Letter to the Editor

Write a letter to the editor on the current controversial issue you are focused on for the the final Informed Argument.  This letter should be sent to Teacher and to the newspaper simultaneously (see instructions below). 

Letters should be sent on a schedule [See below to make sure I got you on the schedule].

Our objective is to get as many letters as possible published in the local newspaper.  +10 for getting your letter published.

This letter/email should:

• NOT inform the editor that you are a student at ULM;

• Be no more than 250-300 words long;

• Have several hard fact as evidence for a point you make;

• Have a brief quotation from either a news source or a previously sent letter to the editor;

• Use a brief statistic or historical fact from a news source or previously sent letter to the editor;

• Use a lead-in or abbreviated in-text citation for the hard fact and the quotation

• Use an analogy [preferably an historical analogy] to make a point

• Have a respectful and conciliatory tone

• Be concise and coherent using strong verbs (Avoid "to be" verbs like "is," "are," "was," "were," think, believe, feel, etc.)

• Be completely free of grammatical/mechanical errors

Rough drafts of these letter can be previewed either by the Teacher or Teacher's Assistant if sent to digital dropbox at least a week before the due date. 

The form of your email letter:  You should follow this form

Date

Your contact number and mailing address

Dear Editor

The polite and Rogerian body of your letter

Sincerely,

Your name

Sending your letters:

• When you have your letter edited and proofed and ready to go, save the file, but leave the file with the letter in it open.

• Go to your email utility and open up a composing window.

• In the TO: field, type the email address to the newspaper.  The News-Star address is>>> letters@thenewsstar.com.

• In the a CC or Copy field,  type the Teacher's email address>>>> eller@ulm.edu.

• Fill out the Subject Field [never send an email without something specific in the Subject field>>> Example:  My take on the Social Security Problem.

• Now, leaving the email Composing window open, click on the button at the bottom of your screen that will open up the file containing your letter.

• Select/Highlight the letter by holding down the CTRL button and typing A [for All].

• Hold the CTRL button down again and type C [for Copy].

• Now open up the email composing field again, and click your mouse in the Message field in order to activate it.

• Hold the CTRL button down and type V [for moVe].  Your letter should be copied into the email message field.

• Read your letter one more time.

• If you are satisfied, click Send.

Schedule of Due Dates:  Without waiting for the deadline, anybody within a group can immediately respond to a letter published on their subject if they see one appearing in the paper.

By October 30:

• Clark [Shareholders or Workers]

• Simmons [Fast Food Industry's Responsibility in the Obesity Epidemic]

By November 2:

• Joseph [The World-Wide Spread of Capitalism and American Culture -- Is it bad?]

• Johnson [Worker Safety and Workman's Comp]

By November 6:  Hopefully in response to a fellow group member's published letter.

• Fuller [Shareholders or Workers]

• Washington [Fast Food Industry's Responsibility in the Obesity Epidemic]

By November 8:  Hopefully in response to a fellow group member's published letter.

• Heidenreich [The World-Wide Spread of Capitalism and American Culture -- Is it bad?]

• Gibson [Worker Safety and Workman's Comp]

• Folse [Worker Safety and Workman's Comp]

November 13:  Hopefully in response to a fellow group member's published letter.

• Chris Randol [Shareholders or Workers]

• Vince [Fast Food Industry's Responsibility in the Obesity Epidemic]

• Carrol [Fast Food Industry's Responsibility in the Obesity Epidemic]

November 15:  Hopefully in response to a fellow group member's published letter.

• If No letter was published on the subject of Globalization, the members of that Group can try again.

• Odom [Worker Safety and Workman's Comp]

• Hereford [Worker Safety and Workman's Comp]

Any writer may try more than once after waiting a reasonable time, but must respond to another group members letter if they see it appear in the paper.