Open the John Muir Essays document in your Google drive folder and create a new heading.
Simulated Letter to Government
Purpose – Exposition & Persuasion
- To describe and explain why a some environmental program should be implemented.
- To persuade the official to fund the program.
Audience – A government official in your country.
Format – Business letter
| Greeting |
Place your contact information in the upper left-hand corner, equally tabbed and aligned, followed by the date. Place the contact information of your chosen audience beneath the date. Begin by formally greeting your chosen audience. Use Dear Mr./Ms.______________: Refer to this site if you have formatting questions: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/653/02/
| Paragraph 1 – Introduction and background info |
Introduce yourself and explain your reason for writing. Provide some background information about your proposed ecological problem: where it would take place, who would participate, how it would be organized and implemented, etc.
| Paragraph 2 – Why the program is beneficial to society |
Explain what the goal of the program is and why it would be beneficial to your society today. Be as specific as possible. Include at least three reasons why it would be worth doing. Use a variety of rhetorical appeals to persuade the official.
| Paragraph 3 – Future benefits & Anticipated objections |
Explain what the future benefits of the program would be. Include how the program could be sustained for future generations. Anticipate any objections that the official might make and respond to them. Again, use a variety of rhetorical appeals.
| Closing |
End your letter by thanking the individual for her/his time and consideration. Use an appropriately formal closing and sign your name. Sincerely, etc.
Evaluation –
- Organization – you followed the business letter format and have at least 3 body paragraphs that are well developed with a topic sentence and details.
- Voice – you maintained a professional and persuasive tone.
- Support – you used appropriate examples to illustrate your reasons for starting the program. You included many rhetorical appeals.
- You have at least 500 words.
- See the rubric for more specific evaluation criteria.