today, we are going to learn about the business letter format. The business letters that you write in the future are all going to have this same type of format and it will be very important to each and every one of you that you follow this format. If not, your boss and the people that you send you letter to will disregard you has not being professional. I have written many letters using this format. Today, the computers have programs that will generate the format for you. Yet, if you do not have a computer and have to write the letter, you should know the format. This is what a correct business letter looks like.
Return 4 lines from the top
____________________Writer’s street
address (do not include if using letterhead)
____________________Writer’s city,
state, zip
____________________Dateline
Return 4 lines
____________________
____________________Inside address
(to whom the letter is being sent
____________________
Return 2 lines
____________________Salutation
Return 2 lines
Body of Letter____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Return 2 times
_______________________Complimentary
closing
Return 4 times
________________________Writer’s
name
________________________Enclosure
Now,
I would like for each of you to write a business letter. I want you to write
the letter to a person whom you would like to address a problem that you would
like to correct. As you are writing the letter, I will come around to make sure
that you are using the correct format. After everyone is finished writing their
letter, we will review the parts and format of a business letter.
Materials Needed:
Time of Lesson:
20 minutes
Resources:
http://wolweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/business.htm