Before: Mailing business letters
In the past, I have shared examples and formats of business letters with my students. I have encouraged them to think about who they might like to write to and who they might like to receive a letter from. We have talked about the ideas that my students might communicate - ideas of product development; admiration for someone; questions of inquiry; statements of complaint or inquiry; or request of something. Students have written business letters and sent them, waiting and hoping for a response.
7th Graders Use Critical Thinking to Analyze Communicating Using Posted Mail & Email...I love to send letters to people!! I think taking the time to send a letter to a person really can mean somthing to them. And it shows you really mean buisness. On the other hand, I dont like to send e-mails. I really dont think they make you look serious about what
your saying. Also because I dont like to have to rely on my computer for a responce. I would much rather trust other people, than a piece of equipment. I think the best way to contact someone is to send an email since it's fast and effective. Sadly, letter writing is going out of fashion. I think that email is really fun and it is way faster to send than a handwritten letter sent in the mail. I like letters better because you might forget your password and won't get it. It is better because with stamping a letter you hav to buy the stamps go to post office then send it off in the mail. With email you can simply type what your going to say and press send. | After: Mailing and e-mailing
This year, I added two elements to the business letter unit: 1. I shared humorous examples of business letters from Letters from a Nut. Students read the letters aloud in fluency groups. We also used these letters to research what we should do to better ensure a reply and exchange of ideas with the person to whom we would write to. 2. I provided my students with school email accounts and taught them how to send their business letters via email. My students and I were curious as to whether we would hear back more often and more quickly in an email communication or in a traditional business letter. We sent the letters at the end of October and then began to wait for responses.
I used Survey Methods to track the communication of my students. The survey results shared the following information -
More Student comments...
Depending on who the reciever is and how quick you would like a reply, I think that regular mail might be the best way. Because most people do not check their email each day but they do get their mail. They would most likely recieve regular mail first but would be more likely to answer a email because it is quick and easy and does not cost anything. Even though there are many pros and cons about this subject I personally believe that it will depend on how quickly you would like to receive a reply.
I like email better because it just a fast and easy way to do work. Writing everything down by hand just takes up more time. I would like the person who I sent my letter to thought to write my back by stamped mail though and not by email. |