Letter to the Editor Homework 

While reading and dissecting this letter to the editor I have unfolded and discovered some of the most important essential components that makes up the letter. Jumping right into the very first and most obvious component needed the “credentials” is clearly stated at the very start of the letter. “I am a 65-year-old hourly employee at a hotel in Durham, N.C. At the end of each workweek, like many millions of low-wage earners in America, I nervously wait for the next week’s schedule to post” (Henderson). Stating your credentials to the argument and why what you say regarding the matter is important because it shows how it directly affects you. If you do not give your credentials then it appears as though the matter doesn’t directly affect and your opinion on the matter is valued less.Following the credentials you have your “clarification”. Here you prove why your credentials are valid and give further detail on how the matter directly affects you. The author reveals a tactic many business’ use when it comes to scheduling. “Every week this pernicious labor practice is leveled at millions of America’s lowest-paid workers. And you know why? Because of a dehumanizing labor concept called “just in time scheduling” and a shameful greed that keeps piling up the dollars for corporate executives” (Henderson). In this section of the letter the author is providing an example on how the argument directly affects him still.

 The next component I would like to go over was the “citation”. In the letter the hotel employee clearly states that they are writing this letter in response to “…the president…” and “…his record on job creation” (Henderson). Failure to address the article in the letter makes it difficult and confusing for the readers to understand what or who you’re even objecting to. Which leads me into the next and probably the most important component, the “objection”. The author first starts off with simply asking that “…the next time our president boastfully touts his record for job creation, I beg someone to ask him to be transparent on these few things…” and goes on to list a few questions regarding what many Americans in search for a new job ask themselves. Finishing with “And if the president of the United States can’t give a working man an answer to this, please let him know that his labor policies haven’t produced a pathway that enriches us all.” Here the writer is addressing what the issue is and who it regards. The point of a letter to the editor is to disagree with something. The original article has sold as many copies as it can already so by disagreeing with something in the article it brings attention to a certain subject in the article and gives another point of view which, essentially, helps sell more copies. 

Moving onto the “premise” this is where the reason why the issue actually concerns the readers comes out. The author is saying that the presidents’ job is to help “the powerful, the haves and corporate America” (Henderson). This concerns the reader because the presidents’ job is to help the people out. So when he isn’t helping out a certain group of people it will start to disrupt society as a whole. The “support” component of the letter would then be when Henderson explained “labor policies haven’t produced a pathway that enriches us all.” Henderson is saying that the presidents’ labor policies haven’t been helping society as a whole but only a certain group of people. Once the issues of the article are examined it is important for the author of the letter to try to make the audience think about the bigger picture using their emotions. This is called the “rhetorical flourish”. To really connect with the audience and make them feel as though his letter does have a direct connection to them the author goes on to ask a series of questions low income Americans think about from day to day. “1) Just where in America can these jobs be found? 2) Will these jobs allow a person to buy a little house and raise a family? 3) Will these jobs provide some benefits and health insurance?” (Henderson). Towards the end of the letter the “truth” component is normally found. Henderson here states “So the next time our president boastfully touts his record for job creation” where the “boastfully touts his record for job creation” would be used to help create the header of the letter. 

To help close up the letter the “hopeful proposal” would be placed. This is where the author would typically give a sense of hope.  “And surely we as a people can do better than this” (Henderson). He is saying that he has hope that the people of the United States can step up and help bring attention to the issue and demand for it to be fixed. And lastly, to end the letter to the editor, the “call to action” would be stated. This is where something would physically get done in order to help the issue. Including things like signing a petition, creating an organization, voting, etc. However this was the only component of the letter that I could not identify in regards to this issue. Henderson did a wonderful and thoroughly thought out job on making sure the majority of the letter hit all 10 components except one. Thus, still creating an extremely persuasive and convincing letter which helps draw attention to a major issue low income american’s face today.