Letter to the Editor Project

1. Letter to the Editor Project Hadley Stecker Dr. Michelle Trim’s English 110 To the Editor: Re “Abortion Foes Tell of Their Journey to the Streets” by Damien Cave (Article, Oct. 10, 2009): About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project

2. About Me • Beverly Farms, Massachusetts • Strategic Communications Major • Business Minor • Hobbies include scuba-diving, horseback riding, and traveling About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project

3. The Assignment • Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper or magazine that responds to a recently covered issue/topic • Demonstrate awareness of the relationship between purpose and audience • Use carefully crafted reasons and examples • Write effectively to produce a clear, easily understandable piece • Write a revised letter to the editor with a maximum of 500 words About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project

4. The Article • “Abortion Foes Tell of Their Journey to the Streets” by Damien Cave (Article, Oct. 10, 2009) • Gives examples of violent anti-abortion protestors • Explains various protesting techniques • Discusses why and how pro-life activists protest abortion About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project New York Times Online

5. English 110 Objective • A more sophistic understanding of the relationship of purpose, audience, and voice, and an awareness that writing expectations and conventions vary within the academy and in professional and public discourse. • The key component to this project was to target a certain audience and ensure that they see the point I am making • Had to use appropriate language • Still maintain respect for the other side of the argument About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project

6. Writing Process • Searched for articles that caught my attention • Outlined a counter argument • Researched the topic • Wrote a rough draft for peer review • I had difficulties holding back from writing too aggressively about a topic that I am passionate about http://it.pinellas.k12.fl.us/Teachers7/GageS/images/8ECD9F8FDDF54BACAC5B41B15F18FBF3.jpg About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project

7. Writing Process Continued • Edited draft utilizing the constructive criticism I received from my peers and Dr. Trim • Cut irrelevant portions • It was challenging for me to cut out portions that I thought were strong points, even though I knew they weren’t necessary • Lowered the word count to under 500 words About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project

8. I Learned… • About the subject of abortion and protesting • Different view points are not necessarily right or wrong • Decisions can be made for different reasons • People often protest for self-fulfillment • How to improve my writing • To produce concise writing • To use ethos, pathos, and logos to target an audience • To integrate quotes in a meaningful way About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project New York Times Online

9. Project Synopsis • Self-respecting communities should not tolerate the immature behavior of the protestors • Protestors are drastically interfering with people’s personal lives only to benefit themselves • Longing to feel thrill of “camaraderie and conflict” • The main voices heard in the article are male, while abortion applies exclusively to the female body • Individuals should decide whether or not abortion is right for them • Should not be influenced by people who have not faced the same decision About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project

10. Final Project About MeWriting Process The AssignmentWhat I Learned The Article Project Synopsis English 110 ObjectiveFinal Project To the Editor: Re “Abortion Foes Tell of Their Journey to the Streets” by Damien Cave (Article, Oct. 10, 2009): In his article published in the New York Times, “Abortion Foes Tell of Their Journey to the Streets,” Damien Cave attempts to explain the questionable motives of pro-life activists and grant the participating Christians recognition for their actions. It is not only the reasoning of the protestors that is suspicious, but also their persistence to change the minds of pregnant women by force and coercion. Self-respecting communities should not settle for such immature behavior. It is baffling to think that protestors are interfering drastically with strangers’ personal lives solely for the thrill of experiencing “camaraderie and conflict.” People often become protestors not out of concern for others, but because they want to improve their own well-being. According to Ziad Munson, the author of “The Making of Pro-Life Activists,” the social aspect of a protest is an attractive element for people looking to make “social connections.” Dan Brewer is just one example of someone who joined because he wanted to be part of “something rebellious,” not because he felt that protesting abortion would benefit the greater good. He thought that protesting abortion was an activity that would “lead to conversations.” Another Christian joined the protest against pro-choice because he “could not resist… the passion of so many Christians.” One protestor believes that abortion “can end… if Christians just went out there for seven days in a row to tell the truth peacefully.” Physically linking together to prevent women from entering abortion clinics and showing gruesome images to children is not what I call “peaceful.” One of the weaknesses of this article is the constant use of male opinions and voices. There are eight males and merely two females present in the article. Of the females, one is the president of Naral Pro-Choice America, and one is an adult who was born to a mother who seriously considered abortion, but ended up placing her daughter up for adoption to an abusive family. The female view is highly underrepresented, especially for an article focused on an issue only applicable to a female body. I wonder what the abortion debate would entail had it be men with the ability to become pregnant. Would all these men still be fighting against the right of choice? Individuals should decide whether or not abortion is right for them. I trust that no decision, either way, will be made lightheartedly and without serious consideration of both options. Such monumental decisions should not be impacted by a group of people protesting against a situation that they themselves don’t even understand. Women facing the possibility of abortion should not make their decisions based on a 16-year-old boy holding a poster of a dead baby in protest, simply because he thought it was a “cool” thing to do. Any upstanding community would not tolerate the actions of “attention hogs who prefer to attract outrage rather than inspiring compassion.” Hadley D. Stecker Beverly Farms, M.A., February 10, 2010 Original article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/us/10abortion.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1