Letter – American Govt

Use Congress.gov website and use the TEXAS STATE
OBJECTIVE: This personal responsibility assignment assesses a student’s ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making. ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS:This is a letter writing assignment. 1. The student must pick an ethical issue that aligns with their given values or ideology and then find a bill that is currently before Congress that deals with that issue. 2. Next, the student must write a letter to their U.S. Representative, or one of their two U.S. Senators discussing the following elements: Identify and explain your support or opposition to the bill chosen (1 paragraph) Use two credible sources to identify and explain two specific areas that would be affected by this bill. For example, if you are supporting the bill then you might explain two specific areas that would improve should this bill be passed. However, if you are not in support of this bill, then you might identify two specific areas that will be negatively impacted with the passage of this bill (2 paragraphs) Note: You should use facts, data, and other quantifiable metrics to support your claim. Use one credible source, to explain the long-term impact and consequences likely to result should the bill pass or fail to pass. (1 paragraph)LETTER WRITING INSTRUCTIONS: 1. The letter needs to meet the minimum length standard set forth in the assignment instructions 2. The letter should be typed. Please use Times New Roman, 12pt font, and normal margins.3. The letter should be single spaced and arranged in business letter format. A simple Google search for business letter format will give numerous examples of what a business letter looks like. Additionally, a sample letter has been provided at the end of this instruction.

4. Spelling and grammar will be taken into consideration when grading this assignment as well as the rubric provided 5. Be sure to include the recipients address in your letter as well as a proper greeting and salutation6. Be sure to use the correct title for the person you are writing. For example, Ted Cruz should be referred to as Senator Cruz. COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID: Do not turn in your letter without proofreading it. Be sure that you are writing to a federal official and not a state or local official. Write to only one person Do not double space your letter, including the address section. Make sure you are using the correct address for the member of Congress Make sure you have complied with all the formatting requirements (i.e., Times New Roman, 12pt font, normal margins, etc.)GRADING RUBRIC

You will need to write to a Texas House or Senate member, choose a bill that was before the Texas Legislature (whether passed or not) and provide two primary sources in your argument in the letter.  You do not need a works cited page, but the sources must clearly identified in the body of the letter