LETTER TO A SENATOR

Your Letter to the Senator is not a traditional assignment, but it is required. The purpose is to use a brief
and persuasive form of communication to explore a problem relevant to the contemporary US health care
system. The approach you will use requires you to stretch yourself in different ways and to become an
advocate for things that matter to you.
Instructions:
Look up the actual senator of your district. Write them a letter on a topic that interests you that is related to
the US health care system and we have discussed in class. Research your senator’s political beliefs, and
then writing about a topic they refute or support, and try to persuade them why your point of view is valid or
why you support their belief. Traditionally, this assignment uses a New York Times article, you can do that,
or you can find an article from any other valid source.
Appropriate content for writing of this sort will start with a brief statement of the problem. Discuss why the
problem is important/relevant to you. Review issues linked to the problem. Present your point of view.
Anticipate criticisms by showing how your perspective responds to other points of view. Give a concise
conclusion. Papers are expected to be approximately 150-250 words and include support (in text citations
and a reference page that are excluded from the word count).
Tips to use the rubric to your advantage:
Content, are your points valid? Are you stretching things to make the word count? Did you look up your
actual senator?
Organization. Does your flow make sense? Is your ar