What do you do?
See the examples of Community Activities below….to give you some ideas about what will qualify. Look at all materials posted under this Content heading about civility and civil society.
Take part in some community activity during this semester (It can be something you have already done if it is during this semester) that you can write your essay on. The activity cannot be from before this semester.
Follow the essay directions below and write your essay
Upload your essay into the Assignment Box for this Assignment located under “Assessments/Assignments” by April 29th at 11:59 pm at the very latest. I strongly advise you to do this and get it uploaded well before that date so you aren’t overwhelmed at the end of the semester with your classes.
Essay format: at least 1 and 1/2 pages typed (600 word minimum required),
double-spaced in 12-point font.
No handwritten essays will be graded.
Essay: Students must explain the importance in American Government of civilly interacting with people in your voting community (your personal community must be identified… Not just any community) through community activities/interactions thus developing a sense of ownership in that community, or in political science terms, what is called social capital;
Focus on explaining:
1) HOW the activity you took part in helped build civil interactions and the sense of community/trust we call social capital IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND
2) WHY civility and social capital are important in a democratic society. Notice the terms “geographic” and “community you live in” are specific locations. Address the local community aspect of this. (A huge and debatable question is whether internet communications can create the same benefit to communities that in-person interactions have traditionally done. A long-term political saying is that all politics is local…that it bubbles up from the grassroots level).
*DO NOT TRY TO LOOK THESE TERMS UP IN A DICTIONARY. The various definitions will confuse you. DO NOT CONFUSE THE TERMS WITH CAPITALISM OR ECONOMIC THEORY.
READ ABOUT THE TERMS FROM THE RESOURCES PROVIDED IN THIS MODULE. OTHERWISE, YOU ARE GOING TO GET CONFUSED AND WILL BE TEMPTED TO GO OFF ON TOPICS NOT PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT. (I will count off if you go off on topics that are not part of the assignment.)
(Robert Putnam is the “guru” of the social capital concept in POLS).
Again:
Write an essay at least 1 and ½ pages long (600 word minimum) 12 point font, double spaced, and discuss:
1) HOW the activity you took part in helped build civil interactions and the sense of community/trust we call social capital AND
2) WHY civility and social capital are important in a democratic society. Notice the terms “geographic” and “community you live in” are specific locations. Address the local community aspect of this.
If you have any questions, text or email me.
Here are some Georgia Examples of Community Activities that have aided in building social capital in a civil society. Each involved civic participation, civil behavior and /or observation.
Library volunteer
Appling Count High School track meet volunteer
Volunteer work at senior citizen homes
School Board Meetings
City Commission Meetings
County Commission Meetings
Zoning Commission Meetings
Civic Club meetings: Lions, Kiwanis, Exchange, etc.
Blood Drives
Okefenokee Swamp park, or meetings for the community
Any of the State Parks
Theater productions (plays) locally or in other towns
Crystal River Wildlife Refuge
Bass Tournament volunteers
Satilla River Keepers clean up day volunteers
Humane Society work
Animal Shelter volunteers
Relay for Life volunteers
Okefenokee Heritage Center
Southeast Ga. Barrel Racing Event
Work with the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts
Teaching/volunteering at the YMCA
Boys and Girls Club of Altamaha Area, Jesup
Volunteer work at school festivals
Fall festivals
Swampfest in Waycross
Cumberland Island State Park
Reading/volunteer work at family reading nights at elementary schools
Ringing the bell for the Salvation Army
Miracle League of Okefenokee
Volunteer work at Food Banks
The Sycamore Tree in Blackshear
Habitat for Humanity volunteer
Petsmart Volunteer on animal days
Ware County School Summer Feeding Program
Toys for Tots volunteer
Any traffic court observation time
Meals on Wheels volunteer
Camp One Fifty One in Douglas
Child Abuse Awareness Run
Color Run for Kids Art Camp
Wild Game Supper in Hoboken
Parking cars for the Waycross Fair
Pierce Co. High School Bear Booster Golf Tournament
SGSC Basketball Camp work
Ware Co. Special Olympics work
Preparing book bags with supplies for school children
“adopting” active military to send letters and care packages to
Hurricane shelter work
Fundraisers for local sick children
Caffeine and Octane Car Show at Jekyll Island
Pecan Festival in Blackshear
Ride Along with Police Officer or Sheriff’s deputy
Volunteer Work with USO at Hartsfield International Airport
Traffic Court
Meals on Wheels
Tax Assessor’s meeting
City Council Meeting
County School Board Meeting
Work for “Safe House” in Cartersville the day after Thanksgiving.
City sponsored Haunted Halloween Tour
City sponsored Fall Festival and Craft Fair
Recreation Dept. functions – volunteer work
State Parks
Tractor Show
River and Lake Clean-ups
Bluegrass & Folk Festival
Marching Band Competition
Pet Smart Adoption Weekend volunteers
Blood Drive for Cure Childhood Cancer
Museums
Indian sites
County Republican or Democratic Party meetings
Georgia National Fair in Perry
Speakers sponsored by the college
Little Theater productions
Book Fairs
Eagle Scout Community Event
Woodmen of the World insurance meetings
Cattlemen’s Association Meeting or Ag organization meetings
Ride Along with Acworth Police Office
Volunteer Work with USO at Hartsfield International Airport
Traffic Court
Meals on Wheels
Bartow County Tax Assessor’s meeting
Cartersville City Council Meeting
Douglas County School Board Meeting
Work for “Safe House” in Cartersville the day after Thanksgiving.
Cave Spring Haunted Halloween Tour
Cave Spring Fall Festival and Craft Fair
Charity Downtown in Cartersville
Bartow Recreation Dept. Halloween Festival – volunteer work
Fort Mountain State Park – Chatsworth, GA
Gordon County Antique Engine – Tractor Show
Amicalola State Park
Great Lakes Allatoona Clean-up
Cartersville Bluegrass & Folk Festival
Peach State Marching Competition
Pet Smart Adoption Weekend
Blood Drive for Cure Childhood Cancer
The Southern Museum – Kennesaw
Etowah Indian Mounds
Kennesaw City Council Meeting
Bartow Co. Republican Party Convention
City Council Meetings
Georgia National Fair in Perry
Muhammad Yunnus speaking event at Berry College
Rocky Horror Show – Rome Little Theater
Book Fair in Burlington, NC
Eagle Scout Community Event
Woodmen of the World insurance meeting and Christmas dinner
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association Meeting
Fricker and Cobb Recreation Centers in Pensacola, FL & what they contribute for kids.
Gold Rush Days event in Dahlonega, GA
Corn Boil event sponsored by Nathan Deal Campaign
Cumming Fair
Riverfest Arts and Crafts Show in Cherokee County
Ball Ground Christmas Parade
Head of the Hooch sporting event in Chattanooga
“Live on the Green” in Nashville, TN to promote new musical talent
Iron Man event in Chattanooga for athletes
“Screen on the Green”
Christmas Parade
Dancing in “The Nutcracker” in Cartersville
The Great Locomotive Chase Commemoration in Adairsville
Court Hearing about Dog Kennels
Middle School basketball game
Boo Fest
Public Works & Transit Committee and Traffic Meeting
Rome City Commission Meeting
Floyd County Commission Meeting
Rolling Hills Soil and Water Conservation Meeting in Bremen
Tellus Museum
Zoning Meetings
Terry Ferrell Annual Stair Climb in Atlanta
Heavy Metal Car Show at Tellus
Gordon County Chamber of Commerce program “Drugs Don’t Work”
Lake Allatoona Clean-up
Owl-O-Ween Hot Air Balloon Festival at KSU
Gordon County Board of Education Meeting
Taste of Home Cooking School at the Rome Forum
“Paranoia” in Canton, GA
Volunteer at Cherokee Co. Thanksgiving Dinner for the needy
Senior Citizen Center in Holly Springs
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History
Kroger Softball Tournament for Breast Cancer Awareness
North GA State Fair
Summerville Christmas Parade
“The Nutcracker” in Rome
Rose Lawn Arts Festival – Cartersville
GHC Student Government participation
Johns Creek Turkey Trot Road Race
Toys for tots volunteer
Night-time Hayride at Etowah Indian Mounds
Paulding County School Board Meeting
Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park, sponsored by Humana, a Medicare Advantage Organization.
Veterans’ Day Program at the American Legion
Euharlee Covered Bridge Festival
Terrorism Symposium on GHC Cartersville Campus
Hiram City Council Meeting
Paulding County Industrial Authority Meeting
Paulding County Airport Authority Meeting, and steering committee meeting
Breast Cancer Walk in Atlanta
Cherokee County Criminal Court
Zombie-thon
“Night of the Living Dead” play in Cartersville
“Suddenly Last Summer” play put on by Rockmart High School
Rockmart Farmers’ Market (This is more than just a food stand!)
The Drunken Unicorn – a music venue in Atlanta for local bands
The “Love Feast – Feed the Hungry” at the Rome Civic Center
Wild Animal Safari at Pine Mountain, GA
Calloway Gardens Fantasy in Lights
Transition Fair for Floyd Co. Special Education Department, held at NW GA Tech
Skills for Life Organization to help fund work autistic adults
Floyd County Board of Equalization property tax hearings
Booth Western Art Museum Cowboy Festival
Georgia Apple Festival in Elijay
Dalton Kiwanis Club Pancake Supper
Cherokee Board of Commissioners Meeting
Observation of Superior Court in Cartersille
Trout Unlimited Chili Cook Off
Wings Over North Georgia Airshow
First Friday Concerts – Rome, GA
Chiaha Harvest Fair
The Coosa Valley Fair
Trion Middle/Elementary School Book Fair
Rome Art Coterie Event
Floyd Medical Center Labor and Delivery Unit (one student had a baby & wrote about this J)
Sports players may write up 1 of their 3 requirements about their sport and what it contributes to the college and community.
Turkey Trot for United Way
Cartersville criminal court at the courthouse
Soup kitchen volunteer
YMCA teaching swimming
Multiple Sclerosis walk
Floyd Sheriff ride along
VFW rebuilding a Huey Helicopter
Eastman Gun Show benefitting Shriners International
March of Dimes and K-Mart employee support
Breman Holocaust Museum in Atlanta
Rome Planning Commission Meeting
Fast and Furious Cart Show – benefit for Paul Walker’s Reach Out Worldwide disaster relief fund
Middle school cheerleading coach and judge
Special ed math tutoring
Victim assistance at Cartersville Courthouse Volunteer
Keep Kennesaw Beautiful
Summerville Rec Dept. girls’ softball for 10 and under
Cleaning NW Park in Cedartown
Fundraising for Cedartown High Soccer Team
Winter Jam Christian Concert
Cedartown Board of Education Meeting
Heart and Sole 5K for New Hope Fellowship Church for mission to Dominican Republic
Welsh Festival
Child Abuse Awareness Walk sponsored by Exchange Club
“Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” play re: life of MLK Jr.
Trash Pick-up with Cedartown Junior Service League
Clean up volunteer after Cedartown Arts Festival with Junior Service League
Wood Badge adult leadership program through the Boy Scouts
* If you do not include personal information from your community that matches your SGSC home address, there will not be full credit. If you use any attempt to randomly capitalize or other method to prevent detection of plagiarism of another student’s work you will receive a zero.
Why are you being asked to do this? Because Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) ask you to be able to do the following and this assignment is part of focusing on the SLOs:
Explain the importance of civic responsibility in a participatory republic; (show me that you understand this)
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system; (can you identify issues with civil society/civility in American society?)
Use computer technology to discover information relating to politics and government; (this one goes without any explanation) and
Describe how Georgia government works under the present state constitution (this one is not specific to this assignment other than through the discussion of local communities)
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will analyze the nature of basic political aspects of society. (will be obvious from your discussion-you do not address this specifically)
Students will be able to recognize the rights granted to, and restrictions placed upon, various components of government by the Bill of Rights in the U. S. Constitution (will be obvious from your other work in the class).
Students will understand the concept of being a responsible citizen of the U. S., and the potential ramifications to our society of being (or not being) a responsible citizen. (will be reflected from your understanding/discussion of civic duty/participation/society/civility among people).
