WRD 103 Instructor: Leah Cardi Assignment #3: Professional Letter

INTRODUCTION: Have you ever left a conversation or a situation wishing you had said something moresomething convincing, persuasive, effective, intelligent, and sensible? Particularly when it comes to situations that we are passionate or opinionated about, we often wish there was a way to say things in a way to inspire change. Sometimes we can speak effectively off-the-cuff, but more often than not when we have the time to reflect, organize, and think critically about our argument, we can make a more convincing one, especially when it comes to appealing to authority figures. This assignment will give you the opportunity to present an argument in a professional format as you will write a letter to an authority figure on a particular issue of your choice. Think specifically about our discussions of language and appeal, and keep in mind that our writingif thoughtfully composedcan have the power to change or reframe the way that someone thinks about an issue. THE PROCESS OF THE ASSIGNMENT: 1. As we enter the sixth week of the quarter, youve read three sets of required class readings. Youve also done outside research and completed 4-5 additional readings of your choice (2 from Exploring Language and 2-3 from credible outside sources). In effect, youve read a lot of different opinions on a lot of different issues! 2. I ask that you take a breath, and do a little mental reflection on the issues that weve engaged with thus far. Think about what gets you riled up, what sparks your interest, and what makes you want to say something important to somebody important. 3. As a member of the university community, you now possess a certain ethos, or authority to engage in thought-provoking discussions that raise attention to certain issues. You will now come to the realization (if you havent already) that when you use language wisely, you have the power to make a change. Essentially, this is what we talk about when we talk about effective rhetoric.

4. Now lets put that ethos to work, shall we? Reflect on an issue of your choice (this may relate to any previous readings or outside research youve done; even better, it may intertwine or stem from multiple readings) and compose a professional letter to an authority figure. In this letter, youll appeal to your selected audience professionally and respectfully. Youll want to take a firm stance on an issue, and ask to change a specific policy or implement a change in thought and/or practice. Essentially, youll make your claim, support that claim with ample evidence and examples, refute any counterarguments you foresee, and finish with a stellar conclusion. Sounds like an editorial, right? 5. Well, that is a complicated answer. The skeleton is like an editorial, but the feel will be completely different. Because your audience is a professional one, your language, tone, and style should be vastly different from that of your editorial. Youll begin to notice as you try on this rhetorical hat, that your language has power if you can tailor it appropriately. Heres a timeline for how this will go: MON. 10/21: Notes on outside readings and research will be due. (See note taking template, directions, and reading suggestions under content on D2L). On this day youll also propose to me the issue you are addressing, and the audience you are appealing to. Youll upload both your notes and your proposal to the appropriate dropbox. WED. 10/23: Peer Review workshop. Well do an interesting activity this day, so bring in the full draft of your letter (and upload it to D2L by class time.) MON. 10/28: Final letter due. Per usual, upload to the corresponding dropbox.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 1. Since the issue and audience are up to you, youll need to make sure Ive approved your plan of action by 10/21. 2. Your letter should be 1.5-2 pages single-spaced. Youll want to play around with headings, letterheads, font, and layout. Youll need to consider the stylistic choices that will make your letter credible, professional, and convincing. 3. Make sure you are focusing on an issue and not just a general topic because youll be constructing your argument around a specific claim. Take a look at the next page for some ideas.

ASSIGNMENT #3 IDEAS** -Write a Letter to the Editor to a particular magazine that you notice engages in gender-biased representation and/or stereotyping. You may argue for a reframe in the way that a certain group is represented (or misrepresented) in the magazines articles and advertisements. You could use this Letter to the Editor approach with topics other than gender as well.

-Write a proposal letter to the Dean of DePaul (or any university), and argue for a specific policy to be enacted. You could develop an issue from any number of topics weve discussed: propaganda on campus, technology in the classroom, gender relations on and off campus. Remember, what Ive listed here are topics, but your job is to find an issue, develop a claim, and propose a policy, action, or change.

-Take an employee stance and write to your manager to ask for a policy change or request a new policy. You could focus on customer relations and/or employee productivity.

-Write to a social agency or school and request funding for a particular program (ethnic studies, language studies, math/science programs, literacy programs etc.)

-Write to any agency and propose a marketing campaign. Discuss what they are currently doing and how to make adjustments in appeals to audience, establishing credibility, and how to more effectively reach their desired target population.

-Consider a medical setting (nursing home, child therapy center, rehabilitation facility) and request a policy or program that will help its population. There is a great section in Exploring Language and a lot of literature out there about language, the brain, and how to support learning, engagement, and memory across the lifespan.

**Use these ideas as simply starting points. What Id really like to see is a deep, critical engagement with an issue that matters most to you. The idea is to develop your writing in a mode that you find applicable, interesting, and thought-provoking.