Tips for EditorialsTips on Content of Letter· If a publicatio.docx
- 1. Tips for Editorials Tips on Content of Letter: · If a publication receives multiple letters on the same subject, the editor will choose one that says something in a new way or takes a unique angle. · Focus your letter on one point on one subject. If you are commenting on a specific story in the paper, mention the headline and date. Cite the specific reference and sum it up in a sentence to refresh readers’ memories. Then point out facts that were left out, or refute or support facts that were stated. · Be clear and concise. Shorter is better. Most papers want letters of 250 words or less. Magazines such as Time want even less. · State your point early in the letter and support your point with facts. · Know the audience of the publication. Technical information and long, multi-syllable words are often inappropriate for a general audience. · If appropriate, mention your motivation or expertise in writing. For example, “As an Ohio State University student, I believe… and therefore x,” or “I am a director of a non-profit agency that serves families in poverty. Here is what my experience has been….That is why I believe y.” General Logistical Tips: Know and follow the policies and specifications of the publication to which you are submitting your letter. Except as noted, it is OK to send the same or similar letters to more than one publication. But don’t submit the same or similar letters to multiple papers in the same media market.
- 2. Always include your name, address, and daytime telephone number. Don’t send specifically local letters to other localities. General Tips: Avoid clichés, name-calling, slang, and repetition. Check your letter for grammar and fluidity, read it out loud to make sure the thoughts flow well. Give it a catchy title. How do you write a letter to the editor? 1. Begin the letter with a simple salutation. Don’t worry if you don’t know the editor’s name. A simple, “To the Editor of the Lantern” is sufficient. If you have the editor’s name, however, you should use it to increase the possibility of your letter being read. 2. Grab the reader’s attention. Get attention right away; your opening sentence is very important. It should make the reader want to read more. 3. Explain what the letter is about at the start. Throughout your letter, remember the rule: Be quick, Be concise, and then Be quiet. Don’t make the editor or the general public wait to find out what you want to say. Tell them your key point at the beginning. 4. Explain why the issue is important. If you are motivated enough to write a letter to a newspaper or magazine, the importance of your topic may seem clear to you. Remember, though, that the general public probably doesn’t share your background or the interest. Explain the issue and its importance simply. Use plain language that most people will understand. 5. Give evidence for any praise or criticism. If you are writing a letter discussing a past or pending action, be clear in showing why this will have good or bad results. 6. State your opinion about what should be done.
- 3. Some letters support or criticize a certain action or policy. But you may have suggestions on what could be done to improve the situation. If so, be sure to add these as well. Be specific. And the more good reasons you can give to back up your suggestions, the better. 7. Keep it brief. Generally, shorter letters have a better chance of being published. So go back over your letter and see if anything can be cut or condensed. If you have a lot to say and it can’t be easily made short, you may want to check with the editor to see if you could write a longer opinion feature or guest column. 8. Sign the letter. Be sure to write your full name (and title, if relevant) and to include your address, phone number, and e-mail address. Newspapers won’t print anonymous letters, although in some cases they may withhold your name on request. They may also call you to confirm that you wrote the letter before you publish it. 9. Check your letter to make sure it’s clear and to the point. A newspaper may not print every letter it receives, but clear, well-written letters are likely to be given more serious consideration. Look for examples in the Lantern, Columbus Dispatch, and other newspapers and magazines that you read. 1 Rural Sociology 1500 - Exam #2 Review Thursday, March 10 Lectures from February 16 through March 8 (since last exam) From Witt Book: Chapter 5 (social structure and interaction); Chapter 6 (social control, crime, and deviance); Chapter 7 (families) Terminology (know the definitions, examples, and how they are different from related terms):
- 4. Conformity Crime Crime triangle Deviance Differential justice Family and household (Census definitions) Family types (nuclear, extended, blended, single parent, polygamous) Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Groups (In and out groups, primary and secondary groups, reference) Kinship and created kinship Law Mechanical solidarity Organic solidarity Obedience Roles (role conflict, role strain, role exit) Selective arrest Social control (formal and informal) Social interaction Social institutions Social networks Social structure Social stigma Solidarity (organic and mechanical) Subculture Status (Achieved, ascribed, master) FBI Uniform Crime Report Concepts: Different models/types of societies (according to Toennies, Lenski, and Durkheim) – what are characteristics of each? Deviance vs. crime Obedience vs. conformity Urban vs. rural crime rates – what types of crimes are higher and where Trends in crime rates
- 5. 5 theories of why deviance and crime occur – Durkheim and Merton’s theories, cultural transmission, social disorganization, labelling Structural vs. functional definitions of the family Patterns of descent (patrilineal, matrilineal, bilateral) – how kinship is traced Patterns of decision-making power in societies and families (patriarchy, matriarchy, egalitarian families) Functions of the family Current trends in family life (age of first marriage, childbearing increasing or decreasing, cohabitation, diversity of families, having children outside of marriage) Note: you do not need to know statistics, just trends Who are the Saints and Roughnecks? Review guest lecture on rural crime/Amish/subculture; Why are the Amish a subculture? What are some distinctive characteristics of the Amish (review guest lecture slides posted on Carmen) What are some possible explanations for rural crime? Review Obedience film/Milgram experiments 3 Rural Sociology 1500 - Exam #1 Review Exam will be on Thursday, February 11 Lectures from January 12 through February 9; Chapters 1-4, Information on Rural Society covered in class; any readings posted on Carmen; main concepts from films shown in class Terminology: Anticipatory socialization Conflict/competition theory Content analysis Culture (what it is, elements of) Counterculture Cultural lag Cultural relativism
- 6. Cultural universal Culture shock Diffusion Dominant ideology Ecological fallacy Ethnocentrism Folkways Framing Functionalism Generalized others Hawthorne effect Hypothesis I and Me Language Material culture Micro vs. macro levels Migration Mores Non-material culture Norms (formal and informal) Peer review Qualitative and quantitative research Push-pull factors Reliability Research design Resocialization Rural-urban turnaround Sanctions Secondary data Significant others Social construct Social interaction Socialization Society Sociological imagination Subculture
- 7. Symbol Symbolic interaction Theory Triangle and the hourglass Validity Variable (independent and dependent) Values Vested interest Concepts: 3 functions of community 2 definitions of rural 3 approaches to studying rural communities, populations, or cultures 4 types of metro/non-metro counties (central city metropolitan, metropolitan suburban, micropolitan, non-core); how they are defined Breakdown of counties in U.S. (how many are metropolitan, nonmetropolitan, micropolitan, non-core) Percentage of population classified as rural or nonmetropolitan in the U.S. Why it’s important to study and be concerned about rural areas (rural-urban linkages) What is meant by the rural-urban turnaround? 3 sociological theories/perspectives of society; know main points, critiques, main people associated with each, applications (see chart on Carmen) Differences between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research Steps in the research process Ways to collect data Identify independent and dependent variables in a research study Difference between causality and correlation. Is it easy to prove causality? Qualities of good research
- 8. Elements of culture Sociological and psychological theories of socialization (Cooley, Mead, Goffman, Piaget, Bronfenbrenner) Agents/sources of socialization Examples of rites of passage across the life span Other: Review the pop quiz at the end of each chapter Review readings on rural America and cultural lag posted on Carmen Review 3 videos on material culture in American households https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmUyTauQBQ4 How Mean Girls film relates to culture and socialization (will watch on Tuesday) Note: Terms in the chapters not covered in class will not be on the exam nor will “Today in History” facts and dates. Historical dates related to the development of rural America will not be on the exam. Assignment #3 Letter to the Editor or Elected or Other Official (20 points) Due Thursday, April 21, 2016 (last day of class) After a semester of learning about key issues affecting society, it is time to express your opinion about what could and should be changed! Your assignment is to write a letter to the editor of a newspaper or an elected or other official on some topic covered in class that you feel strongly about. Think about all the topics covered in class, readings, lectures, films, guest
- 9. speakers, and assignments. Although you are not required to actually submit your article or letter, you are encouraged to do so. Option 1: A letter to the editor is a briefly stated opinion generally written in response to a current issue or previously published article. It is typically very short—250-300 words. The purpose is to raise awareness of an issue, persuade people to think differently and/or take action, or criticize or support some kind of legislation, action, or behavior. Give the editorial a catchy title, state your position, and then give concise arguments to support your case. Indicate what newspaper you would consider sending your editorial to. Be sure your letter is in agreement with what the newspaper’s requirements are. Option 2: A letter to an elected or other official (local, state, or national representative, or university administrator) is a concise, one-page letter addressed to one’s own representative or the official responsible for some type of legislation or policy. You can state your support or opposition to a particular piece of legislation/policy or ask him or her to support or introduce legislation/policy on some topic. Be sure to address the letter correctly to the official (names of Congresspeople and other elected officials and their addresses are found online). You will be graded on overall readability and the strength of your arguments. Arguments should be based on current knowledge, not merely personal opinion without grounding in research or fact. Furthermore, do not merely vent or complain about something. While you are encouraged to look at other editorials or letters for examples, it is expected that the writing will be your own work. Any copying of previously published editorials or letter will result in 0 points and be in violation of class and university policies on academic integrity. Tips for completing this assignment will be posted on Carmen.