This assignment requires that you write a letter to either a Texas state legislative leader (elected Texas state senator or representative), member of the plural executive, or local elected official leader (county or local level) that conveys and analyzes your concerns about an issue, policy or the political culture in the State of Texas, a county in Texas or a local community in Texas. Make sure you first identify who holds the elected position so you may focus the letter to that elected official.
The Letter of Concern will demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate by developing
and writing an executive summary that identifies, integrates, critically analyzes and makes
recommendations for a solution to an issue that is based on considering the origins, facts,
processes, inputs (public opinion, interest groups, political parties and the intercultural
communities they serve) and the ethical consequences for the issue and recommendations.
GOVT 2306 Assessment Rubric Competency Exemplary 4 Proficient 3 Developing 2 Beginning 1 Not Evident 0 Critical Thinking Skills -creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information Issue is stated clearly and described comprehensively, delivering all relevant information necessary for full understanding. Conclusions reflect an informed and thorough analysis. Issue is stated, described and clarified so that understanding is not seriously impeded by omissions. Conclusions reflect a basic analysis. Issue is stated but description is incomplete, resulting in a lack of clarification of the issue. Conclusions are stated but do not reflect an analysis of the issue. Neither the issue nor conclusions are stated coherently. No submission Written Communication Skills - content, organization, delivery, and articulation of response Content and organization are sophisticated for the genre. Delivery choices effectively communicate content to the target audience. Written response is captured in complete sentences without grammatical errors impacting the legibility and the clarity of response. Content and organization are appropriate for the genre. Delivery choices communicate content to the target audience. Written response is captured in complete sentences but consists of a few grammatical errors that do not impact the legibility and the clarity of response. Content or organization is insufficient for the genre. Delivery choices do not sufficiently communicate content to the target audience. Written response is captured in incomplete sentences and includes a few grammatical errors that negatively impact the legibility and the clarity of response. Content, organization, or delivery is inappropriate for the genre and /or target audience, resulting in minimal communication to the target audience. Written response is captured in incomplete sentences and includes numerous grammatical errors that negatively impact the legibility and the clarity of response. No submission Social Responsibility -to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. Articulates insight into own and other cultures and makes connections between own worldview and civic responsibility. Compares and contrasts own culture with other cultures, and identifies possible connections between own worldview and civic responsibility. Recognizes some components of own and other cultures, and understands what civic responsibility entails. Unable to show an understanding or own or other cultures, and is not able to describe civic responsibility. No submission Personal Responsibility - demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making. Articulates a complex understanding of own and others’ core beliefs, their origins, and their roles in ethical decision-making. Identifies own and others’ core beliefs, their origins, and their roles in ethical decision-making. Identifies own and others’ core beliefs, and identifies the role of own core beliefs in ethical decision-making. Unable to identify any core beliefs besides their own and cannot articulate a connection between those beliefs and ethical decision-making. No submission Student Learning Outcome-1 -Explain the origin and development of the Texas Constitution. Explains the origin and development of the Texas Constitution process that goes beyond “3” performance criteria. Clearly explains the origin and development of the Texas Constitution. Partially explains the origin and development of the Texas Constitution Unable to explain the origin and development of the Texas Constitution. No submission Student Learning Outcome-2 -Describe state and local political systems & relationship with federal government. Describes state and local political systems & their relationship with federal government process that goes beyond “3” performance criteria. Clearly describes state and local political systems & their relationship with federal government. Partially describes state and local political systems & their relationship with federal government. Unable to describe state and local political systems & their relationship with federal government. No submission Student Learning Outcome-3 Describe separation of power and checks and balance in theory & practice in Texas. Describes separation of power and checks and balance in theory & practice in Texas process that goes beyond “3” performance criteria. Clearly describes separation of power and checks and balance in theory & practice in Texas. Partially describes separation of power and checks and balance in theory & practice in Texas. Unable to describe separation of power and checks and balance in theory & practice in Texas. No submission Student Learning Outcome-4 -Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of Texas. Demonstrates knowledge of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of Texas process that goes beyond “3” performance criteria. Clearly demonstrates knowledge of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of Texas. Partially demonstrates knowledge of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of Texas. Unable to demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of Texas. No submission Student Learning Outcome-5 -Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups and political parties in Texas. Evaluates the role of public opinion, interest groups and political parties in Texas process that goes beyond “3” performance criteria. Clearly evaluates the role of public opinion, interest groups and political parties in Texas. Partially evaluates the role of public opinion, interest groups and political parties in Texas. Unable to evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups and political parties in Texas. No submission Student Learning Outcome-6 -Analyze the state and local election process. Analyzes the state and local election process that goes beyond “3” performance criteria. Clearly analyzes the state and local election process. Partially analyzes the state and local election process. Unable to analyze the state and local election process. No submission Student Learning Outcome-7 -Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Identifies the rights and responsibilities of citizens that goes beyond “3” performance criteria. Clearly identifies the rights and responsibilities of citizens Partially identifies the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Unable to identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens. No submission Student Learning Outcome-8 -Analyze issues, policies & political culture of Texas. Analyzes issues, policies & political culture of Texas that goes beyond “3” performance criteria. Clearly analyzes issues, policies & political culture of Texas. Partially analyzes issues, policies & political culture of Texas. Unable to analyze issues, policies & political culture of Texas. No submission Govt 2306: Letter of Concern on a state or local Issue to a currently elected state or local representative Assignment: This assignment requires that you write a letter to either a Texas state legislative leader (elected Texas state senator or representative), member of the plural executive, or local elected official leader (county or local level) that conveys and analyzes your concerns about an issue, policy or the political culture in the State of Texas, a county in Texas or a local community in Texas. Make sure you first identify who holds the elected position so you may focus the letter to that elected official. The Letter of Concern will demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate by developing and writing an executive summary that identifies, integrates, critically analyzes and makes recommendations for a solution to an issue that is based on considering the origins, facts, processes, inputs (public opinion, interest groups, political parties and the intercultural communities they serve) and the ethical consequences for the issue and recommendations. Address the following criteria for the letter you will write. Research the issue and find a solution to the problem and develop an ethical strategy(ies) that can be used to help implement your policy solution. 1. Identify and analyze either an issue, policy or the political culture of Texas. (SLO 8; CT, SR, PR) 2. Demonstrate why this is a state or local issue and not a national issue. (SLO 2; CS) 3. Explain how this is related to the origin and development of the Texas constitution. (SLO 1; CS) 4. Evaluate how different people in our society may be affected by the specific issue, policy or the political culture of Texas. What is the public’s as well as certain groups like interest groups and political parties’ opinion on the matter? (SLO 5; CT, SR) 5. Identify the branch of the government responsible for this and if there is part of any other branch that could also be implicated in the matter. (SLO 3 and SLO 4; CS) 6. Discuss your solution to the problem and develop an ethical strategy(ies) that can be used to help implement your solution. (CT, CS, SR, PR) 7. Analyze how the action you may take regarding this may impact the election process and discuss how the stance the identified leader you write to might impact how you vote in the next election. (SLO 6: CT, SR) 8. Conclude the letter with why this is a right and responsibility to address this letter to your identified Texas state, county or local government elected leader. (SLO 7, PR) The following are databases where you can find samples of letters/emails of how to write to your legislator: https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/letter-email https://www.nlacrc.org/home/showdocument?id=272 https://www.writeexpress.com/How-to-Write-a-Letter-to-Congress.html https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/letter-email https://www.nlacrc.org/home/showdocument?id=272 https://www.writeexpress.com/How-to-Write-a-Letter-to-Congress.html Letter Organization: 1. Start out by putting the date on the letter. 2. Then put the address of your selected leader in Texas leader. 3. Start the letter with the proper salutation, for example: Dear Senator (Last Name) or Representative (Last name) or Honorable Judge, Mayor, etc. (name). 4. Make sure to clearly state the reason for your concern in your letter. 5. Make sure that you fulfill the criteria listed at the beginning of this handout. 6. Make sure to point out your relationship to the elected official, for example, if you are their constituent. 7. At the end of the letter, place your name, signature and address. Format: 1. 12-point 2. Times New Roman 3. Single spaced 4. Minimum 1000 words, maximum 1100 words 5. At the bottom of your letter you should include your name and city. PLAGIARISM: Anytime you copy something word for word or simply rephrasing, you must cite your source according to APA formatting. If you use someone else’s words and ideas without citing them you are committing plagiarism and will receive an F. Due Date: TBA You will upload your letter to Canvas Student Learning Outcomes met with this activity: 1. Explain the origin & development of the Texas Constitution 2. Demonstrate state & local political systems & their relationship with the federal government. 3. Describe separation of powers and