Letter Writing Assignment - Due Tuesday April 1st

Effects of Pure Substances on the Environment Task

You are a concerned citizen writing to a politician about an issue relating to pure substances and their effect on the environment. Your goal is to convince this politician to vote in favour of your opinion in the legislature.

For this task you are to select one of the following two issues:

1. Nuclear power generation
2. Use of pesticides on crops

You are to support one side of the issue you have chosen.

For example, if you choose to write about nuclear power generation, you could write a letter in support of nuclear power generation or against nuclear power generation.

Steps to follow:

1. Choose an issue and whether you are going to write a letter in support of or against the issue.
2. DO RESEARCH! If your letter is going to be convincing, you should have factual evidence to support your argument.
3. Review the formal letter template included on the reverse of this page. You will need to find the name and address of an actual politician to write to.
4. Write a draft of your letter and ask someone to edit the letter for you.
5. Type up your letter on a computer and review the success criteria to be sure you have met all the requirements for this task.

Success Criteria

CONTENT

• The first paragraph of the letter clearly takes a position for or against the issue
• The second paragraph strongly supports the position of the writer
• The third paragraph asks the politician to take a specific action
• There are 3 reasons for or against the issue included in the letter; each reason is supported by strong and relevant evidence
• The evidence in the letter is clearly researched

ORGANIZATION

• The letter is approximately one page in length, typed in 11 or 12 point font

• At least 3 paragraphs A formal closing Student follows template on the reverse

  The letter includes:
• The student’s mailing address
• The date
• The name and address of an actual politician
• A formal greeting
• A list of sources is included with the letter

Formal Letter Template

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/sample/beginner/wt/wt_25.htm