Policy Issue
Instructions
You are a lobbyist for an issue that you find important. For example, you would like to see the banning of smoking in federal buildings (Note: This policy has already been enacted.) You are going to make an informational pamphlet to highlight your points to prominent members of Congress. Research members of Congress that you will target in your lobbying. Explain why these members are critical to your goal. Make a plan of action and produce a pamphlet supporting your cause. Who will you be reaching out to? Why? Write a cover letter to a Congressional member and include your reasoning for reaching out to them in particular in the letter. Remember a lobbyist is only as good as the information they provide. A lobbyist who provides incomplete or unreliable information will soon be unemployed or lose access to officials.
The cover letter should:
Follow a standard business format
Correctly address your Congressperson (Representative Collin Allred)
Use the correct postal address (100 N Central Expy Suite 602, Richardson, TX 75080)
Explain your choice to write to this representative in particular (The student identifies and provides solid reasoning for writing this representative with evidence cited)
The Pamphlet should:
Define the problem. Tells us exactly what the problem is. Detail its urgency and provide data. Be objective (The student defines the problem clearly and objectively with good detail and evidence).
Analyze the problem. Provide relevant data. Tell us how to make sense of the data. Provide any findings
Offer a recommendation. Do not generalize. Be specific (The student offers a specific, detailed, persuasive recommendation).
Must be persuasive.
Cite four scholarly sources
Submit your cover letter and pamphlet for grading.
Writing Requirements (APA format).
Length: Cover letter to Congressman should be only 1 full-page
Pamphlet should be 5 full pages in length
1-inch margins
12-point Times New Roman font
Reference page (minimum of 4 scholarly sources)
