Name:___________________

Date:_________________
Environmental Activist
Major Problem:
As a group you must decide what the biggest problem in the biome is. This could be
anything from deforestation to water pollution to over population of a species.
Write a letter to an important environmental group impressing upon them the problem you
found and the reasons they should be paying attention to the problem more closely.
1. Decide the environmental group or organization you are going to write to
2. Write a persuasive letter to this group impressing upon them the urgent need for change
because of the effects on your chosen biome.
Letter Rubric
Student Name:

________________________________________

Content

Letter is focused on
the topic. The main
idea stands out and
is supported by
detailed information.
Position is supported
by relevant, quality
details that give the
reader important
information in
support of the main
point.

Main idea is clear

but the supporting
information is
general or lacking
points. Not all key
issues are fully
addressed or
supported.

Main idea is
somewhat clear but
there is a need for
more supporting
information.
Supporting details
and information are
relevant, but several
key issues are
unsupported or not
addressed.

The main idea is not

clear. There is a
seemingly random
collection of
information.
Supporting details
and information are
typically unclear,
unrelated, or not
present.

Organization

The introduction
clearly states the
issues and previews
the writer's position.
Details are placed in
a logical order, with
transitions, such that
the reader can
clearly follow the line
of reasoning. The
letter finishes with a
strong and
convincing
conclusion regarding
the writer's position.

The introduction
states the issues and
gives some idea of
the writer's position.
Details are placed in
a logical order, but
the reader may
sometimes be
unable to see the
connections among
the points. The
conclusion restates
the writer's position.

The introduction
makes some
reference to the
topic, but is unclear
on what will follow.
Some details are not
in a logical order,
and this distracts the
reader. Some
attempt is made at a
conclusion.

There is no clear
introduciton of the
topic or position to
be taken. Deatils are
in random order.
There is no
conclusion.

CATEGORY

Conventions

Writer makes only

minor errors in
grammar or spelling
that do not distract
the reader from the
content. Writer
makes few to no
errors in
capitalization or
punctuation, so the
letter is very easy to
read.

Writer makes a few

errors in grammar or
spelling that may
somewhat distract
the reader from the
content. Despite a
few errors in
capitalization or
punctuation, the
letter is still fairly
easily read.

Sentence
Structure

Most sentences are Sentences tend to

well-constructed with be well-constructed
varied structure.
but have a similar
structure.

Writer makes some

errors in grammar or
spelling that distract
the reader from the
content. Errors in
capitalization and/or
punctuation catch
the reader's attention
and interrupt the
flow.

Writer makes several

errors in grammar or
spelling that
significantly distract
the reader and make
the content difficult
to understand. Errors
in capitalization
and/or punctuation
greatly interrupt the
flow.

Sentences tend to
be non-standard in
structure, but
meaning can still be
fairly easily
discerned.

Sentences lack
structure and appear
incomplete or
rambling. Frequent
non-standard
structure severely
affects readability.