Opinion Editorial Writing

Opinion Editorial Writing Rubric

PP 10A – Introduction to Public Policy

Policy Opinion Editorial: each student will write a 500 word letter to the editor that documents important societal problems at the

local, state or Federal level and identifies a policy prescription to address the problem.

Structure your memo clearly with the following sections:

*a. Overall Quality:

b. Problem Definition:

c. Provide some facts/evidence that illustrates the scale of your problem:

d. Present your main policy recommendation/solution to your problem, and assess it according to both political and economic

feasibility:

e. Summary/Future Issues: Here, you can restate your problem and solution briefly and tie them into how you see things developing

in the future

(2 point deduction for each grammatical error, lack of logical explanations, clarity, failure to cite)

Excellent (100-90)

Great Effort

(89-80)

Average

Effort

(79-69)

Poor Effort

(68-58)

Failing Effort

(57-0)

1. Overall Quality/

Policy memos identify a problem and

attempt to persuade members of the

public to accept your view and the

policy solution that is offered to address

the problem

• Problem Definition:

All areas

are

covered

Missing one

area

Missing 2 to

3 areas

Missing

over 3 areas

Has not

addressed

the areas

specified

adequately

• Provide some facts/evidence that illustrates the scale of your

problem:

• Identify Opponents and proponents and their position

• Present your main policy recommendation

• Other essential points

2. Problem Definition

The first sentence of this section should be

a normative statement describing your

chosen problem.

Try to get at the “root” of the problem.

This section should also answer the

question “Why is this a problem? What

are the consequences of NOT addressing

this problem

3. Provide some facts/evidence that

illustrates the scale of the problem:

Here is where you present data or statistics

from research, and state your

argument/position regarding the problem.

Is there a particular trend in how your

problem is developing? Who is affected?

How are they affected? What are the

societal costs? (Major part of your paper,

usually at least a couple of paragraphs.)

4. Present your main policy

recommendation/solution:

What kind of policy can he pursued that

addresses/fixes a problem that

legislators care about AND that will be

politically and economically feasible. In

your discussion of the political

feasibility of your solution the public

will want to know which interest groups

will be for and which against your

recommended policy proposal. You

should also take into consideration the

economic feasibility of your solution, 5. Summary/Future Issues/ Further

Consideration Restate your problem and solution

briefly and tie them into how you see

things developing in the future. Are

there certain topics that need to be

further researched to strengthen your

policy recommendation? (Usually one

paragraph.)