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Goal

The purpose of this project is to equip high school students with essential real-world communication skills that extend beyond digital interactions. It addresses the need for students to understand and practice formal written communication in a business context.
This project will addresses several key needs:
• Real-World Application: It moves beyond theoretical learning by having students engage with actual businesses they know, making the learning more relatable and practical. This helps bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world scenarios, preparing them for future interactions with companies as consumers, employees, or entrepreneurs.
• Professionalism and Etiquette: The project teaches students about the importance of a professional tone, clear articulation, and proper formatting—skills crucial for effective communication in academic, professional, and civic life.
• Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Students must think critically about a product or service, formulate constructive feedback or specific inquiries, and organize their thoughts logically to present them effectively.
• Attention to Detail: The act of correctly addressing an envelope and formatting a letter reinforces the importance of precision and attention to detail in formal contexts.
The primary learning goal of this project is for students to demonstrate proficiency in drafting and formatting a professional business letter, including accurate envelope addressing, while effectively communicating a specific purpose (e.g., feedback, inquiry, suggestion) to an external organization.
 

 

Category

School-Wide, Grade-Level, Or Class Events/Programs - Parent Nights, Honor Roll Celebrations, EOY Events, etc. 

 

What will be done with my students

This project, titled "Communicate & Connect: Business Letter Project," is a hands-on activity designed to teach high school students the crucial skill of writing formal business letters and properly addressing envelopes. Students will choose a product or service they use, research the relevant company's mailing address, and then compose a formal letter to that business. The letter can serve various purposes, such as providing positive feedback, offering suggestions for improvement, or making a polite inquiry. The culmination of the project involves students demonstrating their ability to format and write a professional letter and accurately address a business envelope.

This project is strategically designed to meet the diverse needs of high school students, the classroom learning environment, and the broader school goals.
Student Needs
• Real-World Skills: Many students graduate high school without practical experience in formal written communication. This project directly addresses that gap, providing them with a transferable skill applicable to future jobs, college applications, or even civic engagement.
• Enhanced Communication: It helps students develop their ability to articulate thoughts clearly, concisely, and respectfully in a formal setting, improving their overall communication competency.
• Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Choosing a relevant topic, formulating a clear message, and finding the correct address all require critical thinking and basic problem-solving skills.
• Digital Literacy Balance: While digital communication is prevalent, this project reinforces the value and necessity of traditional written correspondence, providing a well-rounded communication skillset.
Classroom Needs
• Engaging & Relevant Content: By allowing students to choose businesses and products they genuinely care about, the project fosters student engagement and makes the learning process more meaningful and less abstract.
• Cross-Curricular Connections: This project naturally integrates English Language Arts skills (writing, grammar, syntax, tone) with research skills and even elements of consumer education.
• Differentiated Instruction: The project can be easily adapted to various learning levels. Students can choose simpler letter purposes or be challenged with more complex scenarios.
• Practical Assessment: It provides a clear and tangible way to assess students' understanding of formal writing conventions and their ability to apply them.
School Needs
• Preparation for Post-Secondary Life: The school's mission often includes preparing students for college and careers. Proficiency in formal written communication is a fundamental skill required in both academic and professional settings.
• Promotion of Literacy: By focusing on the mechanics and purpose of formal writing, the project contributes to the school's overall literacy goals, encouraging stronger writing habits.
• Positive Community Engagement: it subtly promotes a sense of civic responsibility and understanding of how individuals can interact with and influence businesses and organizations.

 

 

Benefits to my students

This project will bring about several positive changes and improvements for your students, primarily in their communication skills and professional readiness.
• Enhanced Formal Writing Proficiency: Students will significantly improve their ability to structure, format, and write formal business letters. This includes mastering elements like proper addressing, salutations, body paragraph organization, and closings.
• Developed Professional Tone and Etiquette: They'll learn to adopt a polite, respectful, and clear tone appropriate for business interactions, understanding what constitutes professional communication versus informal conversation.
• Increased Confidence in Business Communication: By successfully completing and potentially even sending a letter to a real company, students will gain confidence in their ability to interact with organizations formally, a skill valuable in future academic, professional, and consumer contexts.
• Improved Attention to Detail: The need for accurate addresses, correct formatting, and precise language will sharpen their attention to detail, a critical skill across all disciplines.
• Understanding of Real-World Correspondence: Students will grasp that formal written communication is still a vital tool for various purposes, from providing feedback to making inquiries, even in a digital age.
I will measure whether the project's outcomes were met through a combination of rubric-based assessments and checklists:
• Rubric-Based Assessment:
o Letter Content: Evaluate the clarity of the letter's purpose, the logical flow of ideas, the inclusion of specific details, and the appropriateness of the professional tone.
o Letter Format: Assess adherence to standard business letter formatting, including the correct placement of addresses, date, salutation, body, closing, and signature.
o Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation: Check for proper use of Standard English conventions.
• Checklist for Envelope Addressing:
o Verify the accuracy of both the sender's and recipient's addresses.
o Confirm legibility and correct placement of all elements on the envelope.
These methods will allow me to effectively gauge students' mastery of formal business letter writing and their ability to apply these skills accurately.
 

 

Budget Narrative

I will purchase 200 Stamps, 2 sets of the stationary, and 8 sets of the pens, so I have enough for one class set of nice pens.  

 

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