Template For Writing A Letter To The Editor (LTE)
Using the EPIC format* For more tips and links to your local newspaper goto: http://www.miracoalition.org/action/editor
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Engage Your Audience Here, you want to get your audience’s attention with a dramatic fact or short statement. Keep this opening statement to one sentence if possible. Problem-State the Problem Here you present causes of the problem you introduced in the first section. How widespread or serious is the problem?
I have closely followed your coverage of how immigration issues are being used this political season.**
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Unfortunately there seems to be only one message—to demonize the newcomers among us. Fear and resentment are being stirred instead of an honest exploration for positive solutions and despite clear evidence that a prosperous future for the Commonwealth and the Nation depends upon future immigration rates. An expansion of opportunities to immigrate legally would decrease illegal immigration while not encouraging further border militarization. It would also undermine the lucrative trade of human trafficking. For those already here, a chance to get in line for citizenship is simply the final and critical step for integration. Locally, assuring every qualified student raised in MA has access to higher education will reap rewards in terms of increased positive social indicators and, according to the MA Taxpayers Foundations, create additional state revenue, benefiting all of us. I am constantly being reminded of the words from the Book of Exodus, “There shall be one law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you.” It is time to ask our candidates and ourselves, “Do we want welcoming communities and real solutions or do we want to build walls around our hearts and our country?”
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Inform about Solutions Here you inform the audience about a solution to the problem you just presented. Develop your solution by examples of how and where it has worked. You could site a recent study or report or tell a first-person account of how the solution has impacted you or others you know. Call to Action Now that you’ve engaged your audience, presented the problem and informed them of a solution, what do you want them to do? Make the action something specific.
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*EPIC format developed by RESULTS, www.results.org **Please do not use sample language word for word, it has already been submitted for publication. ***Word limits vary with each paper. You can find guidelines for your paper either on line or by calling.