Armbruster
WRIT 2072
Spring 2006

Assignment 3:   Letter to the Editor or Op-Ed

For this assignment, you will choose a local publication and issue, and then write a letter to the editor of that publication (or an op-ed) addressing that issue.    The goals of this assignment are to give you a chance to practice a form of persuasive writing commonly used to work for change while also learning more about local issues.   As we've discussed, it would be a good idea to choose an issue that will also work for your next assignment (a proposal for a change or improvement in some aspect of your community).

I will grade your letter/op-ed using the criteria for persuasive writing in general and these forms of writing in particular that we have covered in class.           

In class on Thursday, February 16 , we will look at sample letters to the editor (we have already discussed several opinion columns, which are very similar to op-eds) and discuss general guidelines for writing letters to the editor and op-eds.   We will also discuss the issues you are thinking of writing about.

On Tuesday, February 21 , we will have a guest speaker, Don Corrigan, editor of the Webster-Kirkwood Times.   He will give us an editor's insights on letters to the editor and op-eds.   (Remember:   the editor is your first audience and gatekeeper.)  

On Thursday, February 23 , we will discuss your rhetorical analyses of your letters or op-eds.

On Tuesday, February 28 , rough drafts of your letters/op-eds will be due for a peer response workshop.

The final draft of your letter or op-ed, along with rhetorical analyses, rough drafts and comments from the peer response workshop, is due Tuesday, March 7 .