Assignment Instructions/ Description
For this assignment (Due February 28) you are asked to prepare a concise, effective letter in business format, making a case in favor of or in opposition to a public health issue. You will need to identify a contemporary news source or your own elected official to which you will address your letter and format it accordingly, such as the Detroit Free Press, Washington Post, Newsweek, or your own hometown newspaper.
Most letters to the editor are written in response to recently published articles. If you have never written or read a letter to the editor, it may be helpful to browse various print and web sources for examples. Generally, shorter letters are more likely to get published and each news source has a word limit— often as few as 150-250 words. For more advice on how to prepare your letter and increase your likelihood of getting published, check out the Community Toolbox: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/direct-action/letters-to-editor/main (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Your letter does not have to be published but you are highly encouraged to actually submit it to the news source for which you prepared it. If your article is published (not simply as a comment on an online post), please let me know and you will receive 5 points additional credit on this assignment.
Alternately, you may choose to write about a specific, current issue that you feel deserves government attention. This may be a contemporary topic covered in the news. This may be a chance to offer your opinion on a specific piece of legislation that is under consideration by the state or federal government. Often people write to their representative or senator to make sure they understand how constituents feel about a particular issue. Start by learning more about your elected officials and how to go about contacting them: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Again, for more advice on how to write to an elected official, check out the Community Toolbox: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/direct-action/letters-to-elected-officials/main
Your letter does not have to be answered but you are highly encouraged to actually submit it to the elected official for whom you prepared it. If your letter receives a specific, tailored reply (not simply a formal letter acknowledgement) please let me know and you will receive 5 points additional credit on this assignment.
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