"Call of Duty"

Call of Duty

The inspiring story of Marine Corporal Jose Armenta explores the powerful bond between working dogs and the handlers who care
for them.

Featured Skill: Forming an argument
Video: Beyond the Story: Into the World of Military Working Dogs

Vocabulary - Copy these words, write definitions and place on index cards:

1. prostheses
2. sable
3. patter
4. improvised
5. deployed
6. elite 

Writing Project: A Letter to Your Congressman

(See handout)
Take Notes
Answer the questions on your handout, which will help you think of what points to make in your letter.
Use ideas from the article and the video, and support your claims with evidence. Include your
own ideas as well.
Consider Your Reader
1. To write an effective persuasive letter, you need to get inside your reader’s mind. Ask yourself
what points would be MOST effective in persuading that particular person to take the action
you desire. How could the action you desire benefit that person? What concerns might he or
she have?
2. In this case, your reader is a member of Congress, the law-making branch of our federal
government. Congress decides how the taxes that Americans pay are spent. Remember, your
congressperson’s job is to represent you.
3. Write As If the Reader Is on Your Side
When writing a persuasive letter, don’t treat the reader like an enemy. Your letter will be
much more effective if you assume that you and your congressperson have the same goals. Be Polite
Not only is a less-than-polite letter likely to be ignored, it could even work against you!
4. What do military dog handlers and their dogs do for the United States?