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Write a Letter to the Editor

This assignment requires you effectively demonstrate core competencies of critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility within the context of civic engagement in the U.S. political process.  In order to earn a satisfactory grade, you must do each of the following satisfactorily:

1. Identify a current political issue that affects you and your community.

2. Educate yourself about the issue by reading at least three articles from reputable news sources about the issue.

3. Identify a media outlet used in your community (this could be a news blog, a newspaper, or a radio station). Verify that the media outlet accepts letters to their editorial staff and find the parameters for such submissions.  Take a screenshot of the submission guidelines.

4. Draft a letter (of a length that adheres to the submission guidelines for your particular media outlet, but typically about 150 words) to the editor in which you

1. identify yourself;

2. identify the political issue about which you are concerned;

3. clearly state a position on that issue (what the government should do or not do); and

4. provide an explanation for your position that will persuade the readers to agree with you.

2/20/2021

Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 1/6

Writing Assignment 2

Due Friday by 11:59pm Points 100 Submitting a file upload Available until Mar 1 at 11:59pm

PSCI Core 2021

Submit Assignment

Due February 26th at 11:59pm

Write a Letter to the Editor

This assignment requires you effectively demonstrate core competencies of critical thinking, communication, social
responsibility, and personal responsibility within the context of civic engagement in the U.S. political process. In order to earn
a satisfactory grade, you must do each of the following satisfactorily:

1. Identify a current political issue that affects you and your community.
2. Educate yourself about the issue by reading at least three articles from reputable news sources about the issue.
3. Identify a media outlet used in your community (this could be a news blog, a newspaper, or a radio station). Verify that the

media outlet accepts letters to their editorial staff and find the parameters for such submissions. Take a screenshot of the
submission guidelines.

4. Draft a letter (of a length that adheres to the submission guidelines for your particular media outlet, but typically about 150
words) to the editor in which you
1. identify yourself;
2. identify the political issue about which you are concerned;
3. clearly state a position on that issue (what the government should do or not do); and
4. provide an explanation for your position that will persuade the readers to agree with you.

You will turn in

1. a , x, or version of your letter; and
2. a , x, or document listing the three articles you read; and
3. a screenshot ( , , ) of submission guidelines for the media outlet you chose

Check the letters-to-the-editor for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for examples of what a letter-to-the-editor should look like:
https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/ (https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/)

The following links provide details on submissions to some possible media outlets:

Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/2018/12/02/tips-for-letters-to-the-editor-and-op-ed-
submissions/ (https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/2018/12/02/tips-for-letters-to-the-editor-and-op-ed-submissions/)

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/ (https://www.star-
telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/)

For more information about submitting an op-ed as well as links to many, many newspapers, visit The Op-Ed Project:
https://www.theopedproject.org/submission-information (https://www.theopedproject.org/submission-information)

https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/2018/12/02/tips-for-letters-to-the-editor-and-op-ed-submissions/

https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/

https://www.theopedproject.org/submission-information

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 2/6

Criteria Ratings Pts

8 pts

8 pts
8 pts
8 pts
8 pts

 Content
Development
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Thorough
development of
content

6 pts
Proficient:
Adequate
development of
content

4 pts
Developing:
Partial
development of
content

2 pts
Beginning:
Minimal
development of
content

0 pts
Not Applicable:
Did not complete
or no attempt

 Correctness
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Mastery
application of the
rules of standard
English

6 pts
Proficient: Above
average application
of the rules of
standard English

4 pts
Developing:
Acceptable
application of the
rules of standard
English

2 pts
Beginning:
Minimal
application of the
rules of standard
English

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete or
no attempt


Organization/Structure
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced: Skillful
implementation of an
organizational
pattern enhances the
content’s cohesion

6 pts
Proficient:
Organizational
pattern makes
the content
mostly
cohesive

4 pts
Developing:
Organizational
pattern, in spite of
interruptions,
contributes to
cohesion

2 pts
Beginning:
Organizational
pattern is
intermittently
observable and
results in minimal
cohesion

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

 Statement of
Purpose
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Presents a
sophisticated
central idea

6 pts
Proficient:
Presents a
central idea

4 pts
Developing:
Attempt to
present a central
idea

2 pts
Beginning: Minimal
attempt to present a
central idea

0 pts
Not Applicable:
Did not complete
or no attempt

 Consideration of
context, assumptions,
other perspectives
and the credibility and
authority of sources
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced: Analysis
acknowledges
complexity and bias;
identifies influence of
context and questions
assumptions; clearly
integrates multiple
perspectives and
justifies on view while
respecting others

6 pts
Proficient:
Engages
challenging
ideas tentatively
or in ways that
overstate the
conflict;
identifies but
mostly
dismisses
alternative
views

4 pts
Developing:
Provides
some
recognition of
context and
consideration
of
assumptions
and their
implications

2 pts
Beginning:
Approaches the
issue in egocentric
or socio-centric
terms; analysis is
grounded in
absolutes, with little
acknowledgement
of own biases

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 3/6

Criteria Ratings Pts
8 pts
8 pts
8 pts
8 pts

 Development and
presentation of
argument, position or
hypothesis with logical
progression
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Presents and
justifies clearly
and in detail own
argument,
position or
hypothesis while
qualifying or
integrating
contrary views or
interpretations

6 pts
Proficient: Argument,
position, or
hypothesis includes
original thinking that
acknowledges,
refutes, synthesizes
or extends other
assertions, although
some aspects have
not been fully
developed

4 pts
Developing:
Argument,
position or
hypothesis is
clearly stated
but with little
original
consideration

2 pts
Beginning:
Argument, position
or hypothesis is
unclear, simplistic
or re-stated with
little original
consideration; fails
to accurately
present, justify or
develop argument,
position or
hypothesis

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

 Introduction of
problem, question or
issue
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced: Clearly
identifies the
challenge and
subsidiary,
embedded, or implicit
aspects of the
problem, question or
issue

6 pts
Proficient:
Summarizes the
problem, question
or issue but some
nuances and details
are missing or
glossed over

4 pts
Developing:
Summarizes the
problem, question
or issue, though
some aspects are
incorrect or
confused

2 pts
Beginning:
Fails to
accurately
identify and
summarize
problem,
question or
issue

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

 Presentation of
conclusions and their
implications
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Identifies and
discusses well-
reasoned
conclusions and
their implications;
integrates
conclusions and
implications

6 pts
Proficient:
Accuratley presents
well-reasoned
conclusions;
presents
implications that are
only loosely
connected to the
conclusions

4 pts
Developing:
Accurately
presents
conclusions;
implications
are absent

2 pts
Beginning: Fails to
accurately identify
conclusions or
implications;
conclusions are
simplistic, absolute
or attributed to an
external authority

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

 Presentation,
interpretation and
analysis of
information, data or
evidence
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Examines and
addresses
evidence and
its source;
questions the
accuracy,
relevance and
completeness
of evidence

6 pts
Proficient:
Provides
evidence of
search, selection
and source
evaluation skills;
discerns fact
from opinion and
may recognize
bias in evidence

4 pts
Developing:
Demonstrates
adequate skill in
searching, selecting
and evaluating
sources to meet the
information need;
use of evidence is
qualified and
selective

2 pts
Beginning: Repeats
information provided
without question or
dismisses evidence
without adequate
justification;
data/evidence or
sources are
simplistic or
inappropriate

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 4/6

Criteria Ratings Pts
8 pts
8 pts
8 pts
8 pts
8 pts
8 pts

 Analyzes Ethical
Issue
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Skillfully
analyzes the
ethical issue

6 pts
Proficient:
Adequately
analyzes the
ethical issue

4 pts
Developing:
Partially
analyzes the
ethical issue

2 pts
Beginning:
Minimally
analyzed the
ethical issue

0 pts
Not Applicable:
Did not complete
or no attempt

 Describes the
Ethical Issue
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Skillfully
describes the
ethical issue

6 pts
Proficient:
Adequately
describes the
ethical issue

4 pts
Developing:
Partially
describes the
ethical issue

2 pts
Beginning:
Minimally
describes the
ethical issue

0 pts
Not Applicable:
Did not complete
or no attempt

 Discusses Possible
Consequences of
Solution
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Skillfully
discusses
possible
consequences of
solution

6 pts
Proficient:
Adequately
discusses
possible
consequences of
solution

4 pts
Developing:
Partially
discusses
possible
consequences of
solution

2 pts
Beginning:
Minimally
discusses
possible
consequences of
solution

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete or
no attempt

 Justifies the
Suggested Solution to
the Ethical Issue
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Skillfully justifies
the suggested
solution to the
ethical issue

6 pts
Proficient:
Adequately
justifies the
suggested solution
to the ethical issue

4 pts
Developing:
Partially justifies
the suggested
solution to the
ethical issue

2 pts
Beginning:
Minimally justifies
the suggested
solution to the
ethical issue

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

 Suggests Steps to
Solve Ethical
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Skillfully
suggests steps to
solve the ethical
issue

6 pts
Proficient:
Adequately
suggests steps to
solve the ethical
issue

4 pts
Developing:
Partially suggests
steps to solve the
ethical issue

2 pts
Beginning:
Minimally
suggests steps to
solve the ethical
issue

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete or
no attempt

 Acknowledge Civic
Responsibility
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced: A
complex and fully
developed
combination of
knowledge, skills,
values and
motivation as
they relate to
civic life and
affairs of
regional,
national, and/or
global
communities

6 pts
Proficient: An
advanced and
well developed
combination of
knowledge, skills,
values and
motivation as
they relate to
civic life and
affairs of regional,
national and/or
global
communities

4 pts
Developing: An
adequate and
acceptably
developed
combination of
knowledge, skills,
values and
motivation as they
relate to civic life
and affairs of
regional, national
and/or global
communities

2 pts
Beginning: A
surface
understanding of
knowledge, skills,
values and
motivation involved
in civic
responsibility and
difficulty relating to
civic life and affairs
of regional, national
and/or global
communities

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 5/6

Criteria Ratings Pts
8 pts
8 pts
8 pts

 Acknowledge
Perspectives
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Exceptional ability
to articulate
insights into
diverse
cultural/intercultural
perspectives
including one’s own
cultural rules and
biases

6 pts
Proficient:
Advanced
recognition and
articulation of
diverse
cultural/intercultural
perspectives
including one’s own
cultural rules and
biases

4 pts
Developing:
Adequate
understanding of
diverse
cultural/intercultural
perspectives
including one’s own
cultural rules and
biases

2 pts
Beginning:
Surface
understanding
of diverse
cultural
perspectives
including
one’s own
cultural rules
and biases

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

 Apply Civic
Responsibility
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Demonstrates
civic engagement
through reflection
on community
based action
and/or research
and exceptional
reflective analysis
of the purpose
and benefits of
the engagement

6 pts
Proficient:
Demonstrates
civic engagement
through reflection
on community
based action
and/or research
and advanced
reflective analysis
of the purpose
and benefits of the
engagement

4 pts
Developing:
Demonstrates
civic engagement
through reflection
on community
based action
and/or research
and adequate
reflective analysis
of the purpose
and benefits of the
engagement

2 pts
Beginning:
Demonstrates civic
engagement
through reflection
on community
based action
and/or research
that shows limited
ability to reflect or
analyze the
purpose and
benefits of the
engagement

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

 Apply Perspectives
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Demonstrates
exceptional ability
to assume a
perspective other
than one’s own
and express
empathy for
diverse
perspectives

6 pts
Proficient:
Demonstrates
advanced ability
to assume a
perspective other
than one’s own
and express
empathy for
diverse
perspectives

4 pts
Developing:
Demonstrates
adequate ability to
assume a
perspective other
than one’s own
and express
empathy for
diverse
perspectives

2 pts
Beginning:
Demonstrates
minimal ability to
assume a
perspective other
than one’s own and
expresses limited
empathy for
diverse
perspectives

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 6/6

Total Points: 176

Criteria Ratings Pts
8 pts

6 pts

18 pts

 Personal
Development
threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts
Advanced:
Articulates
insights about
personal attitudes,
behaviors or
beliefs seeking
complexity and
understanding
and recognizing
cultural biases,
resulting in a shift
in self-description

6 pts
Proficient:
Recognizes new
perspectives
about own
personal
attitudes,
behaviors or
beliefs (e.g. not
looking for
sameness;
comfortable with
the complexities
that new
perspectives
offer)

4 pts
Developing:
Identifies own
personal
attitudes,
behaviors or
beliefs (e.g. with
a strong
preference for
those rules
shared with own
cultural group
and seeks the
same in others)

2 pts
Beginning: Shows
minimal awareness
of own personal
attitudes, behaviors
or beliefs, even
those shared with
own cultural
group(s) (e.g.
uncomfortable with
identifying possible
cultural differences
with others)

0 pts
Not
Applicable:
Did not
complete
or no
attempt

Citations 6 pts
Advanced
– Three references
provided – All three are
legitimate news sources –
Proper citation format used

4 pts
Proficient
– Three references provided
– One or more are from
suspect sources – Proper
citation format used

2 pts
Developing
– Two to three references
provided – All sources are
suspect – Difficulty
distinguishing source of
citation

0 pts
Beginning
– No
references
provided

Content 18 pts
Advanced
– Addressee is clear –
Clearly identifies a
political issue – Clearly
identifies the author’s
point of view

14 pts
Proficient
– Addressee is clear –
Clearly identifies a
political issue –
Author’s point of view
unclear

10 pts
Developing
– Addressee is clear –
Nature of political
issue is vague –
Author’s point of view
unclear

4 pts
Beginning
– No clear addressee –
Nature of political issue is
vague – Author’s point of
view unclear or absent