Dear Sir:

GOAL:
To compose successful business letters.

OBJECTIVES:
The student will be able to:

1. Use the block and modified block styles of letter writing.
2. Organize a business letter.
3. Compose clear, concise business letters to request or furnish information.

ENERGY OBJECTIVES:
The student will:
1. Become familiar with the information presented on energy guide labels.

LESSON INFORMATION:
Writing a successful business letter is an ability that everyone needs to possess. Whether you plan on becoming a welder, a secretary, or the president of the United States, being able to express yourself successfully in a business letter is a desirable attribute.

There are many different styles to use when writing a letter. One that is popular and easy is block style. A letter written in block style has all the following characteristics:

- At least a one inch margin on all sides.
- All components beginning flush with the left margin.
- No paragraph indentions.
- Single space within paragraphs; double space between paragraphs.

There are many components to be included in a successful business letter. Although some are optional, all of the following may be included:

- Letterhead Address / Return Address of Sender
- Date Line
- Inside Address
- Salutation
- Body of Letter
- Complimentary Closing
- Signature
- Writer Identification
- Reference Initials

See Example 1 to note the components of a successful letter written in block style.

Example 1 -

               Homeowners Alliance                   (Letterhead) 
                  124 Elm Street
             Boulder, Colorado  88056                      
    
                                                  
                                                  
June 23, 1992                                         (Date Line)


Smith Appliance Center                           (Inside Address)
2458 Main Street                                  
Boulder, Colorado  80998

Dear Service Representative:                         (Salutation)

I am an instructor of Consumer Economics for the         (Body of
Homeowners Alliance.  We conduct classes for home-        Letter)
owners wishing to make sound purchasing decisions 
when building or buying a home and when furnishing 
that home.

I have found that many of my clients are confused 
when shopping for home appliances.  They do not 
understand the energy guide labels found on appli-
ances, nor do they realize how this information can 
be used by the consumer. 

As there is a great interest in this topic, I am 
interested in having you as a guest speaker at one 
of our classes.  Classes meet every Tuesday night 
from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  If you would be able 
to present a short lesson on the energy guide label 
at one of our classes in the next few weeks, please 
contact me at 456-9375.

I would also appreciate any information you could 
provide me on this topic.  Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,                                (Complimentary Closing)

                                                      (Signature)

H. L. Wilder                              (Writer Identification)
Instructor

nil                                          (Reference Initials)

ACTIVITY D-1:
You are the sales representative from Smith Appliance Center in the letter above. On a seperate sheet of paper respond to H.L. Wilder accepting his invitation, giving a date for the presentation, and providing a list of topics that your presentation will cover: origin of energy guide labels, requirements regarding these labels, and exactly what information is present on the labels. Use block style. Label the letter components.

en-o89

Another type of business letter that is very common is the modified block style. This style differs from block style by allowing the following components to begin in the center of the line rather than at the left margin:

- Return Address, if not using letterhead
- Date Line
- Complimentary Closing
- Signature
- Writer Identification
- Reference Initials

ACTIVITY R-1:
In the following letter, identify all letter components. List the components not present.

                              
                              July 1, 1992

H. L. Wilder
c/o Homeowners Alliance
124 Elm Street
Boulder, Colorado  88056

Dear Mr. Wilder:

Our service representative here at Smith Appliance Center shared
your letter regarding energy guide labels.  I would like to provide
you with a short summary of guide label information so that you may
prepare your class for the upcoming presentation.

Energy guide labels are required on furnaces, refrigerators,
freezers, water heaters, clothes washers, dishwashers, and room air
conditioners as of May 19, 1992.  The goal of these yellow and
black labels is to help consumers make an energy efficient
appliance choice.  The labels offer the following information:

     -    Appliance type
     -    Average cost to operate the appliance per year
     -    Comparison of this model's operating cost to other models
     -    Approximate yearly cost to operate the appliance at
          various charges per kWh

The information on the energy guide label should be considered
along with purchase price when choosing a new appliance.  Many
times energy efficient models have a higher purchase price but cost
less to operate.  Some consumers do not realize the impact of lower
operating costs over the lifetime of the appliance.

I hope this general information can be of help to you.  If you have
any more questions after our service representative's presentation,
feel free to call on us.

                              Thank you for your interest,



                              John C. Colhart
                              Smith Appliance Center, Manager


When writing a business letter, try to organize the information into three or more basic paragraphs.
- The first paragraph should give an indication as to the letter to follow.
- Information should then be presented with one paragraph devoted to each major topic.
- The final paragraph should contain a summary and perhaps a closing or appreciative remark.

ACTIVITY R-2:
Compose a letter to Dryhearst Appliance Company, 334 Oak Blvd., Denver, CO, 88905. Ask their sales representative to recommend an energy efficient model of room air conditioner. Ask him to include information on annual operation costs and special features. Use modified block style.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Appliance Labeling. U.S. Department of Energy, n.d.

EnergyGuide for Secondary Home Economics Classes. U.S. Department of Energy, 1980.

INFORMATION CHECK
1. List three reasons why you feel that everyone should be able to write a successful business letter.




2. Compare and contrast the two popular styles of business letters described in this lesson.





3. Answer the following questions using this energy guide label.

en-o92
a. What type of appliance would this label be found on?


b. On the average, how much does it cost to operate this appliance for one year?


c. For other appliances of this type, what is the lowest and highest operating costs?



d. How energy efficient is this model in reference to others of its type?


e. How much would it cost to operate this appliance per year at 10¢ a kWh?


Teacher's Notes
Activity D-1:
All student letters will differ. Check for the following:

- All elements of block style were followed.
- All given information was presented.
- Attention was given to grammar and neatness.
- Attention was given to organization.
- All letter components were labeled.

Activity R-1:
The following components should be properly labeled:

date line, inside address, salutation, body of letter, complimentary closing, signature, and writer identification.

The components not used that should be listed include letterhead or return address and reference initials.

Activity R-2:
All student letters will differ. Check for the following:

- All elements of modified block style were followed.
- All given information was presented.
- Attention was given to grammar and neatness.
- Attention was given to organization.

Answers to Information Check:
1. Answers will vary. Some may include:

- People in all job or career fields will have to write business letters.
- Many people may form an impression of you by the quality of the business letter.
- A good business letter can communicate important information about your business.

2. The two styles of business letters discussed in this lesson are the block and the modified block styles. They are similar in that they contain all the same components, contain no paragraph indentions, and are single spaced except between paragraphs. They differ in that the block style has all components placed flush with the left margin while the modified block style has the following components starting at the center of the line: return address, date line, complimentary closing, signature, writer identification, and reference initials.

3. a. refrigerator-freezer
b. $91
c. $68 and $132
d. This model costs about 1/3 more to operate than the most efficient model.
e. $182

Comments or questions to: TechAsmt@LA.GOV

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