Question
Open letter to the Government
Open
Letter Assignment
For this assignment, you will write a
four page (minimum) Open Letter to persuade a person or a group of people about
a significant issue. Your open letter response will require research so we will
also be completing an annotated bibliography with this assignment.
So what is an open letter?
An open letter is something a writer
writes to bring the attention of someone (or the public) about a matter that is
important--both for the writer and the specific audience. Open letters are
usually addressed to an individual or to a group of individuals but read by the
general public. They are often published in newspapers or blogs and are
intended for all readers to see. Often these letters are critical, or they
contain directives (solutions). Common open letters are addressed to political
leaders.
Key Components and
Organization: X, Y, Z
I wish X person knew about Y problem and would do Z about it
This is a persuasive letter, which
means that the elements of ethos, pathos, and logos are clearly implemented:
Ethos: You own credibility as a writer
Pathos: Appeal to the emotions of the reader
Logos: Appeal to the intellect and reason of the reader. (this
is where your research will mostly be of use)
Organization, development,
and research
*Start the letter by stating who is
the letter for (X)
-Make sure you give some
thought as to who the recipient is and why
*Establish the problem (Y) (Explain
why this is a problem)
-This section will include various research points that
will prove why this is a significant issue and a problem.
*Establish your own credibility as a
writer.
-This will connect to how you are qualified to point out
the problem and what gives you the authority to suggest directives.
*State and explain what X needs to do
about it (Z)
-In this part you will examine solutions and directives. It
must include researched sources to show the validity of the solutions and
directives
*Conclusion
*Sign the letter appropriately
Suggested Topics
1. Write a letter to the students of
Heritage about a problem/issue on campus that needs to be brought to the
Principal’s attention.
2. OR write a letter to the Principal
about a problem/issue on campus that needs to be brought to his attention.
3. Write a letter to the County
(Loudoun)/State Government (Virginia) about some issue that is causing people
problems.
4. Write a letter to the fellow users
of your favorite device (such as phone), about a problem in the device that
needs to be brought to the attention of the device-makers
5. Write a letter to your
community/neighborhood about an issue that concerns the people in the
community/neighborhood.
6. Write a letter to your fellow
employees about an issue at your workplace
7. Write a letter to your fellow
Americans about a political/social issue that must be addressed. (Pick an
issue)
8. Write a letter to parents of young
adults addressing a key issue about parenting (such as curfews, chores,
pocket-money, restrictions on tv or cell phone, etc.)
9. Write a letter to people about a
habit (for instance people who constantly chew gum) to alert them about the
negative impacts of the habit.
Open Letter Requirements
-At least 4 full pages long
-At least 4 NOVA peer reviewed sources
-At least 1 interview (you will turn
in a transcript of this interview as part of your annotated bibliography)
Open Letter Rubric
|
A |
C |
F |
|
|
MLA (16 points) |
MLA is perfect |
Some (1-2) errors with
MLA |
More than 3 errors with
MLA |
|
Sources (21 points) |
At least four peer
reviewed NOVA sources are used significantly. At least one relevant
interview is used significantly. The sources are
incorporated successfully in the letter. |
At least four peer
reviewed NOVA sources are used but not significantly OR only 3 are used
significantly. At least one interview
is used. The sources are quote
dropped. |
Sources may not be peer
reviewed NOVA sources. Interview may or may not
be used. The sources are quote
dropped. |
|
Spelling, Grammar,
Punctuation (21 points) |
There are only 1-4
errors in the paper. |
There are 5-9 errors in
the paper. |
There are 10+ errors in
the paper. |
|
Content (27 points) |
The message is clear and
all supporting details enrich the overall message. The details/support used
are interesting and important, adding significantly to the paper. |
The message may or may
not be clear and all supporting details enrich the overall message. The
details/support used may or may not be interesting or important, adding
significantly to the paper. |
The message is not clear
and all supporting details do not enrich the overall message. The
details/support used are not interesting or important. |
|
Organization (15 points) |
The paper begins
meaningfully and contains a hook. Events proceed logically and paragraphs are
arranged by idea not by source. There is a clear sense of resolution. |
The paper may or may not
begin meaningfully or contain a hook. Events may proceed logically and
paragraphs are arranged by source. There is a clear sense of resolution. |
The paper does not
include a hook. Events proceed logically but paragraphs are arranged by
source. There is no clear sense of resolution. |
Annotated Bibliography
Rubric
Overall:
|
Spelling, grammar, and
Punctuation (13) |
Spelling, grammar, and punctuation
is nearly perfect (1-3) |
Some (4-7) errors with spelling,
grammar, and punctuation |
More than 8 errors with spelling,
grammar, and punctuation |
|
MLA and Formatting (12) |
MLA and formatting is near perfect
(1 error allowed) |
Some (2-4) errors with MLA or
formatting |
More than 5 errors with MLA or
formatting |
|
Source ONE |
A |
C |
F |
|
Summaries (2) |
The summary is detailed. |
Summary is brief and appears
incomplete |
Summary is non-existent (or might as
well be) |
|
Applicability (2) |
The paragraph on applicability
clearly details how the source will be used, giving the specific quotes. |
The paragraph on applicability
details how the source will be used, but only paraphrases or alludes to
information. |
The paragraph on applicability does
not adequately detail how the source will be used. |
|
Source (1) |
Source is a peer reviewed NOVA
article OR is the one interview. |
Source is not a peer reviewed
article or interview. |
|
Source TWO |
A |
C |
F |
|
Summaries (2) |
The summary is detailed. |
Summary is brief and appears
incomplete |
Summary is non-existent (or might as
well be) |
|
Applicability (2) |
The paragraph on applicability
clearly details how the source will be used, giving the specific quotes. |
The paragraph on applicability
details how the source will be used, but only paraphrases or alludes to
information. |
The paragraph on applicability does not
adequately detail how the source will be used. |
|
Source (1) |
Source is a peer reviewed NOVA
article OR is the one interview. |
Source is not a peer reviewed
article or interview. |
|
Source THREE |
A |
C |
F |
|
Summaries (2) |
The summary is detailed. |
Summary is brief and appears
incomplete |
Summary is non-existent (or might as
well be) |
|
Applicability (2) |
The paragraph on applicability
clearly details how the source will be used, giving the specific quotes. |
The paragraph on applicability
details how the source will be used, but only paraphrases or alludes to
information. |
The paragraph on applicability does
not adequately detail how the source will be used. |
|
Source (1) |
Source is a peer reviewed NOVA
article OR is the one interview. |
Source is not a peer reviewed article
or interview. |
|
Source FOUR |
A |
C |
F |
|
Summaries (2) |
The summary is detailed. |
Summary is brief and appears
incomplete |
Summary is non-existent (or might as
well be) |
|
Applicability (2) |
The paragraph on applicability
clearly details how the source will be used, giving the specific quotes. |
The paragraph on applicability
details how the source will be used, but only paraphrases or alludes to
information. |
The paragraph on applicability does
not adequately detail how the source will be used. |
|
Source (1) |
Source is a peer reviewed NOVA
article OR is the one interview. |
Source is not a peer reviewed
article or interview. |
|
Source FIVE |
A |
C |
F |
|
Summaries (2) |
The summary is detailed. |
Summary is brief and appears
incomplete |
Summary is non-existent (or might as
well be) |
|
Applicability (2) |
The paragraph on applicability
clearly details how the source will be used, giving the specific quotes. |
The paragraph on applicability
details how the source will be used, but only paraphrases or alludes to
information. |
The paragraph on applicability does
not adequately detail how the source will be used. |
|
Source (1) |
Source is a peer reviewed NOVA
article OR is the one interview. |
Source is not a peer reviewed
article or interview. |
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