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Dear Mr. Santa Claus:
A WebQuest for Keyboarding
Designed by
Jennifer
Holman
and
Stephanie
Spencer
Introduction
| Task | Process | Evaluation
| Conclusion | Credits
Introduction
Assume the role of a fictional
character (anyone of your choice). Characters can include Little
Bo Peep, Wilbur from
Charlotte's Web, Tom Sawyer, Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer, etc. Write a personal business letter to
Santa Claus requesting gifts appropriate for the chosen character. Please
make sure to request gifts for two other characters as well.
Remember to check your spelling
and grammar usage so Santa won't think you have been naughty!

The Task
Modeling the block
style business letter format, students will write letters that will
be sent via the Internet to Santa Claus. All gift requests must be
based on the personalities of the characters you are role-playing.
Your letter must include the
following:
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Proper block letter formatting,
including acceptable margins, spacing, and indentations.
-
Suitable gift requests for the
fictional character you are role-playing.
-
Appropriate gift requests for
two of your fictional friends.
Upon completion of the letter,
it will be sent to Santa Claus. Santa should respond to your letter
in two to three days.

The Process
In this lesson we will obtain
additional practice in the block style of personal business letter.
We will demonstrate the correct block style formatting structure. Remember
that Santa will be reading these letters, so make sure to use correct grammar.
Also make sure to convince Santa that the characters you chose need these
gifts.
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Determine the fictional character
you would like to role play for this assignment. If you are having
trouble deciding on a character, feel free to review some of your favorite
nursery
rhymes.
-
Begin composing your letter addressed
to Santa Claus, using the block style format. You will need to create
addresses for both your character and Santa Claus.
-
For better organization you can
use a web, graph or flow chart to help gather your thoughts.
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The letter should be at least one
page in length, but no longer than two.
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The letter should contain correct
spacing, indentations, grammar, and punctuation.
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Upon completion, the letter should
be printed out, and then turned in to be graded. In addition, the
letter should be forwarded to Santa Claus at the North Pole using the following
link:
Click on the elf to send your letter to Santa!
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Be sure to look for a response
from Santa by using the above link, in two or three days.
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Print out the letter Santa sends
you and turn it in as well.
-
Just for fun, if you complete your
assignment before the end of class, please e-mail a Holiday
Card to one of your friends in the class.
-
Finally, after you have successfully
completed all of the parts of your assignment, feel free to play some online
Seasonal
Games.
Happy Holidays!

Evaluation
Criteria
|
Wt.
|
Score
|
Commendable
(+3)
|
Acceptable (+2)
|
Needs Improvement (+1)
|
Work Ethic
|
1
|
|
Used class
time to maximum efficiency
|
Used class
time effectively
|
Did not use
class time wisely
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Deadline
|
1
|
|
Handed in
on time
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Handed in on time = +3 points
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Handed in
late
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Format
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3
|
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Proper Block
Style Formatting was used; appropriate margins; appropriate spacing between
parts of the letter
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Used Modified Block or Simplified
Style; appropriate margins; appropriate spacing between parts of the letter
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No consistent
format used; inappropriate margins; inappropriate spacing between parts
of the letter
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Content
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2
|
|
Provided creative,
appropriate gift requests for your character; included creative, appropriate
gift requests for two other fictional characters
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Provided creative, appropriate gift
requests for your character; included creative, appropriate gift requests
for one other fictional character
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Included appropriate
gift requests for your character
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Grammar
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1
|
|
No errors
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One or more
minor errors
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One or major
errors
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Proofreading
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2
|
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No errors
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One or more
minor errors
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One or more
major errors
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Total
30 pts.
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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A+ = 30
A = 28 - 29
A- = 27 |
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B+ = 26
B = 24 - 25
B- = 23 |
C+ = 22
C = 20 - 21
C- = 19 |
D+ = 18
D = 16 - 17
D- = 15 |
Conclusion
In this lesson we have reviewed
and obtained additional practice in the block style of business letter
by composing a letter to Santa Claus. Santa also should have replied
back to your letter. We have also spread some Holiday Cheer by sending
a friend an e-Card and by playing some fun Holiday computer games online.
Have a happy holiday season!

Credits & References
WebQuest graphics were provided
by :
www.christmas-graphics.com
Thanks to www.learnnc.org
for
providing so many interesting lesson plan ideas.
Thanks also to the following
websites that are an integral part of our WebQuest:
The
Mother Goose Pages
The
Writer's Handbook
www.northpole.com
www.hallmark.com
www.freechristmasgames.com
Last updated on August
15, 1999. Based on a template
from The WebQuest
Page
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