I do a similar assignment in my developmental psychology courses, in which
students write a letter making research-based policy recommendations to some
policymaker at the local, state, or national level. The assignment is based
on a recent article in TIPS.
Campbell, J.F. (1996). Psychology student as advocate: Public policy in the
clasroom. Teaching of Psychology, 23(2), 116-119.
I allow students to choose any issue relevant to developmental psychology
and to write to the policymaker of their choice. I do make them mail the
letters, despite their protests. There are several reasons I believe this
to be useful and appropriate.
1. Students need to learn that research has practical implications.
2. Students need to learn to be active citizens and to be empowered to take
an active role in social issues (my value, I realize, but one I hope they
adopt.).
3. Students ought to be able to find at least one issue that they feel
strongly enough about to advocate (this assignment might force students to
overcome apathy).
4. Students often put more effort into something that will be sent to an
external reader.
(On course evaluations several students "complain" that they had to work
harder on this assignment and make sure that it was grammatically correct
and clear because they didn't want to be embarassed. Makes you wonder about
the value they place on faculty's opinions!).
As Merrikay Boyland points out, there are some difficulties with this
assignemnt, which I have wrestled with. In particular, poorly written
letters from our students reflect poorly on our college, as do letters that
lack tact. I read all letters before sending them out, but only censor
letters that are overtly insulting to the recipient. I feel that students
should learn to be responsible for the way they express themselves, and this
assignment teaches them the importance of attending to the presention of
their ideas. I try to warn students about potential consequences of their
letters, but if the assignment has adverse consequences for students (e.g.,
if potential future employers are "turned off" by the way they express
themselves) this is generally because the students did not invest enough in
the assignment.
Just my opinion, I would also be interested in hearing from others.
Steve Davis
North Central College
merrikay boylan wrote:
> Hi again TIPsters
>
> On another subject - same class of 150 students - The Family and Society
> -
>
> Students write a one page action letter to a company, corporation,
> non-profit, school or whatever, offering support or suggestions
> regarding that organizations policies that effect families. For
> example, corporate sponsored childcare, family leave policies, travel,
> etc. I have encouraged the students to write to an organization they
> would like to work for so that they have established some contact they
> can later use when looking for employment. Of course they always say,
> "Do we have to mail it?" I have said no, although I would like for them
> to and we could use answers they get in class discussions. OK - here is
> my quandary:
>
> What are the ethics of asking students to mail the letter for a grade -
> what adverse consequences could happen for the students? This is a
> lower division class - students who aren't always tactful and their
> grammar is sometimes a nightmare. - Perhaps that will be part of the
> assignment.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> OH - and in your replies? Please no comments about MY tact and grammar?
>
> Merrikay Boylan, MS
> Cal State Univ Sacramento
>
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