Letter to the Editor Outline (5%)
Important: Do not write on this document without making your own copy first; otherwise, you will be filling in your own words on everyone’s template :)
**Everything is in point form except for the thesis statement and any quotations (no more than 3 direct quotations total in the Letter to the Editor; the rest of your evidence should be paraphrased)- this is not a draft, so do not include full paragraphs in your outline.
Writing full paragraphs in the outline will result in losing marks as it defeats the purpose of outlining.
Introduction (click http://dialognews.ca/contact/ for the information you need for this first bit!)
Newspaper Name
Newspaper Address
Date
Introduction
Lead readers in, but do not overdo it. Avoid a clichéd hook.
Background info
Thesis (your position written in 1 to 3 sentences)
Reasons and counterarguments for your position. Three reasons with a minimum of 2 pieces of evidence each OR 2 reasons with 3 pieces of evidence each.
Reason #1 (one sentence)
Reason #2 (one sentence)
Reason #3 (if using) One sentence
Opponent’s view: At least one counterargument (What your opponents might say or believe about your position.)
For example:
Fast-fashion drives the entire industry economically, so we should not reform it; low wages are not a concern in the Global South because everything is relative and workers get paid the same as everyone else; only low-quality brands use cheap materials that are bad for the environment; the vintage clothing market has no impact on the environment; we should feel good about sending the
recycled clothes we don’t want to the Global South.
Evidence: remember that you need at least two pieces of evidence for each of your 3 reasons (or 3 pieces of evidence if you present only 2 reasons!).
Evidence for Reason #1
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Evidence for Reason #2
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Evidence for Reason #3
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
Evidence for your counterargument Quotation or paraphrase plus source and in-text citation (e.g. Smith, 2022, para. 2).
*Remember that in your actual letter to the editor, (not the outline), you will explain/expand on/illustrate your evidence and tell your readers why it is important and how it relates to your position.