Legislative Letter

TIPS FOR DRAFTING YOUR ADVOCACY LETTER

Below is a basic suggested outline for your advocacy letter with tips for what to include in each section.

[Your Name and Address]

[Date]

[Recipient Name and Address]

Dear [Stakeholder Group/Name],

First Paragraph: My name is [Your Name] and I’m writing to ask that you [Action].

· Establish the relationship. Introduce yourself

· State your what and your why. Limit yourself to one specific action so as to not draw attention away from the issues you may find more important!

Second Paragraph: These are the facts.

· Support your issue with background information and facts—anything that illustrates the scope of the situation and why it is imperative to act.

Third Paragraph: This is how I (or someone I care about) am affected.

· Personalize the issue and explain how it affects your life. Describe an experience, lived or witnessed, that has led you to this position.

Fourth Paragraph: This is my position.

· Reiterate your ask. You can also suggest smaller, alternative actions that build upon and support your action!

Fifth Paragraph: Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

· Thank the recipient for reading your letter.

· Politely ask for a reply, speaking to their views and/or plans moving forward. Legislation/Advocacy Letter Rubric

Criteria

%

Satisfactory (85-100)

Unsatisfactory (0-84)

Describe who you are and your role in advocating for this issue

25

Clearly defines the key message/issue and how you are affected by the issue.

Key message/issue is not clearly defined/missing components. Poor job of explaining how you are affected by the issue.

Articulate the issue clearly utilizing research to support your request

20

Articulates facts and research to support your argument.

The purpose of the letter is clear and concise. Describes how the proposed remedy will assist others.

The essence of the issue is poorly or insufficiently expressed. The proposed issue is not clearly communicated.

Describe what you want the legislator, organization, individual to do

15

Narrates a succinct account of the proposed remedy. Acknowledgement to the intended recipient for their support.

The proposed remedy is not clearly communicated. The recipient is not adequately acknowledged.

Posts and responds to question regarding the Health Promotion issue on the Discussion Board

30

Subsequent posts facilitate on-going discussion. Demonstrates an exceptional ability to analyze and synthesize student work, asks meaningful extending questions

Posts do not attempt to elicit responses and reflections from other learners and/or responses do not build upon the ideas of other learners to take the discussion deeper.

Format: Reliable references (minimum of three) on the topic, APA format, Language clear and concise

10

Excellent mechanics, sentence structure, and organization. Documents according to APA. Uses current (within 5 years) professional literature as found in professional nursing and education journals, not web sites or just the text or assigned readings.

Poor grammar, weak communication Lack of clarity, poor presentation of thinking. Substantial errors in APA formatting and grammar. References out of date- no use of peer reviewed journals

If you receive a response to your letter

Additional 5 points