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COMPUTER APPLICATIONS 8
Final Project
Mrs. Hanson
This project will integrate all the software knowledge you have acquired in middle school. You will create a variety of documents for a business that you own. You will need to select a business, a name for the business, and a location for the business in Door County, and then produce the required documents for your business. There are five businesses from which you can choose (descriptions for each business begin on page 2):
- Travel agency
- Sporting goods store
- Bookstore
- Party/Event planning
- Musical instrument store
There are three different levels you can achieve for this project: basic, proficient, and advanced. Requirements for each level are outlined below. Activity descriptions begin on page 3 of this handout.
Basic (Maximum Grade: C+)
o Activities 1-6
Proficient (Maximum Grade: B+)
o Activities 1-7
Advanced (Maximum Grade: A)
o Activities 1-8
Regardless of which level you choose, there will be deductions to your grade for both typographical and formatting errors in the documents. Ten points will be deducted from your grade for each piece of content missing. The rubric is attached at the end of this handout.
Travel Agency
A travel agency plans and books vacations for both personal and business travelers. Travel agents generally attend vocational or technical college to receive training; however, some attend a 4-year college. People in this type of job need to have a desire to travel themselves; evaluating major hotel chains, restaurants, airlines, and cruises is part of the job. If you plan on offering international travel, your customers may expect you to provide them with information regarding local customs, etiquette, and laws. Travel agents also promote travel specials put out by groups.
This business may be done from home or in an office; however, you may reduce the amount of walk-in traffic you receive if you work from home.
Sporting Goods Store, Bookstore, or Musical Instrument Store
All of these are retail businesses, so one of your main jobs would be as a salesperson. You will need to assist customers in finding merchandise and try to interest them in buying it. You should be knowledgeable about the merchandise you are selling and be able to provide customers with information about it. It also helps a great deal for you to have an interest in the merchandise yourself, as you will be trying to purchase items you think your customers will want to buy.
There are some decisions you will need to make about what type of merchandise you are selling, so before you begin your documents, decide how you are going to run your store. Will you buy and sell used items as well as new? Will you provide services such as music or sports lessons or book clubs in addition to products? Are you specializing in one area or selling general items? Will you sell online as well as in the store?
This business must be done in an office building.
Party/Event Planning
Event planners coordinate all aspects of an event for their clients. You will need to provide registration for guests, hotel accommodations, meeting rooms, entertainment, speakers, and food. Many event planners have a bachelor’s degree, although this is not always necessary. If you do not need a bachelor’s degree, you must have experience. You must also have excellent verbal and written communication skills to communicate with guests and clients.
You will need to decide what area you want to handle. You could plan parties and weddings, meetings and conventions for businesses, entertainment events (such as concerts, comedy shows, etc.), or educational events with speakers. Make this decision before you begin your documents.
This business can be done in an office or at home and will require long and irregular hours.
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009. www.bls.gov/oco.
Directions: Complete each activity as directed below. Create a folder within your Computer Applications folder called Final Project [your initials]. Unless otherwise specified in the directions, each activity should be saved with the activity number followed by your initials. For example, the first activity should be saved as Activity 1 [your initials]. Samples are given for each activity beginning on page 7.
Activity 1 – Letterhead
Design letterhead for your company in Microsoft Word. You may use Word Art, clip art, and/or a logo of your own design. The letterhead must remain inside the printable area of the page (you will get an error message if it does not). The total height of the letterhead cannot exceed 2 inches. An example of letterhead is shown on the business letter on page 7.
You must include the following:
1. Business name
2. Street address
3. City, state, and zip
4. Phone number
5. Optional elements: Fax number, email address, website
Activity 2 – Business Letter
Use the letterhead created in Activity 1. Compose a business letter introducing yourself and describing your business to the Door County Chamber of Commerce.
Guidelines:
1. There is no return address because it appears in the letterhead.
2. Use today’s date.
3. The recipient is as follows:
Phil Berndt, Membership Director
Door County Visitor’s Bureau
P.O. Box 406
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
4. Use block format and mixed punctuation. (See page 7 for sample. Do not key the spacing and margin information.)
5. The body must contain at least three paragraphs (three or more sentences each):
A. First paragraph – Introduce yourself and provide your background.
B. Second paragraph – Describe your business and location.
C. Third paragraph – Request information on how to become a member of the Door County Chamber of Commerce. Provide contact information and times you are available.
Activity 3 – Business Cards
Use Microsoft Publisher to create a page of business cards for yourself. There are predesigned templates available, or you can create your own. The business cards and letterhead should complement each other. If you designed a logo for your letterhead, you should also use it in the business cards.
You must include the following:
1. Business name
2. Your name and title
3. Street address
4. City, state, and zip
5. Phone number
6. Optional elements: Fax number, email address, website
Activity 4 - Spreadsheet with Charts
This spreadsheet will be based on a customer survey you will create with a group of 3-5. The survey must contain five multiple choice or yes/no questions about your business to help you make decisions or promote your business. You will be using the survey results in Activity 6, a PowerPoint, to promote your business, so be sure some of the questions will help to justify a need fulfilled by your business. The instructor will see that you have participants to complete your survey.
When you have received your results, enter them into a spreadsheet with each question on a separate sheet. We will create a chart for each question together in class. An example appears on page 8.
Activity 5 – Customer Database
Use Microsoft Access to create a database of customers called Customers followed by your initials. Create a table in design view using the following fields:
1. First name – Text
2. Last name – Text
3. Street address – Text
4. City – Text
5. State – Text
6. Zip – Number
7. Phone number – Text
8. Customer number (Primary key) – Text
The customer information appears on page 9. Save the table as CustomerList followed by your initials. Double-click between all column headings to adjust to their best fit. Change to landscape and change margins to .5 (File/Page Setup).
Activity 6 – PowerPoint
Use Microsoft PowerPoint to create a presentation for promoting your business. This will be a stand-alone presentation; you will not be providing additional information verbally, so all information must be contained on the slides. When finished, print the presentation as handouts, 6 per page.
You must include the following:
1. Title slide – Business name, your name and title
2. Slide 2 – Description of products/services offered
3. Slide 3 – Promotion (what makes your business stand out)
4. Slide 4 – Market survey results (brief description and insert one of your spreadsheet charts)
5. Slide 5 – Contact information (street address, phone number, fax number, email, website)
6. One slide transition applied to all slides. (Slide Show/Slide Transition)
7. Minimum of two pieces of clip art (if you created a logo, that counts as one)
8. No more than two types of animation, although they may be applied in more than one place. (Slide Show/Custom Animation)
9. One design template applied to all slides (the title slide may be different). (Format/Slide Design)
10. A footer on all slides except the title slide with the business name. (View/Header and Footer)
11. The slides should advance automatically with a 5-10 second delay. (Slide Show/Slide Transition/Advance slide/Automatically after)
Activity 7 – Map
Use the drawing toolbar in Microsoft Word to create a basic map of where your business is located. You may use Google maps or a phone book to help you map out the exact location. You may open the file that you created in Word Part 5 called Park Map to help you.
Guidelines:
1. Your building must be clearly labeled.
2. You must have the road your business is on labeled, along with at least two other roads to provide reference.
3. You must have at least three other buildings with labels.
4. You must have at least one natural landmark, like a pond, park, or creek.
Activity 8 - Flyer
Use Microsoft Publisher to create a flyer promoting your business. This can be a general flyer to inform potential customers about your business or it can be promoting a sale, such as a grand opening. You may use a template; however, any information not relevant to your business must be changed or removed. Make sure the flyer is filled in without too much white space.
Assembly
Print one copy of each activity (for Activity 4, you should have a printout of each sheet). Assemble printouts in order from lowest to highest. Staple rubric on top and hand in for grading.
522 Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 Website: www.sweetsforsweet.com
Tel. 920.746.0505/Fax 920.746.0555 Email:
January 1, 2009
QS
Phil Berndt, Membership Director
Door County Visitor’s Bureau
P.O. Box 406
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
DS
Dear Mr. Berndt:
DS
I would like to introduce myself and my store to you as we are new in the area. As a business owner, I am just starting this new venture, but I have three years of experience in candy-making and retail sales. I also have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Candyland University.
DS
Sweets for the Sweet is located on the west side of Sturgeon Bay and offers handmade candies, cakes, pies, and other desserts. We offer individual desserts and in-store seating for those customers who would like to enjoy a treat in the store as well as whole desserts that can be boxed and taken home for a special occasion. Our extensive candy collection includes hand-dipped chocolates, fudge, caramel apples, and many other confections. We also take mail orders.
DS
If possible, I would like to receive information on how to join the Door County Chamber of Commerce. Could you contact me with this information? My address, phone number, and email appear at the top of this letter. I am available Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
DS
Sincerely,
QS
Ms. Candy Koting
Store Owner
Activity 4 Example
Survey Question:
- What is your favorite type of candy?
- Chocolates
- Caramels
- Hard candy
- Specialty flavors, such as fruit, nut, or mint
Activity 5 Information
Tad / Brown / 110 Quincy Street / Sturgeon Bay / WI / 54235 / 920.743.5138 / 1
Zach / Lennox / 220 Stone Road / Brussels / WI / 54204 / 920.825.4601 / 2
Heidi / Carlisle / 330 Louisiana Street / Sturgeon Bay / WI / 54235 / 920.746.9813 / 3
Ben / Smithers / 440 Nebraska Street / Sturgeon Bay / WI / 54235 / 920.746.3476 / 4
Carly / Westerfield / 550 Kentucky Street / Sturgeon Bay / WI / 54235 / 920.743.4564 / 5
Shirley / Thomas / 660 Thomas Drive / Brussels / WI / 54204 / 920.825.7891 / 6
Chad / Hendricks / 770 Fifth Place / Brussels / WI / 54204 / 920.825.4865 / 7
Allison / White / 880 Bay Road / Egg Harbor / WI / 54209 / 920.823.3224 / 8
Jane / Anderson / 990 State Street / Sturgeon Bay / WI / 54235 / 920.743.7863 / 9
Brett / Foster / 1010 Wisteria Lane / Egg Harbor / WI / 54209 / 920.823.2760 / 10
Your / Name / Your address / Your city / WI / Your zip / Your phone / 11