Business Letter

Step 1: Choose Who to Write To

• Think about people or organizations who could help answer your questions.

Step 2: Brainstorm Questions

• Write down all the questions you want to ask.
  
  

Step 3: Plan Your Letter

• Decide the order of your questions.

• Think about a polite introduction and closing.

• Decide what information you need to include about yourself or your class.
  
  

Step 4: Write the Greeting

• Start with “Dear [Name or Organization],”
  
  

Step 5: Write the Body

• Introduce yourself and explain why you are writing.

• Ask your questions clearly and politely.

• Use complete sentences and organize your questions so they are easy to read.
  
  

Step 6: Write the Closing

• End politely with phrases like:

  • “Thank you for your help,”

  • “Sincerely,”

• Sign your name below the closing.
  
  

Step 7: Review and Edit

• Check for correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

• Make sure your questions are clear and polite.

• Ensure the letter looks neat and organized.

• Write to a historical society to ask what people needed to know and what it was like to travel west in the 1850s. 

• Write to the manager of the “Prairie Star Wagon Company” asking for information about joining a wagon train heading west in 1850

• Write to the owner of “Smith & Co. General Store” in Independence, Missouri, to ask what supplies you need and how much they cost for your trip west in 1850.

• Write to the U.S. Land Office to find out how to claim land in the Oregon Territory in 1850

Historical Society

• What supplies did people need to bring when traveling west in the 1850s?

• How long did the journey usually take?

• What dangers or challenges did travelers face on the trail?

• What advice would you give someone planning to travel west back then?

• Did travelers use maps or guides, and how did they find their way?

Prairie Star Wagon Company

• What dangers might we face along the trail?

• How long does the trip usually take?

• What will we eat, and where will we sleep during the journey?

• How many people usually travel together on the trail?

Smith & Co. General Store

• How much food and water should we bring?

• What wagon tools should we take with us?

• How much does __________ cost?

• What maps or guidebooks do you sell that could be helpful for our journey?

U.S. Land Office

• How do I apply for land?

• How much does it cost?

Missouri State Historical Society
789 Pioneer Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Prairie Star Wagon Company

1500 Prairie Star Drive

Plainsboro, KS 67045

Smith & Co. General Store

215 Main Street

Independence, MO 64050

U.S. Land Office

200 Farnam Street

Omaha, NE 68102

Scroll the letter down to find out what each part of the letter is called. 

Scroll the letter down to find out what each part of the letter is called.