Vincent Massey Desktop Publishing 8

You have to decide if you are going to offer a product (e.g. selling computers or cars, a service (e.g. creating home pages for companies or mowing lawns) or a combination of both (e.g. selling companies a computer and creating home pages for them).
You then need to decide if you are going to be associated with a business that makes a profit (tries to make money), is a public institution/Government (college, public school, government agency) or be is a non-profit/charitable company (e.g. Red Cross, Salvation Army).
Finally, you have to decide your position in the business. Will you be self-employed (small business that you run out of your home or a small office), hold a specific position (secretary, sales, marketing manager), or be the president or owner of a company. Remember, the lower you are in a company, the less money you make, but you have fewer decisions and responsibilities.

Copy this chart into a Word document and fill in the appropriate areas:

Make your decisions and fill in the boxes that apply to your decisions with specific names (e.g. If you are going to sell computers for profit, write your business name and products in the box under Product across from Profit. If you are going to sell computers but not make money, write the same information under product but next to Non-Profit/Charitable. If you are doing this from your small business write you job title in the box under Self-Employed.)

Task 2 : Design a Business Card

You are to design a business card. You may do this using a pre-made business card program at home or develop your own using AppleWorks Draw or Microsoft Word.

A Business Card requires:

Name (First and Last)
A slogan, promotional phrase or sentence to indicate the type of business.
Business phone number (fictional)
Business address (school address)
A graphic or logo ( this would be a good time to design a logo)
Cell phone or fax number (fictional)

Examples:

Organize your page so that you can fit 8 to 10 of the business cards on one 8*11 page. This will require using the smallest text size possible. You may use your own picture if you wish.

Use a separate text box for each new object so that you have lots of flexibility in positioning the text and graphics on a page.

Remember the Duplicate feature. You can group all the objects in a box by holding down the shift key and clicking on each object. Use the Arrange and Group feature to group all objects and duplicate and move into a new area of the page. Don't reinvent each card.

If you have difficulty inserting a graphic or arranging the business cards and information - ASK your teacher!

Task 3 : Design a Letterhead

The information that you had for a business card should also go at the top of a letter - known as a letterhead.

Find the "header" feature in the word processor that you are using.

Format the business card information so that it fits neatly on the top 1 to 1 half inch at the top of a page.

Task 4 : Writing a Business Letter

Using the letterhead that you have created, write a business letter to a company that you have found in the Yellow Pages. Remember to be professional and courteous. The content of the letter will depend on what your business is trying to accomplish. The type of letter could be:
- Cover letter of Application for a position
- Letter of Recommendation or Introduction
- Letter of Inquiry (seeking information, clarification, business opportunity
- Letter of Commendation
- Letter of Complaint
- Letter of Negotiation
- Letter of Confirmation
Parts of a business letter:

Letterhead with Business name, address, phone etc.
Inside Address - address of person/business you are sending the letter to
Salutation: Dear. Mr./Mrs./Ms ........
Body
Closing - Sincerely,
Signature - Leave spaces for your written signature but also type in your name.

Tone of a Business Letter: Business letters really have 2 purposes. First, you want to accomplish your immediate purpose, such as making a sale, or asking for information. Secondly, you want to create a positive impression of yourself and your organization. Keep these points in mind as you write:
- Do not anger or insult your reader
- Do not use unsuitable humour
- Do not become too familiar
- Do not make threatening statements
- Be diplomatic
- Put yourself in the reader's position
- Remember you are a professional, so present yourself in a positive manner.

Checklist for Letter of Application (as an example of content)

Form	Does the letter have all six parts?
	Are all parts aligned in either traditional or block form with even margins?
Content	Paragraph One: Does it specifically state the position for which you are applying?
	Does it avoid using the pronoun "I" to begin each sentence?
	Does it state where you learned the position or how you came to apply at this time?
	Paragraph Two/Three : Does the paragraph emphasize what you can do for the employer? Is this expressed in positive language and in a formal tone?
	Does the paragraph specifically state the training, experience, and special knowledge you have?
	Do the character traits of the writer (punctuality, reliability, etc.) relate directly to the job?
	Paragraph Three/Four : (see above) Have you given specific information about dates available, telephone numbers, and supplying references?
Style/Quality	Are all abbreviations, titles, etc. correctly capitalized and punctuated?
	Are all words spelled correctly?
	Are there spaces between the six parts of the letter?
	Do all parts of the letter conform to standard rules of English and business usage?
	Is the letter neatly typed without any typing or spelling errors?
	Is the letter neatly signed in blue or black ink?

Task 5: Making an Advertisement Sign

Design a sign (one page) either in landscape or portrait orientation that will help to promote your business.
Use your logo or graphic
Make sure you have the company name, contact information, a slogan and information about what the company can do for the consumer.

Task 6 : Making a Advertisement Brochure

You are to create a tri-fold brochure that will advertise your business.

Steps to do this in AppleWorks or Microsoft Word

Open Word Processing
Use File and Page Setup to change the page orientation.
Use the column box to set to 3 columns
Set the margins to .25 by using Format, Document

Arrange Company Name, a logo or graphic and contact on outside page.
[ In AppleWorks, to have the text move to that area of the page, draw a text box by holding down the Apple and Control keys while draging the cursor to make a box]
On the Inside page, use a graphic and bullets to indicate 6 or more reasons why the company can help the customer.

HINT: In AppleWorks, use the Control/Alt keys together to move the cursor from column to column: this makes a new text block. Separate pieces of information should go into separate text blocks to make it easier ot move them around.

Fill the inside 3 columns with information and graphics that will fully advertise what your company can do for the consumer. Be creative and interesting in your design. Make sure you have a good balance of text, graphics and white spcace.

Name all files and drop into the teacher's drop box.

Modified from ClarisWorkshop for Students, 1997, Visions Technology in Education