Writing an E-mail about an Important Issue Assignment (ELA)

Prompt: Write an e-mail to a government or school official in which you propose an effective solution to a problem in your community or school. Use your writing prompt to answer these questions. What will you write? Who is your audience? What is your purpose?

(An email) (A government or school official) (To suggest a solution to a problem)

A student wants to write a letter to city representatives explaining the effects of not having a community center. What are some possible effects of this problem? Check all that apply.

(People have no place to hold social events, such as craft fairs or chess tournaments) (The city has no place large enough to hold meetings that are open to all community members) People in the area do not feel a sense of community)

Sample paragraph: Our school library contains mostly outdated print reference materials and only one computer for student use. This creates a problem when many students need to conduct research during study period. Students must wait in line to use the computer and often do not get a turn. Students who use the outdated print materials often end up putting inaccurate information in their school reports and receiving a bad grade. What are some possible solutions to the problem in the e-mail? Check all that apply.

(Seek computer donations for school library) (Raise money for newer reference materials) (Enter into a lending agreement with the public library for updated print materials)

Dear Mayor Rivera— The intersection at 12th Street and 1st Avenue is very dangerous. There are no stop signs, and visibility is blocked by hedges and trees; therefore, drivers often do not see oncoming traffic. This has caused many accidents. Please consider installing stop signs. I know that the budget is an issue in our community, so I propose holding a fundraiser at the high school to raise money for the signs. People in the community could bake goods and donate items to sell. Many accidents could be prevented by this simple step of installing stop signs. Damon Aichi Sincerely, Study the e-mail's formatting. What changes are needed to correct it? Check all that apply.

(The salutation should use a colon) (The signature should come after the closing)

Each of these sentences is written with a nonobjective tone. Choose the corrected, objective version of each sentence . My great idea for getting lazy people to start recycling is to place recycling bins in key places around the city. You'll have to convince the stubborn director to keep the library open an extra hour each day.

-Placing recycle bins in key places around the city will encourage people to recycle -The library's director may not be easily convinced to extend library hours

Imagine that you are writing an e-mail to a government official to ask him or her to provide information to your town about how to conserve water. Which sentence uses an appropriate tone for an e-mail to a government official?

It would benefit many people to learn how to help protect our environment.

Sample paragraph: Our school library contains mostly outdated print reference materials and only one computer for student use. This creates a problem when many students need to conduct research during study period. Students must wait in line to use the computer and often do not get a turn. Students who use the outdated print materials often end up putting inaccurate information in their school reports and receiving a bad grade. Read the section from a model letter. What is the problem identified in the letter?

Reference materials are outdated, and the library has only one computer.

Sample paragraph: The library should remain open for an additional hour every day. The current hours do not allow students enough time after school for quiet study and research. This makes studying difficult for students who have trouble finishing their homework. They also have difficulty conducting research, as most students do not have the ability to get to the city library and do not have sufficient resources at home. Read the paragraph from a model letter. Who is the intended audience for the letter?

The principal of the school