Welcome — and here’s your first post.

Before we can think about an issue, we have to be informed. So here’s our first practice. Below is an essay, followed by an example student response. Read the article, read the student‘s comment, and then add your own. Before our first class, please. 

A Letter to the Editor

A letter to the editor is a brief argument — a little essay, in fact. Such letters can be a good place to look for good and bad writing, good and bad reasoning. Don’t forget that, as does all writing, a letter to the editor have an intended audience — usually one fairly knowledgeable about issues. Letters to the editor do not lay out facts, although they may refer to them for support of their arguments or to refute other arguments. In addition, they must be clear, concise, unified, and coherent.

This was an assignment given to a class in the fall. I have included a comment from a student who disagreed with the letter. You may comment on the letter, the student’s response, or both.

link to original

Friday, November 27, 2009