During the last activity pupils were introduced to direct mail and looked at Troy's Toys example questionnaire that formed part of the market research. They will have created their own questionnaire and this activity introduces them to mail merging.

Discuss why mail merging is useful and where else it is used, e.g. junk mail. This should also lead to a reminder about the Data Protection Act (previous unit)

Explain that there are generally 3 steps to mail merging although there are also several way to achieve it. The presentation describes using a Word document and database and explains the general principles of mail merging. However, most major software including databases and spreadsheets will support mail merging. Discuss with pupils the advantages and disadvantages of using these for mail merging.

Show presentation3a , there are notes3a to accompany it.

Show pupils the language3 for this lesson.

This part of the activity is about creating the data source using an Access database (although other methods are suitable).

Pupils may need reminding about databases, show presentation3b, there are notes3b to accompany it.

Remind pupils why a data source is required and show them the example3a form letter and example3b data source of Troy's Toys.

Pupils now create their own data source and complete the mail merge process using their questionnaire from activity 2 as the form letter.

Remind pupils that the suitability of entries in the data source is more important than quantity.

Develop this by asking:

• What information should the data source hold?
• What is appropriate and inappropriate?

Hand out homework3.

This homework asks pupils to look at other methods of market research which they should include in their final report.

You may feel it appropriate to provide the homework sheet in electronic format for those pupils with computer access at home. Consideration should then be given to:

• How they would return the work and the style - electronic or printed.
• Virus protection.
• Authenticity of the work