Stationary WEB TASK

Microsoft has a number of templates (models) that you can open in Word and modify.

Click on the link (underlined blue letters) below to go to the Microsoft Template Gallery. When the page opens, follow the instructions below.

[-->>NOTE: to go back and forth between two documents on your PC (computer), hold the ALT key on your keyboard and press the TAB key. Practice going between two documents that you have opened on your machine.]

http://search.officeupdate.microsoft.com/TemplateGallery/

When the Template page opens, click on "Stationery, Labels, and Cards." Then click on Letterhead and Envelopes. We are going to select the selection below:

Letterhead with blue theme and matching size 10 envelope (4 1/8 x 9 1/2 in).
Category: Stationery, Labels, and Cards : Letterhead and Envelopes
Provided by: Microsoft Corporation

When that selection opens, you will be able to see what the stationery and envelope will look like. See the image below.

Click on the words "EDIT IN MICROSOFT WORD."

The template will open in your Word program. That way, you can change it and save it to use again.

Go to FILE -> Save As. In the box that opens, select Document Template from the "Save as type" window.

Now your stationery and envelope are saved on your computer.

Now you are ready to make the template your own. As you make the changes, save your work often. To save, click on FILE -->>Save. Your work will be saved in the the Template Folder automatically.

Remember that you are now working on your computer, in Word. You are no longer on the Internet.

-->> NOTE: If you still see a window that gives you choices for New Documents, close it by clicking on the "X" at the top right-hand corner of the small window. Be careful - DO NOT close the Red X at the top of the program. If you do, open Word again, click on "New," select General Templates, and click on the the template you just saved, "Letterhead with blue theme."

If all else fails, and you are lost, click on the icon (image) on the right to open the template in Word.

When the template opens, save it. Use the instructions above.

Now you are ready to make changes and personalize your stationery.

The first part of the document shows you an envelope. You will print that envelope later.

Where you see the options for address (like those on the right), you will change them to your name and address.

To change the information, click your left mouse button to the right of each line. Hold the button down and drag it across the line you want to change.

When the line is selected in will be darkened: YOUR NAME

Simply type in your name. Follow the same procedure with all of the other lines at the top of the envelope. If you are ready to send a letter, you will also fill in the name of the receiver as well.

YOUR NAME

Street Address

Address 2

City, ST ZIP Code

Go to the stationery (letter) section. Read all of the instructions that are there. If you don't understand some of the words or sentence, ASK FOR HELP. It is the smart thing to do!

If you want to remember the instructions, print a copy of the document before you make changes to it.

The top part of the stationery has a few shaded lines. You will not fill in those areas until you are ready to write your letter. At that time, you will click in the shaded area and insert the receiver's information there. The date is inserted automatically.

You will simply click on each shaded line and insert your information. (You won't need to darken each line as you did above. The template has done that for you already!)

Don't worry about changing "Dear" and "Sincerely." Those will always be the same in your letters. You know, like "Dear John, you treated me wrong, so I'm leaving you. Sincerely, Susie." or "Dear Mrs. Smith, you've won a million dollars! Sincerely, Scam Artist."

As you look at your document, you'll notice two areas that you can't change just by clicking it them. They are called "headers" (top) and "footers" (bottom).

When you fill in the information in those areas, that text will be repeated in every page of the document. For example, if your letter has three pages, that information will be repeated on every page.

To insert your information in the header or footer, select "VIEW -> Header and Footer.

NOTE: If you don't see that selection, click the chevron sign to see more options under "VIEW." Notice the arrows on the right.

A dotted line will appear around the header. Click on the text and insert your name. If you have trouble, ask for help or try again. (You can also double-click very fast on the header or footer to open each. To close them, double-click outside of the area.)

To open the footer, follow the same procedure (VIEW -> Header and Footer). When both areas are complete, click on View --> Header and Footer to return to the body of the letter.

If Susie Cusie were creating her stationery, the footer would look like the image below.

You now have your own stationery, and you are ready to make some changes.

Start by deleting all of the text that you don't want. (Remember to leave the dark highlighted areas that you changed before. Also leave the "Dear" and "Sincerely" text, which will be part of your template.)

Place your cursor (I) (click the left mouse button at the beginning or end of the text you want to delete. Drag the mouse across the text (highlight), and press the delete button. If you don't get all of the text you wanted, repeat the process.

If you make a mistake, simple click on the back arrow on the task bar and start over. That is the "UNDO" option. To undo a mistake, you can also hold the "Control" key and press the letter "Z" on your keyboard.

Remember that practice is the key to learning a skill. The more mistakes you correct, the better you will learn the skill!

Now you are ready to insert a letter. Copy the words in the model letter. Click on arrow to open the letter in your Acrobat Reader (PDF) Application. (If you don't have a free copy of Acrobat Reader, ask for help to download it.)

MODEL LETTER IN PDF

If you have difficulty typing the letter, click on the arrow below and the letter will open in your Word Program. You will need to change the header and footer to your own information before making other changes.

MODEL LETTER IN WORD

NOTE: If you are not familiar with Word, complete the "Word Title Task" before continuing. Follow the arrow to that Task.

Word Title Task

We are now going to change the margins (spaces on the sides and top/bottom of your stationery.

Click in the letter that you have just finished.

Go to FILE -> Page Setup

A window will appear showing the present margin settings for the top, bottom, and left and right margins.

Click inside each little box (or use the arrows to increase the numbers.) Change all of the margins to 1, or to one inch on every option.

Click on the arrow to see what your stationery should look like now. (You will need to adjust the "Date" line since the changes raised the line too far. Simply click at the beginning of the "Date" line and press ENTER until you feel it looks like the model. The footer may also need to be adjusted. Play with delete key and space bar until things look right.)

Print your letter and place it in your folder or portfolio with all of the final changes.

After you print your project, delete all of the text that you entered into the letter (Leave the parts that are shaded.) Make sure that your last "SAVE" is saved as a template so that you can use it over and over again.

You may need permission to save your work on the computer. Ask before you finish the project.

Now go the the RUBRICS page and evaluate yourself! When you finish, save your work.