Description
Pre-Proposal:
Name the problem or issue.
List problems related to or contributing to the issue.
List several potential solutions or actions that could fix the problem or help address it. See if you can include remedies at local, state, regional, and national levels.
List several people/positions/institutions that have authority or influence related to the problem or issue.
Here’s an example below. Feel free to write more and in more depth than the example in your own worksheet. This is just to give you ideas.
Name the problem or issue: Global climate change
List problems related to or contributing to the issue.
Inefficient sources of energy
Carbon emissions from cars and industry
Lack of interest/belief/understanding from general public
Lobbying by fossil fuel, automotive, and farming industries
Factory farming, especially of animals
Deforestation
3. List several potential solutions or actions that could fix the problem or help address it. See if you can include remedies at local, state, regional, and national levels.
U.S. rejoins the Paris Agreement
Students are better educated about global climate change in school
More production of/incentives for electric vehicles
Investment in alternative energy
More regulation of polluters
4. List several people/positions/institutions that have authority, influence, or a stake in the problem or issue
S. Environmental Protection Agency
Sierra Club
Metro of Portland
Media (John Oliver)
Teachers
Church leaders
Step Two: Proposal:
Now that you’ve brainstormed some ideas, please answer the following questions
What is your topic and claim about it (what do you want to convince your audience of)?
Who is the recipient for your letter? Why this recipient?
Why did you choose this topic? What is your personal stake in this topic, in other words, why does it matter to you? What has happened in your life that has made you care about this topic?
How does this issue relate to democracy?
