Published In
National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2019
Subjects
Experiential learning -- Higher Education -- Study and teaching, Educational leadership, Education -- Curricula, English language -- Rhetoric -- Study and teaching, Social justice
Abstract
Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” The Eloquent Letter is an authentic, adaptable assignment for acquiring critical skills: identifying and researching social problems, examining value systems and diverse perspectives, communicating effectively, and proposing solutions based on common ground. Moving beyond traditional argumentation essays and debates, this project situates activism and writing “in its native habitat.”
Students identify and research a social problem or issue and write and send a persuasive letter, asking for specific action toward addressing the issue. This assignment is meant to assess DQP proficiencies in Broad and Integrative Knowledge, Intellectual skills, and Civic and Global Learning. Students develop questions to explore a controversial topic, research and compare information from multiple perspectives, understand the system within which the topic operates, and examine, compare, and integrate the positions, values, knowledge, and assumptions of various stakeholders. They also examine the learning process and engage in peer review of draft letters.
Rights
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/38566
Citation Details
Bergland, C. (2019). The eloquent letter. Portland State University.
Included in
Creative Writing Commons, Education Commons, Social Justice Commons