Select a problem in your community or school that you feel passionately about (students talking on cell phones in the classroom, the need for more recreational centers in your city, etc.) and write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. (For tips on writing a strong opinion letter, visit http://www.ccmc.org/node/16090)

You do not need to format this assignment like a formal business letter, but do start your letter with the phrase "Dear Editor:"

In the body of your letter, explain the problem (suggested for body paragraph 1), express your views on it such as the potentially negative effects (suggested for body paragraph 2), and then offer a solution to it (suggested for body paragraph 3). In order to effectively persuade your audience-the newspaper's readers-to agree with you and to act on your solution, you will need to fully understand the problem and understand your audience. In addition, you will need to be able to describe the problem detail, to clearly explain your position on it using a persuasive tone, and to provide strong, concrete examples to back up your claims.

Sample Thesis Statement: "Valley Community College has (add problem), which (add your stance/potentially negative impacts); therefore, (add solution)."

The guidelines and requirements for this assignment are as follows:
Remember to apply the concepts you're learning in the course, including elements of grammar, punctuation, thesis development, and other skills.
Header: Include a header in the upper left-hand corner of your writing assignment with the following information:
Your first and last name
Course Title (Composition I)
Assignment name (Persuasive Essay)
Current Date
Length: This assignment should be at least 750 words.
Format:
Last name and page number in upper-right corner of each page
Double-spacing throughout
Title, centered after heading
Standard font (Times New Roman or Calibri)
1" margins on all sides
Save the file as .docx or .doc format
Underline your thesis statement.