Civic Action Project Steps 3 of Your Final Project
(Steps 3 and 4 are equivalent to final exam – 20% of your grade for the year!)
IMPORTANT: As this is your FINAL PROJECT – there are NO REVISIONS as there is not time. Please seek help and assistance as you are working on it in class so that you complete all parts of Step 3 and meet all requirements of the rubrics.
Directions: Be SURE to complete ALL parts below – Note that Step 3 Has 2 Parts! Type in the boxes below – they will expand as you type.
Step 3, Part A: Proposed Public Policy: Developing and justifying a specific public policy that addresses your issue.
Hint: The Opposing View PointsData Base on the Library Canvas Page can be very helpful in explaining various policy options. Good place to look for sources to help you.
Written explanation and justification for your suggested policy
In no more than 2 pages (500 words) double spaced paper and minimum 1 pages (250) words ) explain at least 2 policy options for addressing your issue and choose the one you think is best and explain why
Graphic presentation of proposed policy
May include graphs, charts, political cartoons, newspaper headlines, statistics, and other illustrations
Each illustration should have a caption, title, and citation
MLA formatted Works Cited for All Sources Used
Scoring Rubric (use it as a check list to make sure you have done everything for Part A):
______/2 Have minimum 1 page and maximum 2 page double spaced no smaller or larger than 11-12 point font
______/6 – Present at least 2, and no more than 3 policy options for addressing the issue
______/2 Clearly indicate which policy you think is bestn
______/5 Reasons you support this policy and not other possible ones are clearly explained.
______/5 At least one (1) Appropriate and accurate graphic presentation of the policy: May include graphs, charts, political cartoons, newspaper headlines, statistics, and other illustrations. This is not included 1.5 – 2 pages min/max pages
______/3 Each Graphic presentation has a caption, title and citation
______/5 MLA formatted Works Cited section for all sources, graphic presentations, etc.
______/2 minimal spelling and grammar errors (Run spell check, take to writing center, etc.)
Sub Tota: _________/30
Step 3, Part B: Action Plan/Action Item: Developing an action showing how citizens can influence their government to adopt the policy.
Actual Action Item – Chose ONE (1) of the following:
Conduct a phone, Skype or Zoom interview with a Legislative Aid for one of your members of Congress (if a national issue), or with a state Senator or Delegate (if a state issue), or with a city official (if a local issue) or with a representative of an organization working on your issue
Include name, title and contact information of person you spoke to
Include your list of questions asked about the issue – be sure to ask not only background questions but also questions related to how you would like to see the issue improved
Include a summary of their answer to each question
Include a short reflection (4-5 sentences) about what you learned from the interview and next steps you would take if continuing to address the issue
Write a letter to an appropriate elected official.Review this article on properly addressing elected officials and writing effective letters: https://www.thoughtco.com/write-effective-letters-to-congress-3322301
Be sure to include the proper title, address, etc. per the information provided in the above link – make sure the official is local if targeting local government, a state official if targeting state government, or a national official if targeting national government
Letter should clearly explain your issue and ask the official to take a specific action to support your chosen policy
Letter should be 1-2 pages (250-500 words)
Write a letter to a newspaper about what you think should happen to improve your issue Letter should be persuasive and use lots facts and data
Indicate what newspaper you would send it to – it should match the level of government – i.e. a local paper if targeting local government, state-wide paper if targeting state government or national newspaper if targeting national government
Letter should be at least 1 double spaced page (250 words) and no more than 2 double spaced pages (500 words)
Letter should clearly explain your issue, what policy option you think is best, and ask people to do something specific (contact their representative, or take another specific action) to support your policy
Make an informational and persuasive video (civic action or public service announcement):
Video should be 1 -2 minutes
Use We Video – available through CLEVER or another platform of your choice as long as you can send me a link to the video
Video should be creative and use lots of visuals
Video should explains your issue and encourages the public to take a certain action in support of your issue
5.Make a detailed brochure with a mix of text and graphics that explains your issue, your preferred policy option, and asks people to take a specific action to support your policy
Brochure can be electronic or on paper
Should have six panels – see me if need help folding
May use an electronic platform of your choice to make it electronically if you prefer, but should have 6 panels and must have link I can open
6. Create detailed, multi-action, step-by-step plan to address your issue that includes:
AT LEAST 5 action steps (you do not have to DO all the action steps, but DESCRIBE what they would be in detail).
Your plan must also include detailed base-line data (i.e. current statistics related to your issue) and set interim and final data goals for measuring progress to address the issue (i.e. how the base-line statistics should improve).
For example, if you want to decrease the number of homeless in Alexandria, first get a solid statistic from a reliable source of how many homeless are in Alexandria, then set a goal for reducing that number by a certain about in a set amount of time, and then a final goal for again reducing the amount in a set amount of time.
May include (not required) graphs, charts, political cartoons, newspaper headlines, statistics, and other illustrations
Each illustration should have a caption, title, and citation
7. Other – you may propose something else, such as making a presentation at a local school board or city council meeting or some other action but I MUST APPROVE IT.
Scoring Rubric for Step 3 Part B (use this as a check list to make your you do everything):
_____/10 Action appropriately dealt with the issue – i.e. appropriate questions asked if interview, appropriate discussion of issue and asking for action of letter to official or newspaper, video, brochure, etc.
_____/10 Action contains a persuasive and factually accurate message asking its audience to clearly DO something – if doing the action plan, create a persuasive mission statement for your plan; if doing the interview – the next steps includes a persuasive message you would use
_____/7 Action Product is organized and formatted properly or if video, clearly audible, includes relevant visuals, et. Product includes all requirements listed for that type of action
____/2 Minimal spelling/grammar errors
Sut- Total: ______/30
Total for step 3:________/60
Place Link or text for Step 3 Part B below – MAKE SURE ANY LINKS WORK and are PUBLIC LINKS so that I can open them.
