Letter

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Writing for Change Assignment (25%)

OVERVIEW

This assignment has two parts: an annotated bibliography and a draft letter/email.

1) Annotated Bibliography (10%)

In order to support your proposal with good research, prepare an annotated bibliography using two sources.

2) Draft Letter / Email (15%)

Write a persuasive email or letter asking a person, company or organization to change a policy, program, or behaviour. Your topic can arise out of a personal experience – a negative encounter you’ve had, a problem in your workplace, an issue you’re worried about in your community. Your proposed solution must be realistic and workable. Your letter will be 600 – 800 words.

On the next pages you will find detailed instructions.

1. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

An annotated bibliography is an alphabetical list of your research sources (“bibliography”). After each source, you write an “annotation” – that is, a brief summary and evaluation of the source.

What is it for? The annotated bibliography provides important information about your research:

· Currency (when was your research published?)

· Credibility (how reliable is the source?)

· Relevance (how will you use the information in your assignment?)

How to write one?

· Begin with a full citation (author, title of article, title of source, date of publication, etc.) - Write a summary of the main arguments of the article (2-3 sentences).

· Include a short critique or evaluation (currency and credibility) (2-3 sentences) - Explain how you will use this source in your letter (1-2 sentences).

Below is a sample. Note that it begins with the citation of the source. After the citation, the first three sentences summarize the article. The next three sentences evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the article. The last sentence explains how it will be used in the writing assignment.

Warner, J. (2016, June 16). Why Can't My Students Write [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/just-visiting/why-cant-my-new-employees-write.

In a blog written for other post-secondary educators, John Warner argues against that college students are not being trained to write for real-world rhetorical situations. Instead, they are taught formulas that help them score high on standardized tests and other assessments in the classroom. These formulas mean that students arrive in the workplace without any practice writing for real audiences in real situations. The article is recent (2016). Warner is a credible source, a writing instructor, novelist and editor who has been writing about higher education since 2010. He uses his own experience as a writing instructor to support his argument and offers an effective comparison between learning to ride a bike and learning to write. A major weakness is that Warner does not reference any studies to support his views; another is that he does not provide concrete examples to illustrate his proposed solution.

I will use Warner’s article in the “problem” section of my letter when I explain why the five-paragraph essay is harmful to student writers.

2. DRAFT LETTER / EMAIL ( you can follow the student samples posted)

2.1 IDENTIFY YOUR AUDIENCE, PROBLEM, SOLUTION AND POTENTIAL RESEARCH AREAS

Your message must be addressed to a real person at a real place and deal with a real issue (even though you are actually sending it to me, you may choose to send your revised version to the real person when this assignment is finished!)

What problem are you identifying in this letter? How much does your reader know about this problem already? How much will you have to explain?

What do you want the reader to do about the problem? Why should the reader accept your proposal?

What research might be helpful in convincing the reader to consider your problem and proposed solution?

2.2 DECIDE ON THE APPROPRIATE STYLE / STRATEGIES

Based on your purpose, audience and message, decide what style and tone will be most effective in appealing to your reader. How will you establish a relationship or common ground with the reader? How will you support your argument? How will you establish your credibility?

2.3 WRITE A DRAFT

Start with a proper heading and salutation, mentioning the person's email or office address, then your own email or contact details, and then the subject of your discussion. Put your heading in the top left corner of your letter (email).

ex.: To: lisa.thompson@pc.ola.org

From: sxxxxcxxxx@myseneca.ca

Concerned with the Lack of Mental Health Education in the Curriculum

First paragraph: Begin with your purpose: tell your reader why you are writing. Consider whether you need to introduce yourself to the reader and how to frame your message. The following sections might be helpful for the rest of your message:

· Background . What situation led to the writing of this email? What is your personal connection to the problem?

· Problem . How will you present the problem to your reader? Will it help to situate the problem in a larger social, economic or political context? (Possible research area!)

· Proposed solution. What are you asking for? Propose a specific, realistic solution. (Possible research area!)

· Benefits. Who will benefit from the change? How will the reader (and their organization) benefit from the change? (Possible research area!)

· Challenges or obstacles . What is standing in the way of your proposed solution? What objections will the reader have? Addressing these obstacles strengthens the persuasiveness of your message.

· Conclusion. Here you might want to summarize your key points. How do you want to end the email? How do you want the reader to respond?

2.4 Revise your Draft Letter to incorporate at least two research sources : these are the 2 additional articles that are related to the topic of your Draft Letter. Search for those articles on the Internet and present them in a proper format Use APA to integrate and cite all your research. This means, you will have to present both the in-text citations inside the letter itself AND a reference page (works cited) as your separate last page.

The APA PPT is posted under Course Documents for your perusal.

2.5 Consider how to format your letter properly; follow the student samples that are posted under Course Documents. Don't forget about logical and emotional appeals (at least 1 of each) and maintain the proper tone and emotional intelligence.

Grading checklist (to be done before you submit your Draft Letter)

Format and organization:

- Letter or email is addressed to a real person with a complete mailing or email address

- Letter or email is double-spaced (for grading purposes)

- Letter has a Cover Page (with your name and your Professor's name, the code of your course and the title of your letter)

-Letter has a Work Cited or References page (the final one)

Content:

- Problem is clearly identified; reader can understand the scope of the problem without having to ask for more information

-Proposed solution is realistic and explained fully,

- Benefits to the solution are presented clearly

-You address at least one possible obstacle or objection to the problem

- At least two pieces of credible and relevant research (from different sources) are used to support the proposal (additional articles)

-You show how your research citation is connected to your points (the quotes from additional articles should support your own ideas you put in your letter)

Style & rhetorical strategies:

- Tone is appropriate for the audience and situation

Grammar & mechanics:

- Writing is clear and concise

-Grammar errors are minimal and do not interfere with meaning

-Letter has been proof-read carefully for mechanical errors (typos, improper capitalization, missing words)