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Letter-Writing Tips |
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Letters provide an important tool to educate and instruct your elected representatives; however, not all letters are created equal. Whether writing a letter to your congressperson, senator, the governor, or the president, your letter must:
- Be clear and knowledgeable. Research your topic briefly to make sure that your understanding of it is correct. If possible, reference the specific bill number or piece of legislation you wish to discuss and provide related statistics when appropriate. For example, a letter discussing the need for farm relief might give statistics on the number of dairy farms that went out of business in Minnesota since 1997. A letter discussing opening new markets to farm exports might discuss the positive dollar impact that newly opened markets have had on American exports.
- Be brief and stay on track. Do not wander from your main subject. Make sure that you understand your topic and can discuss it with authority. Use forceful, positive statements about your direct experience and knowledge. For example, a sentence that begins: "The dairy pricing structure is fundamentally unfair," sounds more authoritative than "I feel that dairy pricing is unfair".
- Use correct and appropriate grammar, language, and spelling. This will give your letter added authority and punch. It's okay to sound distressed, but never use threatening or obscene language.
Make sure to edit your letter before sending it. Set it aside for a day and re-read it and/or ask a spouse or friend to read it. Subject drift, grammatical errors, or needed language changes are more likely to be caught on re-reading. If you want your congressperson (or staff) to reply, be sure to include your full name and address and ask for a response.
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