COURSE: / Entrepreneurship I / UNIT A / Entrepreneurship Foundations
ESSENTIAL STANDARD: / 1.00 / B2 / 8% / Understand economics, career planning, information management, and communication skills.
OBJECTIVE: / 1.04 / B2 / Write internal and external business correspondence to convey and obtain information effectively
Essential Questions:
  • What is an inquiry?
  • When are inquiries written by a business?
  • What is the importance of writing inquiries?
  • What is the procedure for writing inquiries?

UNPACKED CONTENT
Competency 1.04
  1. Definition for inquiries
  2. examination into facts or principles:research
  3. a request for information
  4. a systematic investigation often of a matter of public interest
  1. Occasions when inquiries are written
  1. To ask for more information concerning a product, service or other information about a product or service that interests us.
  2. Letters are often written in response to an advertisement that we have seen in the paper, a magazine, a commercial on television when we are interested in purchasing a product, but would like more information before making a decision.
  1. Types of Inquiries
  1. Solicited - when a business or agency advertises its products or services
  2. Unsolicited - if the recipient has done nothing to prompt your inquiry
  1. Procedures for writing inquiries
  1. Early in the letter, identify your purpose for help or information
  2. In an unsolicited letter, identify who you are, what you are working on, and why you need the requested information, and how you found out about the individual. In an unsolicited letter, also identify the source that prompted your inquiry, for example, a magazine advertisement.
  3. Early in the letter, identify your purpose for help or information
  4. In an unsolicited letter, identify who you are, what you are working on, and why you need the requested information, and how you found out about the individual. In an unsolicited letter, also identify the source that prompted your inquiry, for example, a magazine advertisement.

OBJECTIVE: / 1.04 / B2 / Write internal and external business correspondence to convey and obtain information effectively
UNPACKED CONTENT
  1. Definition of Inquiries
  2. examination into facts or principles:research
  3. a request for information
  4. a systematic investigation often of a matter of public interest
  1. Occasions when inquiries are written
•To ask for more information concerning a product, service or other information about a product or service that interests us.
•Letters are often written in response to an advertisement that we have seen in the paper, a magazine, a commercial on television when we are interested in purchasing a product, but would like more information before making a decision.
  1. Types of inquiries
•Solicited - when a business or agency advertises its products or services
•Unsolicited - if the recipient has done nothing to prompt your inquiry
  1. Procedure for writing inquiry
•Early in the letter, identify your purpose for help or information
•In an unsolicited letter, identify who you are, what you are working on, and why you need the requested information, and how you found out about the individual. In an unsolicited letter, also identify the source that prompted your inquiry, for example, a magazine advertisement.
•List questions or information needed in a clear, specific, and easy-to-read format
•In an unsolicited letter, find some way to compensate the recipient for the trouble, i.e. acknowledge the recipient in your report, or send him or her a copy of your report.
•In closing an unsolicited letter, express gratitude for any help that the recipient can provide. In an unsolicited letter, tactfully suggest to the recipient how they will benefit by helping you (for example, through future purchases from the recipient's company).
•Don’t forgot to set up your letter in standard format with date, greeting, closing, and contact information
OBJECTIVE: / 1.04 / B2 / Write internal and external business correspondence to convey and obtain information effectively
INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES / RELEVANCY TO OBJECTIVE
  1. Present the Competency 1.04 Power Point and have students take notes a student developed graphic organizer or using notes software

  1. Have students create a business letter requesting the services of a local attorney, accountant or insurance agent for their business. They must identify the type of business and its location.

  1. Write one (1) solicited and one (1) unsolicited letter to one, each of the sources identified in Indicator 1.03. Use word processing software to complete your letter. Share your letter with a classmate to obtain feedback and to have your letter proofread.
  2. SCORE – local chapter
  3. SBA
  4. SBDC
  5. Chamber of Commerce – local
  6. Minority Business Development Centers (MBDC)

  1. Create an email requesting information from one of the online startup business organizations. Appendix A

OBJECTIVE: / 1.04 / B2 / Write internal and external business correspondence to convey and obtain information effectively
REFERENCES / WEBSITES
Textbook References:
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management – Kathleen Allen and Earl Meyer; Glencoe Publishing; 2006 Edition
Supplemental Resources: /







Objective 1.04

Appendix of

Instructional Support Materials

1.04 Supplies

Supplies Needed / Where Supplies Are Used
Activity / Related Appendix/ Lesson
  • Flip Chart or Whiteboard
/ 1
  • Markers
/ 1
  • Examples of Business Letters
/ 1

8716 Entrepreneurship I Unit A: Entrepreneurship Foundations Summer 2012, Page 1

Appendix #A – Email to Online Organizations

Using the following list of online business start-up organizations, create an email inquiry for information for your start-up business. Please include the following:

  1. type of business you would like to start
  2. the need for the online venture
  3. what technology knowledge or needs are required

Have students review each other’s email inquiry for grammar and completeness.

Online Organizations

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

Appendix #2

Business Concept Statement

Identify a problem in your community that might be solved through a business you create. Develop a business concept statement for a product or service to solve the problem. Include:

•The product or service

•The customer

•The benefit you are providing

•The delivery method

Appendix #3

Agency Research Assignments

In groups, research one of the following agencies. Find out about assistance available to entrepreneurs developing businesses. Create a poster and share your findings with the class in a brief presentation.

•SCORE – local chapter

•SBA

•SBDC

•Chamber of Commerce – local

•Minority Business Development Centers (MBDC)

8716 Entrepreneurship I Unit A: Entrepreneurship Foundations Summer 2012, Page 1