How to Write an Open Letter Editorial for Your College Portfolio By Sarah O'Neill

Sarah O’Neill Chester County Supreme Editing What’s bugging you these days? Who’s got the power to fix it? And what magical words could you whip up to get them to care (and actually do something about it)? Better yet, how would you reel us in, too? If you’re looking to spice up your college application game, why not craft an Open Letter for the New York Times Contest? Or, go for Scholastic glory by submitting to their Critical Essay section. Either way, flexing those writing muscles and showing off your originality is like extra credit for life — and a win for college admissions! As the Learning Network advises, “Written to senators about making health care more accessible, to Gen Z about embracing kindness, and to Taylor Swift about reducing her carbon emissions, the letters should be direct, passionate, and powerful.” Why is a Letter (itself) special? ■What makes them special? ■Have you ever received a letter? ■What was the nature of it? ■Personal — written just for YOU ■Opinion essays try to convince all kinds of people, very few of whom the author has probably ever met, that some kind of change is needed. ■Crafted to read as a personal entreaty to an individual or group, Open Letters, different from editorials, can have an intimate, even casual, tone and voice. And because they seem to be addressed to someone else, you can feel as if you are listening in on private thoughts. Defining Open Letter The official definition of an open letter is “a published letter of protest or appeal usually addressed to an individual but intended for the general public.” An open letter simultaneously addresses an explicit, or stated, audience — the person whose name follows “Dear” — as well as an implicit or general audience — those of us out in the world who are reading the piece. Example on Website NYT Let’s see how it works by starting with a 2016 piece by Michael Luo headlined “An Open Letter to the Woman Who Told My Family to Go Back to China” (student version; here is the original). Here is how it begins: Dear Madam: Maybe I should have let it go. Turned the other cheek. We had just gotten out of church, and I was with my family and some friends on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. We were going to lunch, trying to see if there was room in the Korean restaurant down the street. You were in a rush. It was raining. Our stroller and a gaggle of Asians were in your way. But I was, honestly, stunned when you yelled at us from down the block, “Go back to China! What do you notice in just the first two paragraphs? In what ways does it read as a letter rather than an essay? How is this open letter — or any open letter — a hybrid, both a letter to an individual and a plea to a general audience? What is an Open Letter It’s a letter that is intended to be read by a wide audience OR to an individual, actually, but which is generally shared with more. They are written for a variety or reasons but are generally composed so that the author can convey their opinion on a wider scale, to make political points such as a letter to a senator, to express strong observations regarding social or other affairs, or to humorous to expose a social foible. Who do you Address in an Open Letter? These letters can be addressed to a specific person such as a magazine or addressed to a wider group. It can also be addressed to a TYPE of person like people who are not “green.” You can sign the letter with your name or have it be from a group like: from concerned citizens of Coatesville. Open Letters are NOT a new concept. Martin Luther King’s letter from a Birmingham Jail is a case in point. Just be sure that if you use this genre of writing you have something meaningful to say! Purposes of Writing an Open Letter: to call to action on a specific issue like the dangers of technology to raise awareness about something otherwise ignored to illustrate a strong criticism from your POV to call out a powerful person so they take accountability to inspire others to do something (like to vote) Sample Prompts: How young is too young to use social media? Should students get mental health days off from school? Is $1 billion too much money for anyone? These types of questions are asked for the NYT Open Letter Contest. •How can writing change people’s understanding of the world? •How can it influence public opinion? How can it lead to meaningful change? What is a good argument? Consider an argument that can be supported with factual evidence, is specific enough to hold a focus, that you are passionate about, and has multiple perspectives and stances. Elements of a Convincing Argument Authoritative voice, “Ethos” What makes you a qualified writer on the topic? Draw from the expertise of other credible theorists or may draw from personal experience. Appeal to reason, “Logos” Where logical statements come into play. The reader is led to agree with you because conclusions/implications follow reasonably from the premises. Appeal to the audience, “Pathos” Often misunderstood as a purely emotional appeal, it is really a method of finding common ground with the reader. For example, the writer can appeal to ethical, humanist ideals, assuming the audience is generally ethical. Brainstorming Topics…Ask yourself: •What do I care about? •Who can make changes, big or small, local or global, to address my issue or problem? •What specifically do I want them to understand and do? •How can I write this as an ”open letter” meaningful to the recipient and a general audience? Open Letter Format There is no one-size-fits-all format since every issue and reason for writing an open letter is unique. Here are some good general guidelines to follow. •Start with a strong introduction. The first sentence must capture the reader’s attention, so it should be captivating and interesting. You want your readers to feel for your cause. •Explain your purpose. After grabbing the reader’s attention, explain why you wrote this letter at this time. What is the main issue you are considering, and what do you propose to do about it? Explain your motivation and connection. •Provide evidence to support your claims. Structured evidence is always better than emotional claims. End with a call to action. This is where you tell your readers what you want them to do or what you’ll do. Maybe it’s signing a petition, donating time or resources to a charity, or contacting elected officials. Ultimately, Ask yourself: •What does my general audience need to know and understand to appreciate my letter and be persuaded by it? •What facts, quotes, and details might it help to include? How can I work those in seamlessly, so they are not jarring to the reader? •How can I impart background and context that helps me build my argument? What should I include and what should I leave out? Open letters that have been published in The New York Times: •An Open Letter to Governor Lee on the Slaughter of Our Children (2023) •Letters Helped Brittney Griner Survive. Here’s One for Her Future.(2022) •Open Letter to President Biden From a Dispirited Black Voter (2022) •A Letter to My Conservative Friends (2021) •A Letter to My Liberal Friends (2021) •An Open Letter to John Lewis (2020) •Dear Harry and Meghan, Some Friendly Canadian Advice (2020) •A Letter to My Father, Gabriel García Márquez (2020) •An Open Letter to President Trump (2020) •An Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg (2019) •Dear Walmart C.E.O.: You Have the Power to Curb Gun Violence. Do It.(2019) Thank you for reading! Sarah O’Neill Chester County Supreme Editing