English II CP Letter to Editor Assignment Overview: For this assignment, you will write a letter to local newspaper, The

Myrtle Beach Sun News. You will write a mini opinion editorial (op-ed) to the paper about your topic in hopes of publication. This is your chance to express your research topic on a larger scale. Author and Audience: You are writing as a reader of the Sun News, so your language should be clear, respectful, yet vivid about the importance of your topic. The exigency of your topic increases the likelihood of the letter becoming published. Remember, your audience extends to The Sun News reading community as well as your blog followers. Form: Your letter should be concise, brief, and specific. The word count should be between 125-150 words, so avoid articles and unnecessary indefinite pronouns as much as possible. At the top of the letter, include your name, the schools name, the schools address and your email address, so they can respond with any news concerning publication. Since this is very brief, every word counts. In the first paragraph, introduce the problem and present a counterargument. In the second paragraph, include a few sentences to support your view. End with a clincher (clever punch line). Focus Skills: Content: B2- States points clearly Organization: C3- Uses logical organization of ideas Style: D3- Uses specific, interesting, precise words Style: D9-Avoids wordiness Conventions: E11- Uses commas correctly Format: F6- Uses correct business letter format Self Selected Skill:__________________________________________________ Procedures: First, you should reflect on your articles that you have researched so far. Which facet of your research is most urgent? Which facet is most relevant to your target audience? Next, you will write a rough draft of your letter. When the rough draft is complete, look at the focus skills and your feedback from peer review, and revise your letter accordingly. After you finish your final draft, annotate it and complete the self-assessment and reflection on your rubric. As you annotate and reflect, be sure to explain why you made the choices you made in regard to your writing. Prove that you have mastered each skill.

Format: Please adhere to MLA format. Your paper must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins all around. First, write your name and the schools address. Next, include the date of publication. Then, include The Sun Newss address shown as this link http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/submit-letter/index.html. Next, include a salutation to the editor. Then, include the body information. Finally, end with a closing. Rough Draft Due Date: September 12, 2013- submit on Edmodo and bring a hard copy to class for peer review Final Draft Due Date: September 17, 2013- send to The Sun News and submit your annotated hard copy with your self-assessment and reflection on your rubric. Assignment Overview: (Workshops are completed in class)

September 12 Class workshop: Introduction to Letter to Editor/ Write rough draft/ Participate in a peer review September 13 Homework: Submit to coach/ Edit based on peer feedback September 16 Homework: Edit based on coach feedback/Self-edit using Writing Reviser September 17 Homework: Revise based on teacher feedback/Annotate, complete self-assessment, and reflect on rubric September 18 Send to The Sun News/ Give hard copy with annotation, assessment, and reflection to teacher

Letter to Editor Scoring Rubric

Name Skill Levels: Class Writing Type

0 = provides no evidence of skill 1 = demonstrates minimal understanding of skill 2 = uses skill correctly to some extent 3 = correctly, competently achieves skill 4 = uses skill consistently and/or can manipulate skill for rhetorical effect 5 = meets level 4 criteria and is able to justify and explain rhetorical choices A. Essay meets criteria set forth on assignment sheet Self-assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Teacher's assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reflection: B2. Content: States points clearly Self-assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reflection: C3. Organization: Uses logical organization of ideas Self-assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reflection: D3. Style: Uses specific, interesting, precise words Self-assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reflection: D9. Style: Avoids wordiness Self-assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reflection: E11. Conventions: Uses commas correctly Self-assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reflection: F6. Format: Uses correct business letter format Self-assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reflection: Self Selection Self-assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Reflection: Teacher's assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Teacher's assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Teacher's assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Teacher's assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Teacher's assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Teacher's assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5 Teacher's assessment: 0 1 2 3 4 5

Total score for self-assessment: ________

Total score for teacher's assessment: ________

Letter to Editor Scoring Rubric Explanation

Note: In order to receive a 5 on a skill, the writer must complete the skill correctly and justify the skill through annotation, self-assessment, and reflection. A1- Essay meets criteria on assignment sheet Descriptor: In order to receive full credit, you must follow every step on the assignment sheet, especially MLA formatting and paragraph organization. B2- States points clearly Descriptor: When you write a paper, people who read it should be able to understand it! Each point that you make should be clear and easy to understand. Dont ramble. Writing that is too wordy tends to be unclear. A great way to determine whether or not your points are clear is to read them to friends or family members. If a point is unclear, a friend or family member will probably say, Huh?. This student does not state his point clearly: Since a high school newspaper reporter wrote this article, suggestions and solutions in this article are more reliable that one of an adult. This student states his point clearly: Written by a high school newspaper reporter, this article offers reliable suggestions and solutions. C3- Uses logical organization of ideas Descriptor: In a nutshell, you need to organize your ideas in a way that makes sense! The best way to accomplish this goal is by organizing your ideas before you write. Start with a cluster or mind map, and then develop an outline. Even if your outline doesnt follow formal outline rules, it will help you to get your ideas in the right order before you start writing. For information about outlining, see F7. These links will also help you with outlining and with clustering: http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/cluster.html http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/outlines.shtml D3- Uses specific, interesting, precise words Descriptor: The words you use are important. Choose strong action verbs instead of linking verbs. Words like thing, very, really, nice, andstuff arent specific or interesting. Try replacing dull nouns and modifiers with words that are more interesting and that clearly express what you want to say. When you use a thesaurus, be careful to choose words that are precise in meaning and that fit appropriately into your paper. For example, while stroll, skip, or hobblecould all replace walk, they dont all create the same effect. Every word you choose for your essay should help to make your point and create the feel you want your paper to have. Need a thesaurus? Click on this link:www.thesaurus.com This student sample uses specific, interesting, precise words : Salty tears dissolving on my lips, I stared at the vacant football field in disbelief. So does this one: My heartbeat pounded like a marching band drum line as adrenaline surged through my body. D9- Avoids wordiness Descriptor: Clear, effective writing says more with fewer words. Inexperienced writers sometimes think that they need to add extra words to their papers to make them sound

better. Instead, your goal should be to add more content (information, examples, description, explanation, etc.) instead of to add empty words. This student sample is too wordy: Although the answers to the questions are from an adult point of view, they are good answers and really go along with the dating chapter and different topics that we have already touched base on. This sentence is better: Though they express an adult point of view, the answers are good and relate to the dating chapter and other relevant topics. Even though this student sample is short, it could be shorter : This is an excellent book that is extremely fun and helpful to read. This sentence is better: This helpful book is extremely fun to read. E11- Uses commas correctly Descriptor: Ah, the dreaded comma! If you understand grammar and sentence structure, then mastering the comma is not a difficult task. These basic rules will guide you: 1. adverb dependent clause*, independent clause (If it rains, well go inside.) 2. independent clause (no comma) adverb dependent clause (Well go inside if it rains.) 3. independent clause, cc** independent clause (Joe likes pizza, but Fred likes tacos.) 4. subject verb (no comma) cc verb (Joe likes pizza but does not like vegetables.) 5. independent clause; independent clause (Joe likes pizza; Fred likes tacos.) 6. introductory participial phrase, (Running down the hall, he tripped and fell.) 7. introductory prepositional phrase, (After English class, we go to lunch.) 8. , nonessential appositive, (Nonessential: We read The Great Gatsby, a novel, in class. Essential: We read the novel The Great Gatsby in class.) 9. , nonessential adjective clause***, (Nonessential: Jane, who drives a red car, is nice. Essential: All students who skip school should be suspended.) 10. items, in, series (Please buy apples, oranges, and bananas. I like the warm, fuzzy blanket.) 11. , noun of direct address, (Tom, would you hand me the phone? Please dont sit there, Sue.) 12. day of week, month date, year, (The baby is expected on Sunday, February 27, 2000, in .) 13. city, state, (We moved to Peachtree City, Georgia, in 1975.) 14. introductory word, (Well, I hope these rules come in handy. However, you must use them.) 15. , interrupter, (These rules, I think, will help you if you use them.) *adverb dependent clause = subordinating conjunction + subject + verb common subordinating conjunctions: because after until as though so that since whenever before if even if unless while as if when although even though **coordinating conjunctions = FANBOYS for and nor but or yet so ***adjective dependent clause = relative pronoun + subject + verb relative pronouns: that which who whom whose

For more help with commas, try these sites: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/commas.html http://www.english.udel.edu/wc/handouts/rules_for_commas.html This student sample uses commas correctly: The anticipated price range is under twenty dollars, and the profits from the book will be used for various community charities.

So does this one: As I said, I am writing you to ask for your help. And this one: Additionally, we welcome any advice you have to offer

F6- Uses correct business letter format Descriptor- When writing a business letter, you can use block format or semiblock format (sometimes called modified block or indented format). In block format, all parts of the letter are lined up with the left margin of the paper. Although paragraphs are single-spaced, you double space between paragraphs and leave out tabs. In semiblock format, the heading, closing, and signature go just to the right of the center of the page. Like in block format, you single space your paragraphs, but you also indent them and single space between them. For more information and examples, try these sites: http://writing.colostate.edu/references/documents/bletter/pop2d.cfm http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/BusinessLetter.html This students business letter correctly uses block formatting: 101 Somewhere Lane Peachtree City, GA 30269 March 27, 2005 Mr. Mike Ike New York Times P.O. Box 99 New York, NY 12345 Dear Mr. Ike: My name is Jose Smith. I am a sophomore at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, . My gifted English class has recently written a book. The book guides freshmen through their very tough first year of high school with a first-hand perspective. It provides advice on topics such as academics, time management, peer pressure, friendship, and dating. This informative yet entertaining paperback is available on amazon.com for $14.95. My classmates and I would like to publicize our book in the New York area and thought your column would be an excellent way to do so. We hope youll take advantage of the opportunity to show the community the creative way in which we are learning to write while also helping teens prepare for high school. Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate your help and hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Jose Smith