{"id":144,"date":"2017-08-09T15:45:31","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T15:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/atd-clinton-technicalwriting\/?post_type=chapter&p=144"},"modified":"2017-08-09T15:45:31","modified_gmt":"2017-08-09T15:45:31","slug":"instructions-for-letter-of-inquiry","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/atd-clinton-technicalwriting\/chapter\/instructions-for-letter-of-inquiry\/","title":{"raw":"Instructions for Letter of Inquiry","rendered":"Instructions for Letter of Inquiry"},"content":{"raw":"Write a letter asking for information about a product or service or program related to one of your organizations or your personal needs. Don't write a letter of complaint. You're asking for help\/information.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe information must not be readily available in an advertisement or brochure. In other words, you are going to be asking your reader to do some leg work (remember our bad-news formula). You are going to have to convince him\/her that replying to you is worth the effort.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nConsider the following guidelines when designing your letter:\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n*Express your needs with specific questions.\r\n\r\n*Use a tabulated format and bullets.\r\n\r\n*Follow the bad-news formula.\r\n\r\n*Keep your\u00a0reader<\/b>\u00a0and your\u00a0purpose<\/b>\u00a0in mind.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nFollow this outline:\r\n\r\n \r\n

Introduction:<\/b><\/h2>\r\nIntroduce yourself (NOT \"my name is...\").\r\n\r\nTell why you are writing, what your plans are.\r\n\r\n \r\n

Body of letter:<\/b><\/h2>\r\nExplain what you want the reader to do.\r\n\r\nOffer an incentive, if possible.\r\n\r\nWrite a question for each kind of info you need.\r\n\r\nUse good indenting and spacing.\r\n\r\n \r\n

Conclusion:<\/b><\/h2>\r\nBe politely specific about when you want the info.\r\n\r\nExpress your appreciation.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe following student paper may be beneficial to you. Your book also describes different kinds of block format. Be consistent with which kind you choose.\r\n\r\n \r\n
86 Needham Hall<\/div>\r\n
Southern Polytechnic Institute<\/div>\r\n
Bailey Springs, MS\u00a039320<\/div>\r\n
March 14, 2003<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
Mr. Robert Bradley<\/div>\r\n
Vice President of Personnel<\/div>\r\n
Ace South Transport, Inc.<\/div>\r\n
100 By-Pass I-440<\/div>\r\n
Memphis, TN\u00a031111<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
Dear Mr. Bradley:<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
As an industrial technology student at Southern Polytechnic Institute, I am writing a paper for one of my courses on how firms such as yours screen recent graduates of college programs for employment.<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
I have done considerable library work on the subject, but I want to augment my reading with information collected from some of the larger industrial firms in the tri-state area.\u00a0The results of my study will be shared with my classmates.\u00a0I would also be happy to send a copy to you.<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
Would you please spend a few minutes answering the following questions about the way your firm screens potential employees:<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n