IDC 3O1 African-Canadian History
Inclusive Education – Why an African-Canadian History Course?
Canada is a country made up of people from many different backgrounds, who have all contributed
to the formation and building of Canada. However, not all these groups have been acknowledged
or recorded in our history books.
Your Task:
You are to write a letter to a position of authority (Minister of Education, School Principal, Teacher,
Superintendent, Mayor, City Councillor, Prime Minister, etc.) OR to a person who may oppose the
teaching of an African-Canadian History Course and justify the inclusion of this course into the
provincial curriculum. Your letter should highlight your understanding of inclusive education and
discuss the importance of this course for ALL students, and not only students of colour.
SPECS:
1) FORMAT - Your letter should be addressed to
someone specific with a proper address
included and begin with a proper salutation
(i.e. Dear…, To…) and conclude with a proper
closing (i.e. Sincerely…, Respectfully….)
2) STYLE – the language of your letter should be
appropriate and reflect who the recipient is.
For example, you would not write to the Prime
Minister in the same casual way you might
speak to a friend.
3) CONTENT – Your letter should reflect your
understanding of the importance of the
course. It should also demonstrate your
passion and personal connection to learning
such a curriculum. Tell a personal story or
anecdote that would help convince your
reader about the significance and worth of
African-Canadian education. Feel free to
include a picture.
4) Your letter should be 1.5 pages in length using
only Times New Roman/Arial/Verdana font, size 12 or 14. Do not shrink your margins!
Hints:
A few things to keep in mind when you are writing a letter:
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A letter has three parts:
o an introduction that establishes the purpose
o a middle that fully develops the message (as appropriate to the purpose)
o a courteous, graceful closing that makes clear what you expect to happen
Plan and outline what you are going to say before you start writing.
Always be brief, clear, specific and respectful.
Focus your message so that it achieves your purpose.
Keep your paragraphs to one idea each.
Develop your ideas logically and carefully.
If you wouldn’t say it, don’t write it.
Be direct.
Be definite.
Make sure your work is letter perfect.
Be Clear
Your reason for writing should be
absolutely clear—both to you and to
your reader. Before you start, focus on
what you want your letter to
accomplish. Make sure you can answer
these questions:
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Why am I writing?
What is the point I want to make?
What do I want this letter to do?
You want your reader to read and
understand what you've written, so use
concrete language and a conversational
style. Avoid vague words, jargon, and
long, dense sentences. Never give your
reader an excuse to stop reading.
Be Concise
Say what you have to say and no more
than that. Readers become irritated by
long-winded, repetitive letters. Stick to
the points you want your reader to pay
attention to.
Be Courteous
Think about your reader as a real person, someone who is as reasonable and as deserving
of respect as you are. Speak directly to your reader and be sure to sound reasonable and
respectful. Try to visualize your reader and how you might make your points in a face-toface conversation. In that case, how would you want to sound? How would you want your
reader to see you?
Be Correct!
As soon as your reader spots an error, your credibility starts to slip. The more errors a
letter contains, the more distracted your reader will be from your message. Double check
everything—your facts, spelling, punctuation, grammar, mechanics. Don't give your reader
a reason to conclude that you're careless and your letter doesn't deserve much attention.
LETTER WRITING TEMPLATE
275 Brisdale Drive
Brampton, ON L7A 3C7
(905) 846-7124
blahblahblah@hotmail.com
February 7, 2010
The Honourable Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario, Legislature Building
Room 281
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
Dear Premier McGuinty:
Your street address
City, Province, Postal Code
Phone number and email address
Month, Date, Year
(Mr./Mrs./Miss./Dr.) Full Name of Recipient
Full Title of Recipient, Company/Organization Name
Recipient Street Adress
City, Province, Postal Code
Greeting or Salutation
RE: African-Canadian History Course in the Ontario Curriculum
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BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
Sincerely,
Johnny Bojangles
St. Edmund Campion Grade 11 Student
Enclosure
Closing (leave 4 spaces inbetween for
signature)
Print your name followed by
title/position and company or
organization name.
If you have an ATTACHMENT, use Enclosure or
Enclosures (#).
IDC 3O1 – African Canadian History: Letter Writing Rubric
Name: ________________________________________________________________
CRITERIA
KNOWLEDGE
Content: Demonstrates
knowledge of facts and ideas.
LEVEL
“0”
DID NOT
REACH
LEVEL
THINKING
Supporting reasons and
arguments.
Summary and conclusion.
DID NOT
REACH
LEVEL
APPLICATION
Clarity, coherence and
organization.
Correct use of grammar,
spelling and punctuation.
DID NOT
REACH
LEVEL
COMMUNICATION
Expression of ideas in writing.
Correct letter writing
conventions (addressee,
address, salutation, closing,
etc)
Comments:
DID NOT
REACH
LEVEL
LEVEL 1
5 - 5.5
LEVEL 2
6 - 6.5
LEVEL 3
7 - 7.5
LEVEL 4
8 - 100
Demonstrates
emerging
knowledge of
facts and
ideas.
Emerging
ability to
support
reasons and
arguments.
Developing
ability to
summarize
the main
arguments.
Beginning to
write with
clarity and
coherence
and to
organize
information.
Developing
grammar,
spelling and
punctuation
skills with
some errors.
Demonstrates
some
knowledge of
facts and
ideas.
Adequate
ability to
support
reasons and
arguments.
Satisfactory
ability to
summarize
the main
arguments.
Approaching
effective
ability to
write with
clarity and
coherence
and to
organize
information.
Adequate
grammar,
spelling and
punctuation
skills with
some errors.
Word choice
and language
level
acceptable for
purpose and
audience.
Acceptable
style of letter
presentation
without major
errors.
Demonstrates
good
knowledge of
facts and
ideas.
Effective
ability to
support
reasons and
arguments.
Polished
ability to
summarize
the main
arguments.
Effectively
able to write
with clarity
and
coherence
and to
organize
information.
Good
grammar,
spelling and
punctuation
skills with
some errors.
Demonstrates
thorough
knowledge of
facts and
ideas.
Superior
ability to
support
reasons and
arguments.
Exemplary
ability to
summarize
the main
arguments.
Professional
ability to write
with clarity
and
coherence
and to
organize
information.
Outstanding
grammar,
spelling and
punctuation
skills with
some errors.
Word choice
and language
level
appropriate
for purpose
and audience.
Competent
style of letter
presentation
without
errors.
Word choice
and language
level skilfully
used to reflect
purpose and
audience.
Distinguished
style of letter
presentation
with no
errors.
Word choice
and language
level reflect
some sense of
purpose and
audience.
Developing
an acceptable
style of letter
presentation.
MARK