1. Theme/Topic: (Choose: Education, Technology, Family, Health and Wellness)

2. Angle: Arguable topics are those that have at least two sides. Choose a side that you agree or disagree with.

3. Purpose and Thesis: The purpose identifies whether you’re writing to support, refute, or extend the ideas of the publication to which you are responding. The thesis statement lets the reader know what to expect in your letter. To complete your thesis, start with a formula such as “I agree with [topic/issue/author] because…” OR “I do not agree with [topic/issue/author] because…”

4. Reader/Audience Profile a. Readers’ Expectations: Write down the specific expectations of readers of the publication and how you plan to accommodate them. b. Readers’ Values/Attitudes: Write down your readers’ values and attitudes toward the issue and how they will influence your letter.

5. Context: Social and Political Influences: write down social and political influences of your reader and how you plan to consider them.

6. Personal Experiences: Do you have personal experience with the topic? Write them here.

7. Summarize/paraphrase specific arguments from the article you’re responding to. a. Summary or paraphrase Point 1 with correct APA citations. b. Summary or paraphrase Point 2 with correct APA citations.

8. Quoted Material a. Type word for word a memorable quotation you will use in your letter, “word for word in quotation marks.” b. Type word for word a memorable quotation you will use in your letter, “word for word in quotation marks.”

Now, that you’ve completed the prewriting, you have all the raw materials you’ll need to compose a letter to the editor.