Assignment:
Your open letter should do the following:
• Introduce the topic, issue at hand
Provide your reader/audience with a good sense of what the issue is -- in other words, you need to contextualize the news issue/current event for your reader. Make sure to include some quotes from your article along with any other necessary details.
• Discuss the issue.
You want to explain to your reader why this topic is of importance (here you should show rather than tell). How is the issue significant in the society today? Why are you writing this letter? What outcome do you want? Who specifically do you see as your audience? You should decide to whom you will address this letter. Make sure to cite from at least one of your research texts - more Is fine.
• Develop your perspective.
You want your reader to know or think through something about this issue. You want your reader to be aware. Perhaps you want something done about it. This is where you develop your perspective, using rhetorical strategies (tools). This is where you can bring in other examples, discuss and analyze the relevance/urgency of the situation, consider why we need to take action, analyze and discuss what will happen if we don't take action. Bring in examples (historical, current, etc.).
• Conclude How do you want to keep your reader thinking about this issue?
Rhetorical strategies
Good writers in all disciplines make moves with language and style. In your open letter you will use rhetorical devices, strategies, moves. We'll discuss this in class and we will look at examples; in the end, you employ the strategies that will serve your letter best.
Requirements
• 3 to 4 pages, typed, double spaced
• Employ rhetorical strategies/devices
• Cite from at least one text
• Include a works cited page
Open Letter Assignment
Is there a social problem or social justice issue that troubles you, that you wish to confront. in a hostile or direct manner? But, at the same time, you know that confronting something in that way might riot get you (or the issue!) anywhere. For purposes of this assignment, you'll take your energy, insight and thoughtfulness, and write an open letter employing and working with different rhetorical strategies and moves so as to gain a reader's interest and attention. You'll also hope to get your reader to care about this issue.
Your letter will be a spirited, thoughtful, analytical discussion of the issue at hand - the topichssue you wrote about for your research paper. You've already done a good chunk of the work - you have the information, the knowledge, the details. As would be the case with any open letter task, you are working towards getting your reader and audience to think critically through a complex issue. And you're writing a letter that could be read by different audiences.
What is an open letter?
An open letter is a type of text whereby a writer can express and develop (thoughtfully, intelligently) his or her viewpoint without being asked. Writers often publish open letters in books, in newspapers or magazines, or send them off to community members, and elected officials (politicians). An open letter develops your argument, your position or premise. Why do you think people publish open letters? Why do you think people read them?
You will present your open letter to the class; we'll then discuss and provide feedback for each letter. You can then revise your letter (one more time, if you wish) for the course portfolio.
Your Task
You will write a letter in which you critically and thoughtfully engage your reader (an elected official, community members, et al) in an academic discussion and argument over your topic. Your open letter would be published in a respected newspaper. You decide to whom you would address your letter.
You will need to engage at least one of your sources in your open letter - and you'll need to provide your reader with enough context over that source and the social justice issue that your discussion and examination of the issue is then clear.