2SLP.Using Media to Advocate and Influence

Foundation for this assignment

The Session Long Project entails you going through the process of influencing policymakers.  Under the Connecticut Health Policy toolbox resource, read the section on “Writing to Policymakers.” You will notice toward the bottom of that page, “sample letters” and “related articles.”  Read these sections as you will use them throughout your Session Long Project. 

Task for this assignment

For this part of the Session Long Project you will be writing on “opposing a proposal” (see sample letter at the bottom of the Connecticut Health Policy toolbox resource).  You may write on opposing any proposal that is related to the category noted in SLP1.  You may choose to advocate for change at the local, state, or national level.

1)    Using the same topic as in SLP1, and the level you wish to write to (local, state, or national).

2)    For this SLP assignment, you will be writing on “opposing a proposal.”

3)    Choose one of the related articles on the bottom of the Connecticut Health Policy toolbox (different from the one you used for SLP 1).  Describe the key points of the article (one paragraph) and how it relates to influencing policymakers (one paragraph).

4)    Write a one-page letter, that encompasses the information from the above 3 bullets (on “opposing a proposal”).

Note: The SLP assignment is 2-pages long.  The first page addresses numbers 1-3.  The second page is a one-page letter on “opposing a proposal” and encompasses the information from questions 1-3 (see sample letters for guidance).  Remember, your letter is on “opposing a proposal.”

 

Assignment Expectations, in order to earn full credit

You must clearly show that you have read the module homepage and the required background materials that relate to this assignment. You are welcome to do research in addition to — but not instead of — the required readings.

Please write your paper in your own words. That is the only way I can evaluate your level of understanding.

Even though the papers must be written in your own words, you are required to use scholarly and professional sources to support your statement. Cite sources for any statement of fact or idea that is not common knowledge. You must cite the sources within the body of the paper and include a reference list at the end of the paper.

Quotes are very rarely needed; if necessary, they should comprise much less than 10% of a paper and must be in quotation marks and properly cited.

Draw upon a broad base of scholarly literature to support your statements. Web sites and fact sheets may be a useful starting point; however, you are expected to locate peer-reviewed readings on your topic from the electronic library.

Wikipedia is not an acceptable source of information. Use credible, professional, and scholarly sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles from the Online Library, and government, university, or nonprofit organizations’ Web sites.

 

Your papers will be evaluated on the following factors:

• References – citations are used within the body of the paper any time you state a fact or idea that is not common knowledge. A reference list is included at the end of the paper.
• Precision – you follow all instructions and you answer each part of the assignment.
• Breadth – you show broad knowledge of the module’s topic.
• Depth – you go into detail to show more critical thought about the specific tasks or questions in the assignment.
• Clarity – the extent to which you elaborate and include discussion or examples as asked.
• Application – the extent to which you apply the information to a real-life situation related to the assignment, if asked.