Letter to Key Decision Maker
For the course project, write a 3–4 page, double-spaced letter to a key decision maker on your selected environmental issue. The letter could be directed to your city council, your representatives in Congress, or to a leader in industry. You may want to actually send your letter, though it is optional.
Know to Whom and How to Send Your Letter
You may address your letter to your local representative in the federal government (your house representative and senator).
You can find the name and address of your representative by going to Congress.org or to the websites for U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate (all linked in the Resources). When addressing your letter, use the following format:
For Your Senator
The Honorable (full name)
(Room Number) (Name) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator (last name):
For Your House Representative
The Honorable (full name)
(Room Number) (Name) House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative (last name):
Assignment Details
Your letter should develop a good argument about why you feel the current practice should be changed. To support your argument, include 2–3 references outside of those provided in the course. Use the following questions to guide the development of your argument:
- What is the current situation? Include the following in your response:
- Explain why change is needed.
- Identify the relevant scientific research on this issue.
- Analyze the consequences for the environment and humans if this change is not made.
- What change in practice are you proposing? In your rationale of the proposed change, apply your knowledge of the ecosystems or natural resources impacted.
- Explain how the problem impacts natural resources.
- Analyze the economic and political implications of the change. Address the following topics:
- What would be the impacts on individuals or industry, either positive of negative if this change is made?
- Explain how such impacts could be dealt with.
- Analyze how different individual worldviews may vary on this topic.
- An example might be to analyze how the worldviews of energy industry executives who support fracking might differ from local residents concerned about their drinking water.
Refer to the Letter to Key Decision Maker Scoring Guide for the criteria your instructor will use to evaluate your letter.
Note: While this assignment is in the form of a letter, you must include in-text citations and a reference section according to APA guidelines.
Submission Requirements
- Written communication:Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- APA formatting:Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting.
- Number of Resources:Minimum of 2–3 resources.
- Length:3–4 double-spaced, typed pages.
- Font and font size:Times New Roman, 12 points.
