How to Teach a Problem-Solving Letter Composition Project in 6 Classes (Teaching, #1)

by David Bruce

Overview

This document describes a composition project that I have successfully used during my years of teaching at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. The composition project is to write a Problem-Solving Letter that gives the reader information that the reader can use. This is practical writing, as opposed to academic research papers that teachers grade and return to their students. Problem-Solving Letters tell readers information that the readers do not already know but that the readers would like to know and use. Academic research papers tend to tell the readers — teachers — information that the teachers already know. Academic research papers tend not to have information that the readers can use in their own lives.

The Problem-Solving Letter Project is useful because it teaches the students useful skills:

• How to Solve Problems

• How to Write Persuasively

• How to Write to a Real-World Audience as Opposed to a Teacher

• How to Use a Conventional Business Letter Format

Teachers are welcome to evaluate this assignment to see if they want to use it in their own classes. Teachers are welcome to adapt this assignment as desired.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940046203875
Publisher:	David Bruce
Publication date:	09/29/2014
Series:	Teaching
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	169 KB

About the Author

I would like to see my retellings of classic literature used in schools, so I give permission to the country of Finland (and all other countries) to give copies of my eBooks to all students and citizens forever. I also give permission to the state of Texas (and all other states) to give copies of my eBooks to all students forever. I also give permission to all teachers to give copies of my eBooks to all students forever.

Teachers need not actually teach my retellings. Teachers are welcome to give students copies of my eBooks as background material. For example, if they are teaching Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," teachers are welcome to give students copies of my "Virgil's 'Aeneid': A Retelling in Prose" and tell students, "Here's another ancient epic you may want to read in your spare time."

Do you know a language other than English? I give you permission to translate any of my retellings of classic literature, copyright your translation in your name, publish or self-publish your translation (but do say it's a translation of something I wrote), and keep all the royalties for yourself.

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David Bruce is a retired anecdote columnist at "The Athens News" in Athens, Ohio. He has also retired from teaching English and philosophy at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

SOME BOOKS BY DAVID BRUCE

Retellings of a Classic Work of Literature:

Arden of Favorsham: A Retelling

Ben Jonson's The Alchemist: A Retelling
Ben Jonson's The Arraignment, or Poetaster: A Retelling
Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fa...