Description
You need to decide on a topic, audience, and purpose.
Choose a topic and do a little research on it (if needed). Explain what topic you've picked, why you picked it, how it is relevant or important to civic/public discourse, and who it concerns.
Decide on an audience for letter 1--who disagrees with you? What do they believe/argue? How do you hope to shift their position?
What kinds of evidence will you use for letter 1? How will you address both the concerns of your opposition AND support your claim? Why do you think this will work?
Decide on a medium/format for letter 1. If you're writing an online article, where do you think you'll imagine submitting/publishing it (research the websites/forums that your target audience reads regularly). If you're writing a professional/print letter, where will you send it?
Decide on an audience for letter 2--who agrees with you? What do they already believe/argue? Why do you need to speak to them?
What is your goal for your like minded audience and HOW will you persuade them to act? What do you want them to do next?
How will you get this letter to a place your like minded audience will be able to read it? If you're writing an online article, where do you think you'll imagine submitting/publishing it (research the websites/forums that your target audience reads regularly). If you're writing a professional/print letter, where will you send it?
Letter 1: To Your Opposition
• Directly Address opposition’s view (1/3 of letter)
• Build Goodwill with Opposition
• Decide whether you’re creating a rebuttal or a refutation
• Use evidence that is chosen or designed FOR THIS AUDIENCE—what kind of evidence will
they respond well to, and why?
• Give next steps you expect or want from them
Letter 2: To Like-Minded Audience
• Build a relationship with Your audience—ETHOS does not have to be authority/trust
• Be inspiring
• Give reasons for further action
• Use evidence that is designed for create an urgent need for action or a pressure to join a cause
• Give clear next steps/goals for moving forward
Letter Writing Tips: Have a specific Reader in mind. Knowing who you're writing to takes much of the guessing out of your letter writing process. Imagine who this person is, with all their biases and preconceived ideas about what you have to say and address those ideas as you move through the letter. Make It Clear. It’s incredibly easy to get side-tracked when writing letters, especially if you’re feeling upset or emotional. Remember: You are writing to make a point, clarify an event, make a request, and create a paper trail. Talk out loud. Avoid vague words, jargon, and long rambling sentences. Use short words when possible. If you naturally use long words to express yourself, try substituting short words that mean the same thing. Long rambling letters put people off because they are hard to read. You don’t want this to happen. You want the reader, your Stranger, to enjoy reading your letter