Revising Your Injustice Letter

1. Add at least one specific supporting detail or persuasive supporting reason to paragraph 2, 4, and/or 5. Highlight the new detail(s) and/or reason(s) in yellow.

2. Replace three words with new words that are more vivid, more precise, and/or more interesting. Highlight the new words in light blue.

3. Check to make sure you have used capitalization properly. Check the beginning of sentences and names. There should be no capitalization errors.

4. Check to make sure you have used apostrophes properly. Apostrophes should be used in contractions and to show possession. (They're Mungo's Jolly Ranchers.) Apostrophes should not be used in possessive pronouns or to make something plural. (Those book's are her's. Those books are hers.) There should be no apostrophe errors.

5. Check every sentence. Is it complete? Is it a run on? There should be no sentence errors.

6.  Highlight in green the paragraph that you are proudest of. Write a comment to explain why you're proud of the paragraph. (The comment button is in the upper right-hand corner of the Google Doc next to the share button.)

7. Highlight in red the paragraph that you think still needs some work. Write a comment to explain why you think the paragraph needs some work. (The comment button is in the upper right-hand corner of the Google Doc next to the share button.)

When you're done, log out of the Chromebook, return it to the cart, and start working on "The Trial" handout. "The Trial" is about someone being arrested for no apparent reason.

Letters from Gloucester High School

Before Writing Your Letter
* Open a Google doc. Name the document "Injustice Letter".
* Brainstorm injustices of today that you know about. They can be in the school, in Gloucester, in America, or in the world. Choose an injustice from your brainstorm. Briefly explain the injustice, including what makes it an injustice. Then, figure out who you would like to convince to do something about the injustice. You'll be writing a letter that person or people.

Writing Your Letter
* Address your letter to the person or people you would like to convince to do something about the injustice.

* In the first paragraph explain what has motivated you to write the letter. This paragraph should include a thorough explanation of the injustice.

* In the second paragraph you should show that you understand the other side of the argument, that you understand how someone else might defend the thing you consider to be unjust. Anticipate the arguments that the other side might make. Then, in the second half of this paragraph respond to those arguments with counterarguments of your own. Explain, why even though those arguments supporting the injustice might seem reasonable they are actually not right. (To state it more succinctly, in this paragraph you will anticipate the other side's counterarguments and offer rebuttals.)

* In the third paragraph tell at least one vivid, specific, true story that shows the injustice. Your goal is to use reason (logos) and emotion (pathos) to convince the reader that they should do something about the injustice.

* In the fourth paragraph call for a particular change. What should be done about the injustice? Then, explain why the change is necessary; or, in other words, explain why the reader should do something in particular about the injustice.

* In the fifth paragraph state how you're going to push for the change. (This might involve civil disobedience of some kind.) Explain why you're particular way of pushing for change is necessary.

* In the sixth paragraph conclude by restating your position (your main point) and by linking your cause with a larger, universal right or principle.