Writing an Inquiry Business Letter for ESL Students

When you want to ask a business for more information concerning a product or service or for other information, you write an inquiry letter. When written by consumers, these types of letters are often in response to an advertisement seen in a newspaper, magazine, or commercial on television. They can be written and mailed or emailed. In a business-to-business setting, a companys employees can write inquiries to ask the same types of questions about products and services. For example, a company representative may want information on buying products wholesale from a distributor, or a growing small business may need to outsource its bookkeeping and payroll and want to contract with a firm. For further types of business letters, you can find examples of  different types of business letters to refine your skills for specific business purposes, such as making inquiries, adjusting claims, writing cover letters, and more. Hard-Copy Letters For professional-looking hard-copy letters, place your or your companys address at the top of the letter (or use your companys letterhead stationery) followed by the address of the company you are writing to. The date can either be placed double-spaced down (hit return/enter twice) or to the right. If you use a style that has the date on the right, indent your paragraphs and do not put a line of space between them. If you keep everything flush to the left, dont indent paragraphs, and put a space between them. Leave a line of space before your closing, and four to six lines of space for you to have room to hand-sign the letter. Emailed Inquiries If you use email, its easier on the readers eyes to have paragraphs with a line of space between them, so flush everything left. The email will automatically have the date of when it was sent, so you do not need to add the date, and youll need only one line of blank space between your closing and your typed name. Place your company contact information (such as your  telephone extension so someone can get back to you easily) at the bottom after your name.   Its easy to be too casual with email. If you want to appear professional to the business youre writing to, stick with the rules and tone of formal letter writing for the best results, and proofread your letter before sending it out. Its so easy to dash out an email, hit Send right away, and then discover a mistake upon rereading. Correct errors before sending to make a better first impression. Important Language for a Business Inquiry Letter The start: Dear Sir or Madam or To Whom It May Concern (very formal, used when you do not know the person to whom you are writing). If you know your contact already, thats better than being anonymous.Giving reference: With reference to your advertisement (ad) in... or Regarding your advertisement (ad) in...  Give the company context to why youre writing, right away.Requesting a catalog, brochure, etc.: After the reference, add a comma and continue could you please send me information on...Requesting further information: If you have more that youre seeking, add, I would also like to know... or Could you tell me whether...Summary call to action: I look forward to hearing from you... or Could you please give me a call between the hours of...Closing:  Use Sincerely or Yours faithfully to close.Signature: Add your title on the line following your name. An Example Hard-Copy Letter Your NameYour Street AddressCity, ST Zip Business NameBusiness AddressCity, ST Zip September 12, 2017 To Whom It May Concern: With reference to your advertisement in yesterdays New York Times, could you please send me a copy of your latest catalog? Is it also available online? I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, (Signature) Your Name Your Job TitleYour Company Name

Fannie Mae Fannie Freddie Mortgage Finance System

Fannie and Freddie remain two of the largest financial institutions in the world, responsible for a combined $5 trillion in mortgage assets. The primary function of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is to provide liquidity to the nation’s mortgage finance system. Fannie and Freddie purchase home loans made by private firms (provided the loans meet strict size, credit, and underwriting standards), package those loans into mortgage-backed securities, and guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on those securities to outside investors. Fannie and Freddie also hold some home loans and mortgage securities in their own investment portfolios. In 2008 Fannie and Freddie lost a combined $47 billion in their single-family mortgage businesses, forcing the companies to dig deep into their capital reserves. By late summer in 2008—about a year after the start of the housing crisis—Wall Street firms had all but abandoned the U.S. mortgage market, while pension funds and other major investors throughout the world continued to hold large amounts of Fannie and Freddie securities. After the housing market collapsed, Fannie and Freddie needed a $200 billion bailout. If Fannie and Freddie were allowed to fail, experts agreed that the housing market would collapse even further, paralyzing the entire financial system. The Bush administration in September 2008 responded by placing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into government conservatorship, where they remain today. The improved finances atShow MoreRelatedThe Subprime Crisis Of 2007 / 20081467 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The subprime mortgage crisis, often referred to as the housing crisis of 2007/2008, was a major economic downturn in the United States with a wide reach, negatively effecting individuals, institutions, and foreign countries. The crisis was sparked from lax lending standards, government interference in a public market, and extremely speculative behavior. More specifically, after examining research from a wide variety of research from several credible sources, it is obvious that U.SRead MoreMarket Crisis And Its Effects On The Housing Market1460 Words   |  6 PagesAs a result, many homeowners began defaulting on their mortgages causing huge problems for those involved in the mortgage securitization market. On September 7th, 2008 when the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) place both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under government conservatorship. In addition, the US Department of Treasury agreed to inject up to $100 million into each GSE in order to provide liquidity and to continue purchasing mortgage-backed securities in the market. This would slow the USRead MoreSubprime Mortgages And The Mortgage Crisis1546 Words   |  7 Pages Mortgage securities are crucial when it comes to the availability and cost of housing in the United States. This paper will analyze the mortgage securities market, and how the market functions. It will also focus on the subprime mortgages created from 2000 to 2006. Suggestions will be presented that would protect against the types of problems experienced in the mortgage securities market from 2006 through 2009. Mortgage securities are considered an ownership interest in mortgage loans madeRead MoreAn Asset Price Bubble1286 Words   |  6 Pagesproponents of Behavioural Finance supported the second view by agreeing that psychological factors such as â€Å"irrational exuberance† made â€Å"bubbles† exist. The final view by the Austrian school explained that bubbles include real and psychological changes caused by manipulations of monetary policy. Besides that, there are other important contributors that need to be carefully considered when examining the house price â€Å"bubbles† that struck US. 1.1 The Federal Reserve System (the Fed) with the interestRead MoreEssay on Subprime Lending1808 Words   |  8 Pageswith these loans were large balloon payments and short maturities. The pricing for mortgage loans varied widely due to no nationwide housing market. The main funding for these loans was provided by life insurers, thrifts, and commercial banks. By 1932, a housing crisis was wreaking havoc on home loans. The estimated defaulted loans were rising to twenty –five percent. In response to this crisis, the FHL Bank System was designed to provide relief to lending institutions and homeowners. In 1933, PresidentRead MoreFannie Mae2047 Words   |  9 PagesPhilosophy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 Corporate Growth and Diversity.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...7 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 Figure Chart 1†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 Fannie Mae Fannie Mae is a leading mortgage company and one of the most financially successful businesses within its industry. Given the salient features of the organization that has culminated into its current standing, this report offers a brief but concise overview ofRead MoreThe Real Estate Bubble Crisis1597 Words   |  7 Pagesprices in 2008, brought on by a surge in foreclosures, and an increasing inventory of housing.1 Foreclosure increases came from an unprecedented rise in mortgages called, subprime mortgages. These risky subprime mortgages, and the cottage industry within the financial sector that profited from them, created an overly leveraged and over exposed finance industry that created a massive recession when the bubble popped. In this essay, we will look into the many causes that created the bubble and the overRead MoreCorporate Credit And Risk Management842 Words   |  4 Pagesestate market collapsed, and then the financial system, due to a few underlying circumstances. Many people bought homes that were priced well beyond their means. They were able to do so because several mortgage lending companies enabled them with a wink and a nudge via various types of disreputable loans, such as â€Å"liar loans.† A liar loan is officially known as a â€Å"stated income loan,† meaning that the mortgage company didn’t verify the borrower’s finances. There are also â€Å"NINJA loans,† an industry termRead MoreThe Central Problem Of Depression Prevention2980 Words   |  12 Pagestamed it, it was now time to focus on long-term economic growth. (Krugman:2008) On 15th September , 2008, Lehman brothers went under. In the following weeks, the Federal Reserve (FED) and the United States treasury nationalized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac(the two largest mortgage companies) and they took over the worlds largest insurance company, AIG. Capital flow and trade flow spiraled downward, Credit withdrawal, a halt in investment and debt impairment took hold- five years after Lucas’ presidentialRead MoreA Note On Subprime Loans1565 Words   |  7 PagesRecent mayhem in the American economy attributed to a weakening of business regulation. In the absence of oversight, lending became a wildcat enterprise. Mortgage brokers easily deceived home buyers by promoting subprime loans, and then they passed on bundled documents to unwary investors. These subprime loans were offered at a rate above prime to individuals who did not qualify for prime rate loans. The loans were made to people who had no other way to access funds, and little understanding of the

Vision and Goals as a leader Free Essays

The difference between a vision and a goal, one is abstract and one is concrete. Visions are essentially abstract, while setting a goal is more tangible. For an example of a vision, one would say they would like to plant a large garden that will produce a vast harvest In the spring; It will contain green beans, tomatoes and corn. We will write a custom essay sample on Vision and Goals as a leader or any similar topic only for you Order Now This expresses an abstract desire for an outcome. Alternatively, a goal would sound like this, this springtime a large garden will be planted and time will be set aside to spend 5 hours a week hoeing the garden so the weeds will not interrupt the growth f the vegetables. This Is a substantial goal, meaning It Is a tangible and reachable, something you physically work towards. The subject of motivation can vary. In reality you will need to set the tone for the audience, in other words, different people will perceive different issues, and will be motivated by different things. Make sure you talk with your people regularly on a one-to-one basis to find out what matters to them. Herbage’s theory Is largely responsible for the practice of allowing people greater responsibility for planning and controlling their work. As a means of increasing motivation and satisfaction. The importance of visions is beyond dreams, It Is a statement of what or how you like things to be. Visions have a larger purpose and they share the core values that we hold at the center of our character. These core values are expressed to pave the road in the direction you want to see transpire. If a vision has been effectively communicated with precise and detailed direction and reason, others can see your mental picture to help you attain it and gain their commitment to it. ‘The only way to lead people Into the future is to connect with them deeply in the present. The only visions that take hold are shared visions-and you will create them only when you listen very, very closely to others, appreciate their hopes, and attend to their needs. † Souses, J. M. And Poster, 8. Z. To lead, create a shared vision. Harvard Business Publishing January 2009. This Is another important aspect of people seeing your vision is gaining their trust first. The significance of your vision and the excitement you display will help your team know where they are headed. This leads them see and become enthusiastic about the large depiction of your Image and gives them drive for a positive outcome. Nothing was ever created without vision. The importance of goals gives something to work towards to measure both personal and professional success. Without goals it is hard to believe in ourselves. Goals drive you forward, tells you what you truly want. Helps you achieve your desires by putting a large destination In smaller stepping stones to make it wealth a graspable reach. â€Å"Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success. â€Å"- Pablo Picasso. Obtaining goals within a group who trust their leadership, are far more willing to share in and work towards reaching goals. Contribute all energies in same direction with the same outcome to have substantial results. When goals are agreed upon within a group the success will be immeasurable. The article setting. The first step talks about developing a vision. It is important to know where you are going as an organization. A leader must develop a vision with a positive attitude and be ready to present it with energy. They must also be effective in communicating that vision to their employees, who in turn will work together to achieve that vision. The second step talks about the importance of goal setting. How to cite Vision and Goals as a leader, Papers

Terror Management Theory free essay sample

We have an internal guidance system called a conscience that allows us to think and act in a way close to our deepest values. We have an independent will that does not allow genetic influences or the environment to dictate our actions. We have an infinite creative imagination that allows us to create beyond our reality but perhaps the most uniquely human endowment we all possess is self-awareness. Self-awareness is the recognition of how we feel and how we behave. It also allows us to examine why we exist and ultimately, that we are going to die. While self-preservation is a characteristic to both humans and animals, the understanding of one’s own mortality is uniquely human. How do we, as humans, deal with the terror that is associated with this knowledge? According to Terror Management Theory (TMT), developed by Jeff Greenberg, Sheldon Solomon, and Tom Pyszczynski (1989), the need for â€Å"terror management† is a fundamental function possessed by humans and cultural systems. Based on the writings of anthropologist Ernest Becker and inspired by Freud’s work on how death provokes belief in mystical transcendence, TMT can provide explanations for a variety of human behaviors and relate them to the basic reason of why humans protect themselves from mortality awareness (Magdalena Smieja et al. , 2006). The actuality that we are all going to die, one of the only certainties in life, is an on-going source of existential anguish for humans. This anguish stems from our desire to preserve life and the awareness of this impossibility. Since we cannot resolve this paradox, we use culture as protection from the fear of death. By complying with the cultural worldview that our world is safe, balanced and constant, our sense of meaning enhances and our feelings of security and self-esteem heightens. When the 9/11 attacks struck and images of death and destruction were exposed to everyday Americans, most were motivated to protect their cultural worldview and to reject anyone who held an opposite view (Florian Mikulincer, 1998). TMT emerged as the leading answer why Americans defended their national ideologies after the terrorist attacks (Navarrete Fessler, 2005). An illustration of this idea is the mortality salience hypothesis. Simply stated, if a psychological structure provides protection against anxiety, then reminding people of the source of this anxiety should increase the need for that structure (Pysczcynski, Greenberg, Solomon, 1997). For example, if a spider was presented to an arachnophobe, than the need for someone to kill the spider would be increased by the frightened individual. When our fears become a reality, we search for protection in any form. Analysis has shown that people who are in a state of emotional distress and who are reminded of their inevitable death are more attracted to strong, charismatic leaders who possess traditional and authoritarian viewpoints (Wikipedia, 2008). In a 2007 study, â€Å"work teams† were formed to determine if mortality salience causes discomfort and emotional disconnection in a more diverse group rather than a homogenous one (Van der Zee, Van der Gang). The researcher’s hypothesized that when the threat of death was presented, more negative attitudes would result in the diverse team and a longing to identify with individuals that shared cultural norms was expected. What they found however, was that regardless of the group members, when a mortality threat was presented, individuals felt negative attitudes towards everyone, including those who shared their cultural viewpoint. While this study suggests that there is no need to be around similar people during times of vulnerability, the researchers recognize that the individuals in these groups were mere observers and not actually interacting with each other. Another hypothesis that emerged from TMT research is the anxiety-buffer hypothesis. This hypothesis stresses the importance of high self-esteem and how it can shield individuals from experiencing death anxiety. Individuals with high self-esteem feel that they are an ideal example of their culture and enjoy the protection from the mortality concerns that their culture offers (Hirschberger et al. 2002). Studies that exemplify the anxiety-buffer hypothesis are those that link TMT and risky sexual behaviors. In a 2004 study, researchers noted that by making mortality salient, a willingness to engage in life-threatening behaviors, such as unsafe sex, was reported (Orit Taubman, Ben-Ari). This study suggests that engaging in risky sex represents two facets of vulnerability related to the threat of death. One is the absolute fear or extermination which is associated to having the risky sex and the other is the need to love and have intimacy, a uniquely human trait that is related to self-esteem. Basically, when faced with mortality, humans yearn to fulfill their basic needs of love, even if that means risking life itself (Orit Taubman, Ben-Ari). The studies mentioned above describe the role Terror Management Theory plays in people’s cultural worldviews and self-esteem and the negative consequences that can result from the hear of death. While the research performed on this theory is vast and extensive, an obligation to improve studies regarding TMT associated with self-esteem and cultural worldviews still remains. Creating a reliable questionnaire that fully demonstrates a person’s actual feelings and ideas is needed in order to fully understand the affects TMT has on culture and self-esteem. I fear that many of the individuals who participated in past studies were concerned with responding in a socially desirable manner and hence social desirability response bias may have lowered the validity of these studies. I intend to eliminate as much bias as possible by assuring participants that their responses are anonymous and that the questions are worded as impartial as possible. My study on Terror Management Theory will have four parts: a self-esteem questionnaire, a mortality salience questionnaire (with a control group), a distraction so that the feelings towards death are unconscious, and a cultural worldview questionnaire. By making sure the social desirability response bias is reduced, I hypothesize that participants whose mortality is salient will correlate positively to a negative attitude towards cultural worldviews that are not similar to their own.