Part 1: Civic engagement letter
Washington, DC Office
2205 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Dear congressman,
RE: Higher tuition in colleges
I am writing for the above named reason. My name is [insert name]. I am a 20 year old student from Xxxx University (insert name and address). The cost of a college degree has risen over the past three decades at a rate of 1,200 per cent. Majority of American students graduate from high school with hope of pursuing a post-secondary education. Graduating from college is part of the American dream. However, this dream is becoming more difficult to achieve. Dear congressman, with private college tuition averaging to $25,000 and public school tuition averaging to $6,000 many Americans are wondering whether pursuing a college education is worth the cost. In addition to high tuition fee, students are graduating colleges owing high amounts in student’s loans. After graduation the students are overwhelmed by the debts and forced to take jobs they would otherwise not have taken. Students qualified to join for advanced degrees are opting to attend community colleges as those are less expensive. As a result, they do not acquire the necessary skills.
I hereby ask of you to intervene on behalf of all students and parents who are burdened with high tuition fee. Future generations will be affected by the high tuition fee as their parents will be too burdened with student loan payments to save for their college education. To achieve sustainable education in America, tuition costs need to be reduced to an affordable cost. The government should also subsidize the student’s loan.
I would be honored if you intervened on behalf of all of America. We all want to live the American dream. Our economy will face the whip lash if most students graduate with substandard education or cannot afford a college education. Dear congressman, for America to ensure sustainable development, tuition fee have to be reduced to affordable rates. It is in the country’s best interest. Thank you in advance
[Signature]
[Insert name]
Part 2: Rhetoric analysis
Congress George miller was the best choice to address my letter to. George has served in the Education and Workforce Committee since first coming to Congress and was its chairman from 2007 through 2010. He is a leading advocate in congress on education. Addressing my letter to him concerning higher tuition fee meant that he would look in to the matter since he is concerned with matters pertaining education.
George’s top priorities in congress involve education and economic growth. In my letter I have mentioned how high tuition fee is likely to lure students into community college where they might not acquire the necessary skills. Congressman George is bound to see this as a challenge to economic growth and launch a legislative movement to reduce tuition fee in colleges.
George in conjunction with President Obama played a role in transforming student loan programs to make accessing an affordable post-secondary education a reality for more students. He is likely to empathize with my feelings toward high students loans that burden students after graduation.
As a grandaunt of Diablo Community College, Congressman George is fully aware of the level of education acquired at community colleges. He had to top up his education at San Francisco State University. The congressman is a position to understand that for some prestigious jobs, a community college education is not enough.
Congressman George is a family man with six grandchildren. He is bound to empathize with the unsustainable future of America’s education. He would want a good education for his grandchildren.
Since his priorities at the congress are education and economic growth and education, Congressman George works to ensure that all students have access to skills, knowledge and support to succeed in America’s economy and the society as a whole. He is fighting to strengthen America’s middle class and what better way to do so than to reduce tuition fee so that middle class parents can afford an education for their children.
All the above factors considered, Congressman George was the best candidate for my letter. This letter is persuasive as it touches on the parts that the Congress man wants to change and gives priority. My letter touches on sustainable education and how it affects America.
Part 3
Writing this assignment was an experiment of my persuasive writing skills. The civic engagement letter was the first I have ever written. I had to research on how to write a civic engagement letter. I also reviewed civic letters that have been written before. I did this to make myself conversant with the appropriate language to use when addressing a prominent person.
I learnt that when writing a civic engagement letter, you have to be courteous. You also have to clearly state the purpose of your letter. It is also important to say who you are as anonymous letters go nowhere. Best letters are courteous, to the point and include specific supporting examples (Breen p 218).
As opposed to other persuasive papers that I have written, the civic engagement letter required more formal language. I had to use persuasive language as opposed to emotional language.
Writing about a subject that concerned me as a student was also very important for me. It is not every day that you get to speak about the things that really affect you. I felt honored to speak on behalf of my fellow students from all around America.
I feel that my writing has matured. I can now write about important matters to important people. Different from other persuasive writings, this one was heartfelt. It touched on something that was important to me as a student. I highly appreciate the work that Congressman has been doing concerning education. Writing to the congressman felt like a dream come true on my part.
I had to carry out a research on Congressman George. While reading his biography, I learnt many things about that I did not know. In regards to writing, I have learnt that a civic engagement letter is similar to other letters in terms of formal language. The only difference is that a civic letter insists on facts and evidence.
Writing this letter was a good experience for me and has helped me improve on my writing skills. I had no experience in writing a civic engagement letter but now I do. In future I can write one without any difficulties.
Work cited
Breen, Peter. The Book of Letters: How to Write a Letter for Every Occasion. Crow’s Nest, N.S.W: Allen & Unwin, 2002. Print.
