Annotation as Pre-writing for a Letter
While a public annotation, like a Tweet, is itself a kind of message to the next president, we can also think of our annotations as part of the process of thinking through what we might write to a candidate, the raw material from which we compose an actual letter.
Because annotations are rooted in the actual words of a candidate, they are a great way to directly engage with their ideas. In this assignment, you will use one of your best annotations–one you felt was strongest and/or most important to you personally. You will use it to draft a paragraph of your letter.
- Choose one of your best annotations
- Copy both highlighted text and your annotation into whatever program in which you plan to draft your letter–Word, Google Docs,
- Write a paragraph based on the annotation
- Incorporate the original quote into a sentence (“In your A More Perfect Union speech, you said…”)
- Use the quote as a jumping off point for delivering the message you want to the candidate
- Write the rest of your letter
- Publish the letter