Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” The Eloquent Letter is an authentic, adaptable assignment for acquiring critical skills: identifying and researching social problems, examining value systems and diverse perspectives, communicating effectively, and proposing solutions based on common ground. Moving beyond traditional argumentation essays and debates, this project situates activism and writing “in its native habitat.”

Students identify and research a social problem or issue and write and send a persuasive letter, asking for specific action toward addressing the issue. This assignment is meant to assess DQP proficiencies in Broad and Integrative Knowledge, Intellectual skills, and Civic and Global Learning. Students develop questions to explore a controversial topic, research and compare information from multiple perspectives, understand the system within which the topic operates, and examine, compare, and integrate the positions, values, knowledge, and assumptions of various stakeholders. They also examine the learning process and engage in peer review of draft letters.