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For this assignment you will write a solid, polished, immaculate, persuasive one-to-two-page (SINGLE spaced) letter to a specific person.
In thinking about a specific person to send this to, consider whom is in the best position to respond to your call to action. Choosing an individual rather than “to whom it may concern,” for example, ensures that it will end up on the appropriate person’s desk and minimizes the chance that it will be discarded (should you choose to actually send it.)
A persuasive letter is one intended to convince someone to take a particular action or think about an issue differently.
Keep in mind that your reader may not wish to grant your request for any number of reasons—1. the reader may not need or want what you have to offer. 2. the reader may disagree with the importance of your request. 3. There may be other barriers (funding, politics) that must be over come. You will address these and other counter arguments in your letter, therefore you must predict his/her responses to you as you write.
The Letter: The purpose of the persuasive letter is threefold. First, the letter should introduce outline the issue, keeping in mind that the person your letter is addressed to should already know about the topic. You can get around this by using phrases like, “as you know…,” or “as surely you are already aware…” In doing so, you’ll want to explain who you are and why your perspective is an important one. Second, you must anticipate and engage with counterarguments. In this way, you must think like those that disagree with you. This will give you the upper hand, by anticipating and overcoming any possible objections. Finally, explain to your reader an appropriate course of action they can take to address your concerns. This should be as specific as possible, yet empathetic to their position. For example, if you demand that more money should be provided, keep in mind budgetary constraints. Know that another part of the budget should be addressed.
Visual supplementation: Your persuasive letter will also have at least one visual component. What kind of image, graph, chart, photograph (or other media) will help you visually demonstrate an aspect of your argument? Do not simply include a picture and let it speak for itself; you must make use of it in your letter by referring to it and/or using it to help you explain something. You can either embed this in your letter, or include it at the end.
In this assignment, it is important that you provide citations and a work cited page. If you are fashioning an argument from your controversy analysis paper, please do not simply copy and paste sections for your paper, but reword them to meet the needs of this new audience.
The controversy analysis post as attachments
Peer Review – persuasive letter – final checklist
Before handing this paper in, please go over the following questions. If you have addressed everything listed here correctly, there is no doubt that you will do well on this paper.
1. Does author clearly and immediately explain what the controversy is? The intro should introduce controversy by explaining all sides, followed by what stance you are taking, followed by a short list of reasons (each reason will be explained in it’s own body paragraph – see question 9).
2. Does the author explain why this specific person is being addressed?
3. Is this the proper person to receive this letter?
4. Does the author make proper use of citations for all quotes and paraphrases?
5. Does the author fairly treat all sides, while at the same time clearly point to a specific requested action to address the issue?
6. What kind of suggestions/comments/questions do you have that will help the author?
7. Please also consider spelling and grammar mistakes as you proof read.
8. Does author correctly cite all sources with in-text citations and a bibliography? (4-6 sources for this paper)
9. Does letter follow a cohesive organizational structure? An example of a body paragraph after your intro, for example, should contain: 1) a topic sentence addressing one aspect of your argument, 2) evidence to support this claim (quote, paraphrase…etc), and 3) an explanation tying your evidence to your topic, and transitioning to the next.
10. Does author conclude by summing up reasons pointed out in body paragraphs in a unique way, followed by a “call to action.” Is call to action fully explained, specific, and achievable by the person being addressed? How so?
11. Does author respectfully thank this person for their time and sign their name at the end?
12.
One last thing, although it is not required, I do encourage you to send this letter. If you get a response back, please let me know!
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Controversy Analysis: In-Laws’ Relationship
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Among the world, the in-laws’ relationships become the most difficult one to be managed, especially for mother/ daughter in-laws relationship. In-laws’ relationship is the relationship between one’s spouse’s family members with the newcomers; there are three main in-laws’ relationship: mother/father in-law (parents in- law), sibling in-law, and children in-law. In allusion to the different in-law’s relationship, there are different variables affect each of them. People who have a hard time dealing with in-laws’ relationship directly influence the harmony of a whole family. In order to get a clear understanding of the in-laws’ problem, a family issue conference being held by a few credible family communication researchers: Carolyn M. Prentice, researches at University of Missouri. Christine Rittenour, researches at West Virginia University. Tim Dun, researches at Brock University. Yi Song and Yang Bing Zhang are research at Beijing Foreign Language University. They are here to attempt to answer the question of, what is the most effective factor influencing the in- laws’ relationship?
According to Carolyn M. Prentice’s research, she wants to find out “how in-laws are assimilated into the family group as newcomers (Carolyn, page.74).” As her result shows that the most troubling relationship is mother- in- law, and the main reason that each family has conflict with female newcomer is because the newcomer tend to break the original routine of the family. The family routine is the history of daily habit for a family. For instance, when you are going to have a family party or which place the family always goes together. When there is newcomer, the family routine is going to change or broke. The in-laws’ relationship even the family relationship are tied to how the newcomer or how family members response to the change. This change is also related to the ontological security of the family. People who married with a similar routine’s person tend to have less conflict with in-law’s relationship. For newcomers, those who accept the new family routine are more success when they deal with the conflict of spouse’s family. That is, based on Carolyn M. Prentice’s presentation there are two important factors which influence the in-law’s relationship, family routine and newcomers’ assimilation. People tend to have a harmony relationship and being assimilated more easily in the future when both the spouses’ family and newcomer try to accept the differences in both family routine. In conclusion, Prentice believes assimilation and family routine are the most important factors influence the in-law’s relationship.
Same as Carolyn M. Prentice, Rittenour also think mother in-law is the toughest relationship exists in a family, and she presents a different idea about mother in-law’s relationship. She finds that the expectation and satisfaction of communication pattern affect the relationship between daughter and mother in-law. Before marriage, both newcomer and spouse’s parents are going to have an expectation about what is this new family going to be. The most sensitive expectation will be how to communicate with the newcomer or the spouse’s parents. When the expectation face the reality and lower than the reality, the conflict will come up. Same as satisfaction, lower satisfaction will bring the conflict between mother/daughter in-law’s relationships.
Rittenour did a research by collected data from 624 of people who have different race, different mother in law’s age and different frequency stay with their mother in law. All the participants also chosen from different chat group who is interested in the family/in-laws’ relationship. The participants fill out an online survey about family communication and functioning first, and then the author collect all the date and analysis them.
Throughout the research, first she finds that: “Daughter-in-law standards for mother-in-law communication (supportive communication and family disclosure) will be positively associated with daughter-in-law relational satisfaction and shared family identity with the mother-in-law (Rittenour, 102).” Then she continued with her second research which is “The absolute discrepancy between mother-in-law communication (supportive communication and family disclosure) and daughter-in-law standards for mother-in-law communication will be positively associated with daughter-in-law relational satisfaction and shared family identity with her mother-in-law (Rittenour 103).” Based on the result this research was confirmed. The last hypothesis is “valance discrepancies between mother-in-law communication (supportive communication and family disclosure) and daughter-in-law standards for mother-in-law communication will be positively associated with daughter-in-law relational satisfaction and shared family identity with her mother-in-law (Rittenour, 103).” This also was confirmed by the data analysis. She also finds that “overall, the unmet ideals and – in regard to supportive communication – the discrepancy evaluations hypotheses have the greatest associations (Rittenour, 103).”
Rittenour presents that the satisfaction of supportive communication from mother in law and the family disclosure are the most factors associate with daughter in law and mother in law’s relationship. If people want to improve the in law’s relationship, then they need to understand and accept the standard of communication both from the view of mother in law and daughter in law. On the other hand, due to the satisfaction and expectation are related to the individual, without an openness self-disclosure, it is hard to know other’s thought. And that is why mother in law and daughter in law’s relationship is the most challenge relationship in a family due to their non-closeness relationship. All in all, Rittenour believes that the expectation and satisfaction of communication pattern is the most effective factor influencing the in- laws’ relationship
Different from all the other researchers, Yi Song and Yang Bing Zhang present a third party that always involved in the mother/ daughter in laws’ relationship- husband. The husband styles of solving the conflict between his wife and mother directly influenced the in-law’s relationship. The most efficiently and always be used style is problem- solving style, remaining are accommodating, avoiding, and competing style.
The author researches at Beijing Foreign Language University, and collected data from 287 participants. All the participants were being asked about their background and impression memories about in-laws’ relationships first, and then took the survey which contained five different variables that related to their six hypothesis. The five variables that Song and Zhang present are “Husband’s conflict styles, Filial piety, Shared family identity with in-law, Husband’s communication appropriateness and effectiveness, and Relational satisfaction.” Then they build up six hypotheses, some of hypothesis are being confirmed by the result. For instance, “Hypothesis 1: From the daughter-in-law’s perspective, the husband’s use of the problem-solving and accommodating styles will be positively associated with her judgments of the husband’s communication appropriateness and effectiveness, as well as her relational satisfaction with the husband and the mother-in-law, and Hypothesis 2: From the daughter-in-law’s perspective, the husband’s use of the competing and avoiding styles will be negatively associated with her judgments of the husband’s communication appropriateness and effectiveness, as well as her relational satisfaction with the husband and the mother-in-law (Yang, & Zhang, 68).” From these two hypotheses, the author mentioned that husband is the intermediate in daughter/ mother in-law’s relationship, the way the husband chooses for the conflict will directly influence “the end”. According to Yang, & Zhang, the third parties not only refer in particularly to husband, but also for the other family members. However, husband is the significant role for reduce the conflict between mother and daughter in-law’s relationship. That is, they believe that husband is the most effective factor influencing the in- laws’ relationship.
Since all the conflicts have to happen in certain time, Tim Dun also being invited to the conference to explain the conflict time points. Tim Dun research at Brock University collects data from 23 participants that are volunteered. As Dun present that this study is for state the phenomenon happened in the reality. According to Dun, the more positive or friendly one’s attitude is the more harmony the intergenerational relationship tends to be. From the table result, the face- threatening and conflict have the most negative influence on satisfaction, and disclosure and celebration has the most positive influence. Dun comprehended that pregnancy is the external turning point for most family, which followed by the communication pattern change and family statues change. He claimed “The data remind us that birth is not simply a biological event. It is also symbolic, relying on sense-making by parents and their social networks, including families (Dun, 204).” That is, Dun realize that a new born baby also can be the most effective factor influencing the in- laws’ relationship. However, it is not about the baby-self, the real influence is the reaction of surrounding individuals.
After all four researchers give their opinion on the facts of what is the most effective factor influencing the in- laws’ relationship? An institution post their records about the common problems exist in in-laws’ relationship: “no room to breathe, disapproval, putting you down, intrusion, irritating behavior, and family gatherings.” They also speaks “There are no quick fixes to making the in-laws the support network you wish they were. But you can take a step closer to this vision with the following tips: acceptance, united team, rules, communication, proves yourself, your own space; allow some leeway and further help.” They believe do our best to fight for the cause, will have to pay a return on a person’s value depends on what his contribution!
As a conclusion, Tim Dun mentioned again that pregnancy is the external turning point for both families, so people should pay more attention on that time. Carolyn M. Prentice agree with Tim Dun’s opinion, and also repeat that family routine and newcomers’ assimilation are really important in the beginning stage of daughter/ mother in-law’s relationship, and will definitely influence the future family relationship too. While Christine Rittenour sticks to her point that expectation and satisfaction is the derivation of the conflict, because without an expectation there won’t be disappointed, then there are not any conflict exists. Yi Song and Yang Bing Zhang sum up their ideas said, the third party is the main factors to keep the balance in daughter/ mother in-law’s relationship; lead by the intermediate role that has to be the problem solver, husband.
All in all, after people listen to all the possibilities which can affect the in-laws’ relationship, maintain a happy relationship with all the family members is not an easy thing to do. Although all the researchers have their own opinion about what is the most effective factor influencing the in- laws’ relationship, but they mentioned a same springboard: try to see things from the other person’s perspective, If you empathize with that person, you may realize that he or she was acting out of ignorance, fear, even love.
Reference
Carolyn M. Prentice. “The Assimilation of In- Laws: The Impact of Newcomers on the Communication Routines of Families.” Journal of Family Communication (2008): 74-97. Print
Christine Rittenour. “Daughter-in-law Standards for Mother In- law Communication: Associations with Daughter-in-law Perceptions of Relational Satisfaction and Shared Family Identity.” Journal of Family Communication (2012): 93-110. Print
Tim, Dun. “Turning Points in Parent-grandparent Relationships during the Start of a New Generation.” Journal of Family Communication (2010): 194-210. Print.
“The In-Laws.” The In-Laws. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. http://www.basmt.org.uk/common-relationship-problems/in-laws.html
Yi Song, Yang Bing Zhang. “Husbands’ Conflict Styles in Chinese Mother/Daughter-in-law Conflicts: Daughters-in-law’s Perspectives.” Journal of Family Communication (2012): 57-74. Prin
