Bio65: Biodiversity and Conservation

University of California, Irvine

Background report for writing assignment

By answering the following questions you should have most of the basic information you require to write your letters. A one-page typed report addressing these questions is to be turned in along with each letter. For each letter, both the background report and the letter must be turned in at the time you mail the letter. These instructions apply to a case where a Bill is pending - you should adapt the instructions for cases where a different type of decision-making is taking place.

What specific bill (or other action) is involved? Give the bill number and title; example: HR 2275 Endangered Species Conservation and Management Act of 1995.

Briefly describe the issue or bill your are writing about. What will the effects be of passage or defeat of this bill? Give some specific examples of effects if possible.

What legislative or administrative body is responsible for making a decision concerning the issue you are writing about, e.g. city council, State assembly, U.S. House of Representatives?

Who is the representative from your city, district, or state who will be voting on this issue? What is your representatives current position in this issue?

Who sponsored this bill? When was it introduced? What actions have been taken on it so far?

When does the bill come up for a vote or next action?

What groups support and oppose the bill? Why?

List your sources of information in a bibliography, and refer to them by including specific citations at appropriate places in the text. In the bibliography, include complete information. For example, for a journal article you would include: Author(s), date, title of article, journal name, volume, page numbers.

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