Assignment 1: Advocacy Opinion Article (20%). Write a 700-word Op/Ed or Letter to the Editor on a health policy topic of your choice for a major news outlet (e.g., LA Times). The policy issue you discuss in your advocacy article is your choice. You can write this piece as yourself (UCLA nursing student), or as someone representing a specific, identified group or organization that you are part of (e.g., student organization, community organization, sociocultural group). Op/Eds and letters to the editor are both tools for policy advocacy written in a similar length and style, but they differ slightly in purpose:
An Op/Ed is brief, written column that offers a definitive, informed, and focused opinion on an issue of relevance to a targeted audience. Your op/ed can be about any health policy topic of your choosing.
A letter to the editor is a brief, written response to a published article that offers a definitive, informed, and focused opinion. It is like an op/ed in style and focus, but responds to specific article/publication, while an op/ed may be about any topic regardless of whether the publishing entity has written about the topic before. If you select this option, you must respond to an article about a health policy topic written in a major, reputable news publication the past year and attach a copy of the article.
Guiding principles for this assignment:
In policy writing, it is critical to lead with your conclusion. Successful Op/Eds and letters to the editor make the main point clear from the beginning of the piece. The reader is not left guessing for regarding what the piece is about or the position of the writer. Your main argument should be made within the first few sentences of the piece and will likely be in support of or against a specific policy.
The advocacy article needs to stand on its own; readers of your article should be able to understand what you are talking about without having read prior material or without being an expert on the topic.
Write in a way that an average person in the public can understand what you are saying and can see why this issue is important. Do not use a lot of facts, figures, and research statistics in an advocacy piece. If you do want to use some figures, make sure they are easy to digest. You will not be using references or citations in the piece.
Write professionally as if you were planning to submit the advocacy article for actual publication in a major newspaper. You may decide to submit your article for publication. Editors are more likely to accept the piece if what you are saying is timely (i.e., ties in with recent news events like votes on health care reform issues or major societal events like COVID-19 or Women’s History Month).
Include a word count at the bottom of the document. You may not exceed the word limit; generally, advocacy articles are submitted via online forms, and you will be unable to submit if you do not follow the word limit. Format your document professionally including your name and the date (no specific formatting required).
View Rubric
Assignment 1: Advocacy Opinion Article
Assignment 1: Advocacy Opinion Article
Criteria Ratings Pts
Content
view longer description
10 pts
Excellent
Main argument is clear, concise, and immediately identifiable
8 pts
Good
Main argument is mostly clear and concise but could be more effective
6 pts
Fair
Main argument is somewhat clear and concise but needs more development
4 pts
Poor
Main argument is unclear or no position is taken
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 10 pts
Content
view longer description
20 pts
Excellent
Evidence and examples fully support the main argument, providing a compelling case
16 pts
Good
Evidence and examples support the main argument but could be more persuasive
12 pts
Fair
Evidence and examples provide some support for the main argument, but more development is needed
5 pts
Poor
Little or no evidence is provided, and the argument is unsupported
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 20 pts
Content
view longer description
10 pts
Excellent
Examples and anecdotes are relevant, illuminating, and effectively support the argument
8 pts
Good
Examples and anecdotes are mostly relevant and support the argument to some extent
6 pts
Fair
Examples and anecdotes are somewhat relevant but do not fully support the argument
4 pts
Poor
Examples and anecdotes are irrelevant, inappropriate, or missing
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 10 pts
Content
view longer description
10 pts
Excellent
The writing is clear, logical, and easy to follow, with effective transitions between ideas
8 pts
Good
The writing is mostly clear and logical, with some room for improvement in the transitions between ideas
6 pts
Fair
The writing is somewhat clear and logical, but needs more coherence and better transitions between ideas
4 pts
Poor
The writing lacks coherence and logical flow, making it difficult to understand
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 10 pts
Style
view longer description
10 pts
Excellent
The writing has a professional tone and uses appropriate language for the intended audience
8 pts
Good
The writing has an appropriate tone but could be more polished in language use
6 pts
Fair
The writing has a tone that is somewhat inappropriate or inconsistent, and language use needs improvement
3 pts
Poor
The writing has an unprofessional or inappropriate tone and language use
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 10 pts
Style
view longer description
10 pts
Excellent
Writing is clear, concise, and free from grammar, spelling, or syntax errors
8 pts
Good
Writing is mostly clear and concise, with occasional grammar, spelling, or syntax errors
6 pts
Fair
Writing is unclear, verbose, confusing, or with many grammar, spelling, or syntax errors
4 pts
Poor
Writing is unclear, verbose, confusing, or with many grammar, spelling, or syntax errors to the extent that ideas cannot be understood
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 10 pts
Style
view longer description
10 pts
Excellent
The writing has smooth transitions between ideas, making it easy to follow the author’s train of thought
8 pts
Good
The writing has mostly smooth transitions but could be more effective
6 pts
Fair
The writing has somewhat smooth transitions but needs more coherence
4 pts
Poor
The writing has abrupt or confusing transitions
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 10 pts
Organization
view longer description
5 pts
Excellent
The introduction effectively sets up the main argument and engages the reader’s attention
4 pts
Good
The introduction sets up the main argument but could be more engaging
3 pts
Fair
The introduction is somewhat effective in setting up the main argument, but needs improvement
2 pts
Poor
The introduction is ineffective and does not set up a clear argument
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 5 pts
Organization
view longer description
5 pts
Excellent
The conclusion leaves a strong and memorable impression on the reader, effectively summarizing the argument and providing closure
4 pts
Good
The conclusion effectively summarizes the argument but could be more memorable or provide better closure
3 pts
Fair
The conclusion somewhat summarizes the argument but needs improvement in being memorable or providing closure
2 pts
Poor
The conclusion is ineffective or irrelevant, not providing closure
0 pts
Missing
Missing
/ 5 pts
Organization
view longer description
10 pts
Excellent
The writing is within the specified word limit and demonstrates effective editing and proofreading
0 pts
Missing
Over the word limit
/ 10 pts
Total Points: 0
