Make Your Voice Heard!

Contributor: Brian Anthony. Lesson ID: 11118

You've got something to say to your government officials, but you can't just knock on their door! Write them a good old-fashioned letter! Relearn the lost art of letter writing and make a difference!

categories

Civics, Social Studies

subject
Government
learning style
Visual
personality style
Otter, Golden Retriever
Grade Level
High School (9-12)
Lesson Type
Dig Deeper

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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It could have been a story on the evening news or an outrageous event you heard about from someone else. It caused you to say, "They ought to pass a law … !"

  • What is one thing you would get changed if you were in charge of the government?

Here’s the good news: You are in charge of the government! Well, you and tens of millions of your fellow citizens. One way to become an engaged citizen is by learning how to make your voice heard!

During many election seasons, it seems that people's trust in government is at an all-time low.

While our political system may be complicated by factors such as big companies and special interests, the fact remains that public opinion is a powerful motivator for politicians. The only way for our government representatives to know what we are thinking is if we tell them.

  • But how?

One tried-and-true method is to write a letter. As you read How to Write Your Congressman, write down the key points from the following sections.

  • Before You Write Your Representative
  • Writing the Letter
  • Receiving a Response

When you have finished, ask an adult or older sibling to discuss the following questions with you.

  • Have they ever communicated with a government official?
  • What issue did they bring up?
  • How did they communicate their thoughts and opinions?
  • What kind of response did they receive, if any?
  • How do their experience and advice relate to the article you read?

As with most other forms of communication, writing to a government official requires you to be informed and organized. That will take a little planning, forethought, and modeling.

Continue on to the Got It? section to examine some sample opinion letters.

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