Impressive Letters to the Editor

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/opinion/l02egypt.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

I chose the first letter to the editor which was written by Michel Barsoum. His letter caught my eye because he was originally from Egypt and he was providing the readers with a first hand response about the environment there. He wrote this letter the way that I feel is most effective in getting a point across. He was short and concise, yet the message he was trying to show is apparent. The reader of this letter doesn't read it and wonder what point he was trying to make, instead it is very clear. The set-up of his letter is also something that caught my attention. He starts by saying something personal, for example his personal connection to this story. Then he leads into telling a few facts  and figures about the situation that is going on in Egypt. Then he says what he believes is the wanted solution to the problem, and that is will be a difficult project for whoever gets it. Lastly, he ends with something inspirational for the reader to hold on to and continue to give support to the people of Egypt.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-110124biladeau_briefs,0,6594186.story

This is a letter to the editor from the Chicago Tribune, about health care reform written by Arthur Biladeau. This letter first caught my eye because it was more of an annoyed reader responding to an article that he disagreed with. Although the letter comes across as the reader being annoyed they still offer points within their letter that they use to back themselves up. I think that this is important in an opinionated letter to the editor if you want to come across as knowing what you're talking about, instead of just writing on emotion. If a writer simply rants in their letter to the editor than readers will just see them as venting and annoying and disregard what they have to say. Therefore, the message that the writer is trying to share will be forgotten. However, I liked this letter because he combined a sense of emotion with facts and it made the letter more viable.