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Monday, August 20, 2012
Alternative Assignment: Education Advocacy Assignment
Education Advocacy Assignment:
1) Identify three education-related bills on the federal level about which you have some interest and/or concern. Submit those three choices by the due date to the instructor. The instructor will then assign you one of those three options on a first-come, first-serve basis. No more than two students will be permitted to analyze the same bill.
2) Next, answer the following questions about the bill (2-3 double-spaced pages minimum). Make sure to attach a copy of the first page of the proposed bill to your paper.
a) Summary of the bill (a paragraph will suffice).
b) What does this bill propose to do?
c) Do you favor or oppose the bill? Explain.
d) What might be some of the opposing viewpoints (to your own) regarding the bill?
e) Does this bill illustrate any awareness of community or cultural diversity? Why or why not?
3) Identify a United States senator or representative from South Carolina (or your home state) and prepare a letter telling him/her whether you think he/she should or should not support the bill. Be clear and concise in your reasoning (1 single-spaced page maximum). Attach a copy of your letter to your paper.
4) Identify a newspaper in South Carolina (or your home state) and write a letter to the editor regarding your viewpoints about the bill. Give your letter a brief title. Do no exceed 250 words. Attach your letter to the editor to your paper.
It is your decision whether to actually submit your letter to a senator/representative and/or a newspaper editor.
Useful websites for this assignment:
Search Current Legislation
Use the subject/keyword “education” for best results:
How Can I Contact my Legislators?
Use your zip code to find your legislator. Click on the names listed to read a bio and see contact information:
Sample Letters
Greenville News tips for writing a Letter to the Editor (can be applied generally to all newspapers)
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