Collaborative Letter Assignment
ENG 246: Native American Literature
 
Assignment
With your group, you are going to compose a letter to the person or agency of your choice on a topic relevant to a Native nation or Native peoples in North America. You may choose to write to a person, a non-profit organization, a legislator, a corporation, a lobbying group, a political action committee, or any other person or group you think should know about your stance on the topic. Your grade does not depend on your stance; there is no "party line" for this assignment or in this class.   
 
You are writing neither a fan letter nor a letter bashing anyone or any group. The purpose of this letter is to articulate what you as a group think of a particular issue related to a Native nation or Native peoples. Your group must decide the specific focus of your letter. Whatever you decide, the letter must have a particular purpose. Remember that you are writing an argument and will thus need to refer to specific examples and evidence to support your position.
 
All members of the group must participate fully in the process. You and your fellow group members have the responsibility for organizing the tasks and for meeting outside of class (in real time or virtual time) if you need to. I would like you to work together during all phases of the writing process: planning, composing, revising, and editing. Your group will turn in a single letter.
 
Each individual will also hand in a one-page reflection paper that specifically addresses how you, individually, progressed through each stage of the process. If anyone fails to participate, I expect to find out through these reflection papers, which are due with the final version of your letter. Grades will be assigned to individuals, not to groups.
 
Requirements
Format:           Letters should be word-processed and follow business letter formatting
                        guidelines, which we will discuss briefly in class.
 
Length:            2-3 single-spaced pages (you need to get on to the third page)
 
Due:                November 14, 2007, in class (two copies of your final draft [one for me
                        and one to mail]. Do not forget your reflection paper, which is due at the
                        same time. I will bring envelopes, which you will address in class, and I
                        will mail the letters immediately after class. You do not need to provide
                        postage.