Dallas morning news op ed submission

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 1/6

Writing Assignment 2

Due Friday by 11:59pm Points 100 Submitting a file upload Available until Mar 1 at 11:59pm

PSCI Core 2021

Submit Assignment

Due February 26th at 11:59pm

Write a Letter to the Editor

This assignment requires you effectively demonstrate core competencies of critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility within the context of civic engagement in the U.S. political process. In order to earn a satisfactory grade, you must do each of the following satisfactorily:

1. Identify a current political issue that affects you and your community. 2. Educate yourself about the issue by reading at least three articles from reputable news sources about the issue. 3. Identify a media outlet used in your community (this could be a news blog, a newspaper, or a radio station). Verify that the

media outlet accepts letters to their editorial staff and find the parameters for such submissions. Take a screenshot of the submission guidelines.

4. Draft a letter (of a length that adheres to the submission guidelines for your particular media outlet, but typically about 150 words) to the editor in which you 1. identify yourself; 2. identify the political issue about which you are concerned; 3. clearly state a position on that issue (what the government should do or not do); and 4. provide an explanation for your position that will persuade the readers to agree with you.

You will turn in

1. a .doc, .docx, or .pdf version of your letter; and 2. a .doc, .docx, or .pdf document listing the three articles you read; and 3. a screenshot (.jpg, .png, .pdf) of submission guidelines for the media outlet you chose

Check the letters-to-the-editor for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for examples of what a letter-to-the-editor should look like: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/ (https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/)

The following links provide details on submissions to some possible media outlets:

Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/2018/12/02/tips-for-letters-to-the-editor-and-op-ed- submissions/ (https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/2018/12/02/tips-for-letters-to-the-editor-and-op-ed-submissions/)

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/ (https://www.star- telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/)

For more information about submitting an op-ed as well as links to many, many newspapers, visit The Op-Ed Project: https://www.theopedproject.org/submission-information (https://www.theopedproject.org/submission-information)

https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/2018/12/02/tips-for-letters-to-the-editor-and-op-ed-submissions/
https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/submit-letter/
https://www.theopedproject.org/submission-information
2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 2/6

Criteria Ratings Pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

 Content Development threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Thorough development of content

6 pts Proficient: Adequate development of content

4 pts Developing: Partial development of content

2 pts Beginning: Minimal development of content

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Correctness threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Mastery application of the rules of standard English

6 pts Proficient: Above average application of the rules of standard English

4 pts Developing: Acceptable application of the rules of standard English

2 pts Beginning: Minimal application of the rules of standard English

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Organization/Structure threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Skillful implementation of an organizational pattern enhances the content's cohesion

6 pts Proficient: Organizational pattern makes the content mostly cohesive

4 pts Developing: Organizational pattern, in spite of interruptions, contributes to cohesion

2 pts Beginning: Organizational pattern is intermittently observable and results in minimal cohesion

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Statement of Purpose threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Presents a sophisticated central idea

6 pts Proficient: Presents a central idea

4 pts Developing: Attempt to present a central idea

2 pts Beginning: Minimal attempt to present a central idea

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Consideration of context, assumptions, other perspectives and the credibility and authority of sources threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Analysis acknowledges complexity and bias; identifies influence of context and questions assumptions; clearly integrates multiple perspectives and justifies on view while respecting others

6 pts Proficient: Engages challenging ideas tentatively or in ways that overstate the conflict; identifies but mostly dismisses alternative views

4 pts Developing: Provides some recognition of context and consideration of assumptions and their implications

2 pts Beginning: Approaches the issue in egocentric or socio-centric terms; analysis is grounded in absolutes, with little acknowledgement of own biases

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 3/6

Criteria Ratings Pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

 Development and presentation of argument, position or hypothesis with logical progression threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Presents and justifies clearly and in detail own argument, position or hypothesis while qualifying or integrating contrary views or interpretations

6 pts Proficient: Argument, position, or hypothesis includes original thinking that acknowledges, refutes, synthesizes or extends other assertions, although some aspects have not been fully developed

4 pts Developing: Argument, position or hypothesis is clearly stated but with little original consideration

2 pts Beginning: Argument, position or hypothesis is unclear, simplistic or re-stated with little original consideration; fails to accurately present, justify or develop argument, position or hypothesis

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Introduction of problem, question or issue threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Clearly identifies the challenge and subsidiary, embedded, or implicit aspects of the problem, question or issue

6 pts Proficient: Summarizes the problem, question or issue but some nuances and details are missing or glossed over

4 pts Developing: Summarizes the problem, question or issue, though some aspects are incorrect or confused

2 pts Beginning: Fails to accurately identify and summarize problem, question or issue

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Presentation of conclusions and their implications threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Identifies and discusses well- reasoned conclusions and their implications; integrates conclusions and implications

6 pts Proficient: Accuratley presents well-reasoned conclusions; presents implications that are only loosely connected to the conclusions

4 pts Developing: Accurately presents conclusions; implications are absent

2 pts Beginning: Fails to accurately identify conclusions or implications; conclusions are simplistic, absolute or attributed to an external authority

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Presentation, interpretation and analysis of information, data or evidence threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Examines and addresses evidence and its source; questions the accuracy, relevance and completeness of evidence

6 pts Proficient: Provides evidence of search, selection and source evaluation skills; discerns fact from opinion and may recognize bias in evidence

4 pts Developing: Demonstrates adequate skill in searching, selecting and evaluating sources to meet the information need; use of evidence is qualified and selective

2 pts Beginning: Repeats information provided without question or dismisses evidence without adequate justification; data/evidence or sources are simplistic or inappropriate

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 4/6

Criteria Ratings Pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

 Analyzes Ethical Issue threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Skillfully analyzes the ethical issue

6 pts Proficient: Adequately analyzes the ethical issue

4 pts Developing: Partially analyzes the ethical issue

2 pts Beginning: Minimally analyzed the ethical issue

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Describes the Ethical Issue threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Skillfully describes the ethical issue

6 pts Proficient: Adequately describes the ethical issue

4 pts Developing: Partially describes the ethical issue

2 pts Beginning: Minimally describes the ethical issue

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Discusses Possible Consequences of Solution threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Skillfully discusses possible consequences of solution

6 pts Proficient: Adequately discusses possible consequences of solution

4 pts Developing: Partially discusses possible consequences of solution

2 pts Beginning: Minimally discusses possible consequences of solution

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Justifies the Suggested Solution to the Ethical Issue threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Skillfully justifies the suggested solution to the ethical issue

6 pts Proficient: Adequately justifies the suggested solution to the ethical issue

4 pts Developing: Partially justifies the suggested solution to the ethical issue

2 pts Beginning: Minimally justifies the suggested solution to the ethical issue

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Suggests Steps to Solve Ethical threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Skillfully suggests steps to solve the ethical issue

6 pts Proficient: Adequately suggests steps to solve the ethical issue

4 pts Developing: Partially suggests steps to solve the ethical issue

2 pts Beginning: Minimally suggests steps to solve the ethical issue

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Acknowledge Civic Responsibility threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: A complex and fully developed combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation as they relate to civic life and affairs of regional, national, and/or global communities

6 pts Proficient: An advanced and well developed combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation as they relate to civic life and affairs of regional, national and/or global communities

4 pts Developing: An adequate and acceptably developed combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation as they relate to civic life and affairs of regional, national and/or global communities

2 pts Beginning: A surface understanding of knowledge, skills, values and motivation involved in civic responsibility and difficulty relating to civic life and affairs of regional, national and/or global communities

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 5/6

Criteria Ratings Pts

8 pts

8 pts

8 pts

 Acknowledge Perspectives threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Exceptional ability to articulate insights into diverse cultural/intercultural perspectives including one's own cultural rules and biases

6 pts Proficient: Advanced recognition and articulation of diverse cultural/intercultural perspectives including one's own cultural rules and biases

4 pts Developing: Adequate understanding of diverse cultural/intercultural perspectives including one's own cultural rules and biases

2 pts Beginning: Surface understanding of diverse cultural perspectives including one's own cultural rules and biases

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Apply Civic Responsibility threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Demonstrates civic engagement through reflection on community based action and/or research and exceptional reflective analysis of the purpose and benefits of the engagement

6 pts Proficient: Demonstrates civic engagement through reflection on community based action and/or research and advanced reflective analysis of the purpose and benefits of the engagement

4 pts Developing: Demonstrates civic engagement through reflection on community based action and/or research and adequate reflective analysis of the purpose and benefits of the engagement

2 pts Beginning: Demonstrates civic engagement through reflection on community based action and/or research that shows limited ability to reflect or analyze the purpose and benefits of the engagement

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

 Apply Perspectives threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Demonstrates exceptional ability to assume a perspective other than one's own and express empathy for diverse perspectives

6 pts Proficient: Demonstrates advanced ability to assume a perspective other than one's own and express empathy for diverse perspectives

4 pts Developing: Demonstrates adequate ability to assume a perspective other than one's own and express empathy for diverse perspectives

2 pts Beginning: Demonstrates minimal ability to assume a perspective other than one's own and expresses limited empathy for diverse perspectives

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

2/20/2021 Writing Assignment 2

https://unt.instructure.com/courses/44035/assignments/961274?module_item_id=2802185 6/6

Total Points: 176

Criteria Ratings Pts

8 pts

6 pts

18 pts

 Personal Development threshold: 6.0 pts

8 pts Advanced: Articulates insights about personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs seeking complexity and understanding and recognizing cultural biases, resulting in a shift in self-description

6 pts Proficient: Recognizes new perspectives about own personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs (e.g. not looking for sameness; comfortable with the complexities that new perspectives offer)

4 pts Developing: Identifies own personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs (e.g. with a strong preference for those rules shared with own cultural group and seeks the same in others)

2 pts Beginning: Shows minimal awareness of own personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs, even those shared with own cultural group(s) (e.g. uncomfortable with identifying possible cultural differences with others)

0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt

Citations 6 pts Advanced - Three references provided - All three are legitimate news sources - Proper citation format used

4 pts Proficient - Three references provided - One or more are from suspect sources - Proper citation format used

2 pts Developing - Two to three references provided - All sources are suspect - Difficulty distinguishing source of citation

0 pts Beginning - No references provided

Content 18 pts Advanced - Addressee is clear - Clearly identifies a political issue - Clearly identifies the author’s point of view

14 pts Proficient - Addressee is clear - Clearly identifies a political issue - Author’s point of view unclear

10 pts Developing - Addressee is clear - Nature of political issue is vague - Author’s point of view unclear

4 pts Beginning - No clear addressee - Nature of political issue is vague - Author’s point of view unclear or absent