Look at the letters to the editor in a newspaper or magazine. Find two or three in which the author is stating his or her view on some issue of interest to you.

a. Identify the perspective the author is taking on the issue.

b. Assess how well the author does at stating that view clearly.

c. Propose changes or additions to improve the clarity of the statement.

d. Identify two or three contrasting views. Remember, contrasting views are not opposite views; a contrasting view is a similar view that one might easily confuse with the one being stated.

Find five advertisements in your local newspaper.

a. Identify the key claims made in the advertisement, and define them.

b. Identify three contrasting claims that one might easily confuse for that view.

c. Propose changes to improve the clarity of the advertisement.