Email Excellence: Crafting Professional Communications with AI
Lana T
Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to equip 9th-grade students with the skills needed to write professional emails, enhancing their communication abilities for future apprenticeship opportunities. Through a series of interactive and collaborative activities, students will learn about professional email etiquette, practice drafting emails, and utilize AI tools to refine their writing. The lesson will also involve peer review and reflection sessions to foster constructive feedback and personal growth. By the end of the lesson, students will have developed a polished email to their Dream Teams, showcasing their understanding of professionalism in formal writing.
Learning goals
In this lesson, students will learn the fundamentals of professional email etiquette, including the use of appropriate salutations, closings, and tone. They will explore how AI tools can assist in refining their writing, enhancing clarity, tone, and grammar. Through hands-on activities, students will draft professional emails, engage in peer review sessions, and collaborate in small groups to refine their work. The lesson aims to develop students' communication skills, goal-setting abilities, and understanding of professionalism in writing, preparing them for future apprenticeship opportunities.
Standards
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.5: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Week 1
Day 1
Activities
In this opening activity, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of professional email etiquette. The instructor will present key components such as appropriate salutations, closings, tone, and structure of a professional email. The purpose is to establish a foundational understanding of professionalism in communication, which will be essential for the subsequent activities. (15 minutes)
Students will explore various AI tools that assist in writing and refining emails. The instructor will demonstrate how these tools can enhance clarity, tone, and grammar. Students will engage hands-on with an AI tool, experimenting with drafting short email samples to see firsthand how technology can support their writing process. (20 minutes)
Students will work independently to draft a professional email to their Dream Teams, incorporating the email etiquette principles discussed earlier. The focus will be on developing a coherent message with a clear purpose and appropriate tone. This activity aims to encourage students to apply their learning in a practical context, preparing them for real-world scenarios. (25 minutes)
In pairs, students will exchange their draft emails and provide constructive feedback. They will use a checklist based on the key elements of professional email writing to assess their peer's work. This collaborative activity is designed to help students refine their drafts through critical evaluation and to practice giving and receiving feedback. (20 minutes)
Students will reflect on the feedback received and revise their emails accordingly. They will focus on improving areas highlighted by their peers and ensure their emails meet professional standards. This reflection process aims to foster personal growth and reinforce the importance of continuous improvement in communication skills. (15 minutes)
In the final activity, students will voluntarily share their revised emails with the class, discussing the changes they made and the feedback they found most helpful. The instructor will highlight key takeaways from the lesson, emphasizing the importance of professionalism in writing. This will reinforce the skills learned and celebrate student progress. (10 minutes)
