LETTER-WRITING EXERCISE

                                                                                                           

            Citizen pressure is a vital part of conservation.  This exercise gives you experience in that action by writing to a government official or legislator or writing a "Letter to the Editor" concerning an issue in wildlife conservation.  Your target and issue may be at the city, county, state, or national level.  You may write to support, oppose, congratulate, urge, or suggest.

 

            If you don't know the proper style for a formal letter, find out.  Some information on how Congress works and on properly writing to a U.S. Representative or Senator is attached.  Consult the newspaper to which you intend to write for examples and instructions for Letters to Editor.

 

Finding an Issue

 

            A personal experience or contact or something you hear or read in class or the media may ignite a spark.  Print sources include larger newspapers (e.g., Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, N.Y. Times, etc.), news magazines, and conservation periodicals (e.g., Audubon, National Wildlife, Defenders, Sierra, Wilderness, American Forests).  Science and Bioscience often have articles and news sections on conservation issues.  Many of these sources are in Morris or Newark Free libraries.  I will put other items in a folder marked "Issues in Conservation"  on reserve. Most National conservation organizations have a "web" page on Internet or an "issues" telephone number. For National Wildlife for example the World Wide Web site is http://www.nwf.org/nwf and telephone is 202 797-6655 (updated each Tuesday). The Delaware computer system DELPLUS will allow a key word search (for example Endangered species). Of course the Web has a wealth of information. Learn of local issues from a local paper or an organization's newsletter.  In any case, you must get the details correct:  the specific issue, the parties involved, and to whom you should write.

 

            The only requirements for the issue are that it be directly relevant to wildlife conservation, current, and sufficiently specific to be meaningful.  Wild horses are not wildlife, nor a conservation issue except as they affect native fauna and habitat.  Topics relating to animal cruelty or rights issues or solely to human health are also unacceptable.  "Please stop pollution" or "I favor saving Bald Eagles" are too broad to be useful.  A local issue is as acceptable as an international one.

 

Deciding What You Think

 

            After you have an issue, do some background reading or interviewing to make sure you understand it.  A letter doesn't require documentation, but you should write from an informed position.  Be aware that news reports are often lacking in detail or qualifying explanation and often contain errors. Issues taken from WEB sources may be extremely uninformed or incomplete. Consider the sources quoted and what biases the author and publisher may have that affect the slant of the piece. Just because a Wildlife Organization calls for action of members does not mean they have all the details -- remember they are biased too. Consulting more than one source can help you sort out the details, understand the issue, and decide what position you will take.  Full credit for background work requires evidence of effort beyond the initial discovery of the topic or reading the "idea" material on reserve.  Feel free to discuss the issue with me.

 

WHAT POSITION YOU TAKE ON THE ISSUE IS IRRELEVANT TO YOUR GRADE. 

                       

Choosing a Target

The companion handout refers to the federal level. State legislators, called State Senators and Representatives in most states, operate in a similar way. At the county and city levels, they have various titles. You must learn the proper title for your target on your own. If you write to an agency, you must know the correct title, address, and, if possible, name of the administrator responsible for the subject of your letter. Information for many state and federal agencies is in the Conservation Directory in Morris Library. For local agencies, find the information via the phone (blue pages) or library. Incomplete addresses or generic titles may take your letter to a minor official with no clout. Don't write to someone about an issue not in his/her purview. DO NOT WRITE TO CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS.

Specifications

When you have your ideas together, prepare a typed or legibly hand-written letter in formal style on white, stationery quality, unlined paper. Follow the tips for properly writing letters to officials or to the newspaper. Be concise and literate; stick to the topic. Proofread your letter or have a reliable friend do so.

For this assignment to be complete you must turn in 5 items paper-clipped together:

1) A photocopy of your original letter (which I will return);

2) The original, signed letter (attached second to protect it);

3) A stamped envelope properly addressed to your target and with your return address (I will mail the letter);

4) A sheet of paper legibly and clearly stating: (a) where you discovered the issue; and (b) where you obtained background information (titles, dates, authors, and publications for printed sources; name and address or phone of personal contacts); and

5) A photocopy of the pertinent pages of your printed sources. For Internet note information source if copy not available. For a Letter to Editor, include copy of the paper's instructions.

 

Turn in assignments only at a class meeting. None accepted elsewhere. Deadline: End of class, December 11. NONE ACCEPTED THEREAFTER. You will receive up to 5 bonus points if you turn in your completed assignment by November 27. You may prepare a draft letter prior to this same date and have me comment on it without penalty (submit letter only - not entire assignment). One rewrite of your draft letter is permitted if submitted by Nov. 25.

Grading :

ISSUE - Substance, relevance to wildlife conservation, specificity, timeliness                                         15

TARGET - Appropriate for issue                                                                                                                       5

BACKGROUND WORK- Sources, extent/effort                                                                                             15

CONTENT OF LETTER - One issue; specific action or position requested or applauded;

                                            subject politely concisely, and clearly stated; importance to

                                            your life, country, region, or resource; reply requested

                                            (not for Letters to Editor); accuracy of statements.                                           30

FORMAT - Proper form, including return address; literacy; neatness; correct name

                    and address; assignment specifications met.                                                                             20

                                                                                                                                                            Total          85