Letter to the editor

Many students like to write letters to the editor for written task
1. As a text type it offers a broad range of possibilities, as people
write such letters in response to articles, opinion columns, print
ads and TV shows. Though many assume that the main purpose
of the letter to the editor is to complain, this does not
necessarily have to be the case. One could write such a letter to
praise, point out a hypocrisy, shed light on a matter, or set the
record straight.

In this lesson, you will explore three letters to the editor and
discuss the common structural features. In the 'teacher talk'
section you can learn more about why letters to the editor are so
popular as written task 1s. At the end of this lesson there is an
engaging activity, which asks you to stand up and walk around the room. Letters to the editor have never been such a work
out!

Structural features of letters to the editor

● reference to the original article
● brevity
● rhetorical questions
● an interesting fact or quotation
● a counter argument
● a recommendation
● a clear statement of opinion
● the effect of the original article on you and others
● emotive language (at the risk of hyperbole)
● punchy, concise sentences

Three letters to the editor

'Tolerance' should extend beyond liberal borders

Fred C. Sebly

22 February 2013

I have to laugh at the silliness of the political correctness police. Charles Cunningham (“If ‘Redskins‘ offends, so should
other names,” Letters, Wednesday) is correct when he writes, “The political correctness police have started their ritual (it
happens about every 10 years or so).”

Apparently it is time yet again to fight the name “Washington Redskins.” It seems people who know the least think and talk
the most, and this is when they make fools of themselves. Apparently the folks who want the change think the name is
racist. But the name refers to a cultural practice, not any race. American Indians were called “redskins” because in war they
coated their skin with red pigment clay to embolden themselves and hopefully to frighten the enemy. Even a liberal who
takes the time to look carefully will find American Indians do not have red skin.

When I am offended, the left instructs me to be more tolerant and inclusive. This goes both ways. So it is time for all of us
to be more tolerant, especially the easily offended left. As a culture, we have to stop asking “How high?” when a politically
correct person tells us to jump. It’s time to stand firm and reject silliness, or this culture war will never stop.

FRED C. SEBLY

Mount Airy, Md.

Children should not be subject to Michael Gove's idea of history

Sir Peter Newsham

24 February 2013

The education secretary's authoritarian tinkering with the school curriculum is wholly inappropriate.

The right question to ask of Michael Gove's draft history curriculum is how Parliament has allowed an individual politician
to dictate what history is to be taught in the nation's schools ("Plan for history curriculum is too focused on Britain",
Letters).

Gove's curriculum is not unlike the "What should be known at the end of the course" section of the 1927 version of the
Board of Education's Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers, some of which remains perfectly sensible. The crucial
difference between then and now lies in the preparatory note to those suggestions. It was there emphasised that these were
to be regarded simply as "a challenge to independent thought".

The board went on to endorse what its predecessors in 1904 had wanted to see: "That each teacher shall think for himself,
and work out for himself, such methods of teaching as may use his powers to the best advantage and be best suited to the
particular needs and conditions of the school."

That is the way forward for education. Gove's authoritarian tinkering is a warning that a statutorily enforceable national
curriculum, controlled by an opinionated individual, has no place in a democratic society. It is the road to serfdom.

Sir Peter Newsam

(past education officer, ILEA, director,

London University Institute of Education)

A disturbing article in Time Magazine

Tony Lazaro
24 January 2012

Dear Editor,

I recently returned from a charitable trip to Pakistan, whereby I visited both Karachi and Islamabad. I spoke with several
universities, key businesses, prominent business leaders and several religious people from all generations….

On the day I returned to the office, someone had placed your magazine (January 16, 2012), on my desk. I read with interest
your article on Karachi and the city in doom. For a person to have just returned from the very same place that your
magazine described was somewhat bizarre, so I read with great detail your writer (Andrew Marshall’s) account.

Let me begin by saying that I often flick through your magazine and find the articles of great interest, but on this particular
day and this particular article, I found certain comments to be both one sided and indeed very negative. I say that because I
saw a different Pakistan to what was portrayed in your article. I do not and will not comment on the political or religious
problems that the country faces, but I will go so far as to say that not everything is as bad as the image that your magazine
paints.

Sure there are deaths in the cities. Please show me a city in the world, that is free from political fighting and unrest.

Sure there are differences in the political party opinions. Please show me a country in the world where the political parties
agree.

Sure the innocent are suffering. Please show me a country in the world where wealth and power is equal and the innocent
don’t suffer.

Sure corruption is in Pakistan. Please show me a country in the world that is corruption free.

My list could go on, but my point is that Pakistan does have problems…but so does every other country in the world in
some way or another. However, in the case of ALL other nations, there are often good things to report and the media goes
out of its way to promote these good things across the globe, whenever possible. The ridiculous amount of shootings in the
USA are balanced off by the success of Google, Microsoft and Apple. The financial dilemmas of Greece are lost in the
marketing of the Greek Islands as a holiday destination of choice. The child slave industry of India, is brushed under the
carpet in favour of the nation’s growth in the global software boom. What I am trying to say, is that someone needs to look
further into Pakistan and see that there are millions of great stories to write about, which would portray the country in a
different light, to that what is being portrayed by your article.

When I was in Pakistan, I visited a towel manufacturing company (Alkaram Towels). They produced some $60million in
export in 2011 and are aiming at $85million in 2012. A substantial increase in sales…in a recession I would remind you. The
company was started by the current Chairman, Mr. Mehtab Chawla, at the tender age of nine, after his father passed away.
Today the very man employs 3000 staff. Now that’s a story.

I visited universities of NED, Hamdard, Karachi, Szabist and NUST. The students are unbelievably intelligent. They spend
their spare time developing APPS for android and apple. They are involved in cutting edge technology and no one in the
world knows this. Why not send a reporter to Pakistan to look into this. Why not research good things in this nation, rather
than just the bad things. At NUST (National Institution for Science and Technology – Islamabad)) there were 38,000
applications for medicine. There are only 83 seats for the medicine course on offer. The competition is unbelievable. In
short it pushes the best to be even better. But the world doesn’t know this. Why ? Because no one wants to report on it, or
 no one knows about it…or both !!

Please do not get me wrong. I understand that news is news, but it is high time that the western world stopped promoting
these terrorists and political wars in Pakistan and started to write something that would help the nation. Something positive.
If we really care about global partnerships and economic growth, then I suggest we try and give Pakistan a helping hand.
There are 180 million people in Pakistan, 65% are under the age of 25. The youth of Pakistan is its strength.. it is like a
sleeping giant. If you think that India is a booming nation. I suggest you stop a second and look at Pakistan. Given a little
help from the western world, Pakistan can become a dominant economy. She doesn’t want aid and she doesn’t need
money… she just wants the chance to be seen in a different light. I believe we have a fundamental obligation to assist. The
only question is, who will reach out first.

Warmest regards,

Tony Lazaro


Managing Director


Rising Stars Management Group

Advantages and disadvantages of letters to the editor as written task 1s

Students like writing letters to the editor for several reasons:

● The letter is in response to a text, therefore it is relevant to this course and has a clear focus.
● You do not have to take on a persona, as some other (creative) text types might suggest. You can
be yourself.
● They do not require a detailed study of text type and are less complex.
● The letter to the editor is a non-literary text type, which tends to work well for Parts 1 and 2 of the
course.
While these points may work to your advantage there is one disadvantage of this text type: Letters to the editor
are not usually 800-1000 words long, the required word count for the written task 1. To this, there are two
responses:

1. Letters to the editor may be long. Notice that the final example letter above is over 800 words.
Although it was not actually published in Time Magazine, it has many of the key characteristics of a
letter to the editor.
2. Submit 2 or 3 letters to the editor, written from different perspectives. In response to a given article,
one letter may be written from an angry mother's point of view. Another may be written from a
animal rights activist's point of view. Feel free to take on relevant personas that are well
researched. Submit all of the letters as one written task 1. The IB, in their 'clarifications' document
on the OCC, has approved this idea for written task 1s.

Letter to the editor as written task 1

Primary source

Rationale

I wrote a letter of complaint to the Heartland Institute criticizing about a billboard campaign which they started
last year (http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2012/05/science-050712-002b.jpg). Even though Heartland
Institute already cancelled their billboard campaign, I am writing a letter as if they have not. I am trying to keep
the letter polite because I want the Heartland Institute to take a serious look at it and to take my suggestion into
consideration. The purpose of my letter to the Heartland Institute is to try to make the organisation cancel their
campaign or at least change the way Heartland Institute feels about their own advertisement campaign.
Heartland Institute is a group of sceptics, who try to think outside the box who always receive a lot of critique
on their ideas. That is why in order to convince them I am not only saying that the billboard campaign is
inadequate but also that it is ineffective, thus also giving reasons for the organisations to rethink their
advertising strategy.
My letter of complaint consists of a few fundamental elements, like the receivers address, my own address, the
date, signature and my name. Al these elements are used in most letters and so they can also be found in my
letter of complaint. Furthermore I tried to structure my letter as follows: background information, actual
problem, effects of problem and a solution. The first paragraph mainly revolves about explaining my
background information, it is the introduction. The second paragraph mainly focuses on explaining the actual
problem I have with the billboard.

My next three paragraphs are about the effects of the chosen billboard campaign, I try to not only focus on the
effects on American society “The effect of this man on American society is far greater than most people can
imagine” but I also try to address the effect of the picture on the organisation itself “. I also believe that this
campaign negatively affects your own goals because it makes people focus too much on the picture, which
iduces a lot of negative emotions and memories, instead of your actual message.”. The last paragraph is my
closing paragraph and it contains my ‘solution’ for the problem presented.

This task addresses the topic of media and specifically addresses shock advertising. Trough this written task I
learned more about the different forms of communications used within advertisement campaigns. Furthermore
I came to understand how the media uses language and images to persuade or entertain the audience.
Written task 1

Virgo 110
9000 RD Assen
The Netherlands
The Heartland Institute

One South Wacker Drive 2740

Chicago, Illinois 60606

312/377-4000

United States of America

6 February 2013

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to share my opinion on your recent billboard campaign. I first spotted one of your
controversial billboards while I was driving to work. Long before I reached the billboard I had already seen the
picture of Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, in the distance. As most citizens would, I recognised
his face, and wondered what the text next to the picture on the billboard would say. As I came closer I tried to
read what the billboard said and I was utterly shocked by what I saw. “I still believe in Global Warming. Do
you?”

Global warming is a popular topic these days. The question, whether people greatly affect global warming or
not, is an important one. I know that the last few decennia most scientists believed that we do have a
significant impact on global warming. Of course there have always been people that opposed these ideas and
did not agree with the rest of the scientists. There will always be speculation regarding this topic because there
is no hard evidence pointing in a definite direction. Therefore I think the question posed on the billboard is a
very good question. People should be stimulated to think about global warming, they should be able to form
their own opinion on this matter. There is however one thing about the billboard that I strongly disagree with,
namely the picture of Ted Kaczynski.

Ted Kaczynski is responsible for a lot of sorrow in the United States of America. He is responsible for the death
of three innocent American citizens and the injuries of many more.The effect of this man on American society
is far greater than most people can imagine. Think not only of the casualties but also about the thousands of
Americans that feared for their lives because this man was still walking around free. I think Heartland Institute
really misjudged the situation. I personally feel that you can not use a picture of a man like Ted Kaczynski on a
billboard alongside the road. A lot of people will be shocked by the giant billboards alongside the road with a
picture of one of America´s most hated men on it.

This billboard is a perfect example of a shock advertisement, because it deliberately, rather than inadvertently,
startles and offends people by violating certain social values and personal ideals. Shock advertising is
designed to capture the attention of an audience, to create a buzz, and also to bring awareness to a certain
issue, in this case global warming. Shock advertising is a very effective way of advertising because it spreads
really fast. Due to all the different reactions on your controversial billboard campaign even more people learned
about your organizations and its goals. This can be a great way to spread a message and gain awareness
however it can be overdone. I believe that in this particular situation the shock effect is to great and it draws the
attention of the reader away from the original message. Your goal is to make people rethink about the current
paradigm regarding global warming but instead you are making them focus on the giant picture next to your
message.

I believe that one of the reasons why your picture is stealing the attention of your audience away from your
original message is because they have nothing to do with each other. Advertisements with shocking pictures
should strengthen the message of the advertiser but in your case it only distracts the audience. The picture of
Theodore Kaczynski has very little to do with the message you are trying to convey to the people. I believe that
in this situation you are misusing the picture of Ted Kaczynski, who has nothing to do with global warming, in
order to create a shock. I am not against shock advertisement but when done with an irrelevant shocking
image, I think it should not be allowed.

Last of all I would like to say that I am not at all against your organisation. I am well aware of the things you do
for American society. As a group of sceptics, it is inevitable that a lot of people criticise your ideas and disagree
with your statements. Personally, I think sceptics are very important in a society. If there are no people that are
against a certain paradigm, we will not be able to improve our current ideas about the world. The world needs
sceptics in order to create debate about certain issues, that will eventually lead to a better understanding of the
issue. I am writing this to explain to you that I am not somebody that is against your organisation and all of her
ideas, but that I am opposed to this particular advertisement campaign.

I would like to end this letter by asking Heartland Institute to cancel their billboard campaign. The use of a
picture of the Unabomber is inappropriate and completely out of context. I also believe that this campaign
negatively affects your own goals because it makes people focus too much on the picture, which induces a lot
of negative emotions and memories, instead of your actual message. I am not going to take any legal action
against the Heartland Institute, I am merely trying to change the way you feel about your own advertisement
campaign. Just like you are trying to change the way a lot of people think about global warming. Even though I
am fully aware of the fact that this letter might not be enough for your organisation to decide to cancel the
advertisement campaign, I hope however that it will at least lead to a new discussion inside your own
organisation regarding this advertisement campaign.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

[signature]

Dennis Sikkens.