Exercise 5: Changing minds
The Prompt
Write a letter in which you seek to persuade a public figure with whom you disagree significantly about an important public issue that, in fact, you share common ground and can work together to resolve that issue.
- A “public issue” is a matter of controversy within a community, large or small, that the community can act upon: for example, American immigration policy, or the #MeToo Movement, or whether Denver should revise its mask policy, or how DU ought to revise its curriculum.
- A “public figure” is someone who has or spoken out about the issue publicly (and whose writing/speaking you can access). Politicians are public figures; so, too, are editorial writers, TV hosts, artists, activists, business leaders, and the student journalists at The Clarion.
Your audience
Your audience here is the public figure to whom you’re writing. You’re trying to change that person's mind.
Format
Your letter should have four parts:
- A description of the issue. (You should be able to do this in a paragraph.)
- A description of the public figure’s point of view on it, to include points that you may be willing to concede. Your goal here is to be fair and accurate. You want the public figure to feel that they've been heard. (1–2 paragraphs.)
- A discussion of your point of view, to include (or not) points that the public figure may be willing to concede to you. (1–2 paragraphs.) Remember: your goal isn't to score points here, but to find common ground.
- A thesis that advocates for a compromise that allows you to move forward together on the issue at hand. This section should address the concessions you will both need to make as well as the mutual benefits you will both share. (3 or more paragraphs.)
* Please be sure to include a link to the public figure's text -- the statement of editorial that they wrote, or the speech or interview that they gave, etc.
Requirements, tips
- Your letter should be at least 1,000 words. More is OK.
- Please and post a complete a draft by Tues., Feb. 18.
- To find writing or speaking by public figures, check newspaper opinion pages (like the Denver Post, the DU Clarion, your hometown paper, or the New York Times); sites associated with TV news and talk programs and other places online where opinions are shared. But don't look for just-the-facts reportage. What you want are opinion pieces.
- Remember: Your goal here isn’t to rant, to berate your opponent, or to disparage their ideas. Rather, it is to persuade them to see the common ground between you and to consider acting on it with you.
- Use the combination of logical, ethical, and emotional appeals that seems appropriate to your audience and the issue at hand.
- Use the sentence composition tips we’ve discussed in class to write clearly, concisely, and with style.
- As always, follow the formatting guidelines here.
