Chapter Summary
In persuasive messages you are selling your ideas as well as your organization's image and goodwill. To be successful in your career, you must develop the ability to persuade-both orally and in writing.

Chapter 11 will explore the approaches available to you for composing persuasive messages, whether you are writing to your lawmaker, the editor of the local paper, a charity donor, or a business client.

The online resources for Chapter 11 will reinforce and enhance your study of the chapter content. Begin your explorations by choosing one of the chapter links.

Online Exercise Links

Government Web sites

The United States Senate
http://www.senate.gov

U.S. House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov

Project Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org/ce/

FirstGov
http://www.firstgov.gov/

The White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Newspaper Web sites

USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com

Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com

The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com

The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com

Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com

Additional Learning Links

Make a Difference
http://www.unicefusa.org/advocacy/handbook_2.html

UNICEF offers advice on composing and sending written communications to legislators and the media. Sample letters are provided.

Mr. Smith E-mails
http://www.mrsmith.com/

Send e-mails to members of Congress, Senate and House committees, the Vice-President, or the President using these INFOSEARCH electronic forms. The site provides the names of representatives from each state, and the forms allow personalization of the letters and follow recommended letter-writing format. You can also send e-mails to the editors of a variety of publications.

Sales Letters - Four Point Action Closing
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_4ptclos.html

This Purdue University Online Writing Lab's handout discusses ways to close sales letters with a request for action.

Tips for Writing Letters to the Editor
http://whistler.sierraclub.org/action/actionindex.jsp

The Sierra Club Web site stresses the importance of writing letters to legislators and editors and provides suggestions for writing effective letters.

Strategies for Writing Persuasive Letters
http://www.wuacc.edu/services/zzcwwctr/persuasive-ltrs.wm.txt

This handout reviews the purpose of persuasive letters and presents strategies for writing an effective persuasive letter. The Washburn University Writing Center has adapted information from Jeanne Halpern's Business Writing Samples, Purdue University, in this handout.

U.S. Legislative Branch
http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/congress.html

Find the office address, phone, fax, district office, district phone, e-mail address, and more for U.S. representatives and senators. This Library of Congress Internet Resource site provides access to directories of members of the House and Senate.

eFlashcards
Review chapter terms and definitions with eFlashcards.

Crossword Puzzle
Sharpen your knowledge of chapter terms and concepts with an interactive crossword.

Practice Test
Test your understanding of the chapter material with a self-scoring Practice Test.

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