Civil Rights and Black Freedom

A Letter for Change

DIRECTIONS: Write a letter to persuade a politician to take action about an injustice.
1. Identify and research an injustice that think should be addressed.
a. What is the injustice?
b. Provide at least one piece of evidence that supports your claim that this is
a problem.
2. Identify and research a solution to the problem.
a. What is the solution?
b. Provide at least one piece of evidence that supports your claim that this is
an effective solution.
3. Decide who to write your letter to. (Who can help make this solution happen?)
4. Explain what you are specifically asking them to do.
5. Compose an OFFICIAL letter that states the problem, solution, and what you
would like this person to do about it.
a. Must be four paragraphs.
6. Send the letter.
This project is worth 200 points. Not completing this project may result in you failing the
class.

Name:_______________________________________ Due Date:____________ Grade__________________/200

Letter Rubric
CATEGORY
Introduction

Supporting
evidence
Discussion
Question/Topic

Choice of
Letter
Recipient
Accuracy
Grammar &
Spelling
Capitalization
& Punctuation

20 - Above Standards
The introduction has a
strong statement, a relevant
quotation, statistic, or
question addressed to the
reader.
Both problem and solution
are supported by strong
factual evidence
Writer answered all parts of
the question OR included all
parts of the topic they were
to discuss
It is clear who the letter is
intended for, what the writer
is requesting, and that this
person is the right choice to
direct this request.
All examples and details are
accurate
Author makes no errors in
grammar or spelling that
distract the reader from the
content.
Author makes no errors in
capitalization or punctuation,
so the essay is exceptionally
easy to read.

Conclusion

The conclusion is strong and

leaves the reader
understanding the writer\'s
position.

Length of
paper

Paper is the required

number of
paragraphs/pages
Followed all guidelines.

Followed
Official Letter
Guidelines

15 - Meets Standards
The introduction has a hook
or attention grabber, but it is
weak, rambling or
inappropriate for the
audience.
Both problem and solution
are supported by some
evidence.
Writer answered almost all
parts of the question OR
included almost all parts of
the topic they were to
discuss
It somewhat clear who the
letter is intended for, what
the writer is requesting, and
that this person is the right
choice to direct this request.
Almost all examples and
details are accurate
Author makes 1-2 errors in
grammar or spelling that
distract the reader from the
content.
Author makes 1-2 errors in
capitalization or punctuation,
but the essay is still easy to
read.

10 - Approaching Standards
The author has an interesting
introduction but the connection to
the topic is not clear.

5 - Below Standards
The introduction is not
interesting AND is not
relevant to the topic.

The problem or solution are

lacking supporting evidence.

No evidence is presented.

Writer answered most of the parts

of the question or included most of
the parts of the topic they were to
discuss

Writer did not answer the

question OR did not discuss
the topic given.

It is unclear who the letter is

intended for, what the writer is
requesting, and that this person is
the right choice to direct this
request.
Most examples and details are
accurate
Author makes 3-4 errors in
grammar or spelling that distract
the reader from the content.

No recipient is presented.

The conclusion is
recognizable. The author\'s
position is restated within
the first two sentences of the
closing paragraph.
Paper is 75 to 99% the
required number of
paragraphs/pages
Did not follow one guideline.

The author\'s position is restated

within the closing paragraph, but
not near the beginning.

Author makes a few errors in

capitalization and/or punctuation
that catch the reader's attention
and interrupt the flow.

Paper is 50-74% of the required

number of paragraphs/pages
Did not follow two guidelines.

Some examples and details

are accurate
Author makes more than 4
errors in grammar or spelling
that distract the reader from
the content.
Author makes several errors
in capitalization and/or
punctuation that catch the
reader's attention and
interrupt the flow.
There is no conclusion - the
paper just ends.

Paper is less than 50% of the

required number of
paragraphs/pages
Did not follow more than two
guidelines.

Business LetterFormat
Format
Business
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Letter Format

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Business Letter Format

Sincerely
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