Real-Life Communication
Your business is about meeting with people and making sure that
the item they want you to design or model for them meets their standards.
Usually,
you'll leave the communications to someone else on your project team. But
this time, you're working a project alone and you need to confirm some features
on a model you're making.
The model, which is a replica of a 1902 steam
engine, should have rivets in each of the different metal panels that make
up the side of the engine. The problem is that you don't know how many rivets
should be in each panel. And if you don't get it correct, the representation
won't be accurate.
It's a minor detail, but you know that if you don't
get it right, someone will call you on it.
The best thing you can think
of to do is contact a railroad expert that you're mildly acquainted with.
You met the expert, John Claire, last year at a convention, and even then
you were both headed in different directions so you didn't have a chance to
talk to him much.
You did exchange cards, though, so you have his e-mail
address. And you know from past work on railroad cars that he's about as knowledgeable
on the subject as any other person you might contact.
You decide to
send John Claire an e-mail to ask him to clarify the number of rivets in each
sheet of metal that is holding that railroad engine together. You know that
it would be best if you introduce yourself and remind him of where you met
and how you got his contact information.
Then you want to ask him your
specification question and offer assistance in return if he ever needs it.
Of
course, this all needs to be done in the scope of e-mail, so it will be necessary
to keep your sentences short and to the point. Also, double-check your spelling
and grammar to ensure that you appear as professional as possible.