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Your take on the news

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• The letters to the editor section of your local paper is an ideal forum for sharing your opinion and story with the local community.

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• It is one of the first pages many elected officials turn to.

• Letters to the editor show that an issue is of concern to the community and are excellent tools for education.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/

Guidelines

• Localize your letter -- explain or include examples

• Make your letter timely - if the newspaper has recently printed a story or column that interests you, you can reference the article and use it as a springboard for your letter.

• Keep your letter short and to the point -- 250 words maximum.

• Your letter should carry its most important message in the first paragraph.

Source: Human rights Campaign

• Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Editors like to call to confirm that the letter was actually written by the person whose name appears on the letter.

• Limit the number of points you make, and stay on the same subject.

Source: Human rights Campaign

• Don't be disappointed if your letter does not get printed. Newspapers get many letters every day and can't print all of them. Most papers won't print the same writers over and over again.

Source: Human rights Campaign

• Don't be afraid to ask for action -- tell readers what you want them to do. This includes your elected representatives; you can be sure they read the letters to the editor.

Source: Human rights Campaign

FormatP

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Task

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• Compose your letter to the editor following the guidelines I gave, and send your letter to the editor via email (see links below).

• When you send your letter (to the Editor) do not include your student number nor indicate that it is an assignment. You need to present your work as a letter coming from a concerned Taiwanese citizen who has something relevant to say/comment on.

Before you compose your letter, study the already published letters, and analyze their format.

• Follow the same writing format and style.

You will be notified by the editor if your work has been chosen. Please share and let us know if your letter has been selected and published.

Examples from students’ published work

http://ww

w.chinapost.com

.tw/com

mentary/letters/2012/04/13/3377

29/Lines-between.htm

@motherchina

@motherchina

Your Opinion.

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