American Affairs I Action Civics Research & Plan Due Thurs. 10/26/17
Congratulations! Your Action Civics Project Proposal has been approved. Phase 2 of your project involves using your sources to dig deeper into research and understanding the issue. From there, you will develop an Action Plan with concrete steps and a timeline for completion using the outline given. This phase is due by Thursday, October 26th. If working with a partner, roles must be clearly defined as to what each person will accomplish.
Step 1: Research
Use your starting points and suggestions from your proposal to find out more. Answer question 1 or 2 as applicable and use #3 to help formulate your Action Plan.
1. Is there an active campaign and call to action by an existing group or organization that you can participate in and promote? If no, skip to #2. If yes, describe it. Who are the decision-makers targeted by the campaign? Who is the audience of potential influencers? What are some persuasive arguments you can use to promote the issue? Look into both facts and personal stories of people affected. This may include your own.
2. Are you raising an issue that doesn’t appear to have an active campaign? Conduct research to identify any influencers (i.e. advocacy groups, experts/workers in the field of your issue) or decision-makers (i.e. legislators, city council members, school board members) who might be interested in supporting this issue in the future (usually evidenced by supporting related issues or having shown support in the past). Consider that your project may focus on gathering fact-based research and/or personal stories to convince someone in a position of power to take up or support you in your cause. This persuasion might be in the form of a letter, meeting, phone call, or letter to the editor of a newspaper.
3. Use the online Generation Citizen Tactic Toolkit for ideas and advice on tactics.
- Go to generationcitizenri.weebly.com
- Enter password: actioncivics
- Click on “Taking Action” tab and the “Tactic Toolkit.” There you will find several ideas and links for how to take action along with guides on how to approach them. Consider what’s most appropriate for your project.
CONTINUED ON REVERSE …..
Step 2: Action Plan
- State your specific goal for completion and explain why this is the best tactic for your focus issue at this time. Use the SMART Goals graphic above to aid you in defining your goal. State your goal clearly and concretely with a measure for success (i.e. I will get 25 people to sign a petition, or I will interview 5 students and 3 teachers).
Example:
I will attend the rally at the State House for mental health care for veterans on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11th organized by the RI Veterans Coalition. I will also recruit at least 3 people to join me with signs.
I believe this is the best tactic because Veteran’s Day is a great, timely opportunity to raise awareness about veterans’ rights. It is also already being organized and they need more people to show up in support.
- Timeline: Lay out a timeline of detailed, concrete steps to achieve your goal by Tuesday, November 14th.
Example:
By 10/30:I will obtain permission from School One to use classroom space after school on Thursday, November 9th for a sign-making party. (Backup plan: I will get permission from parents to hold it at my house, or a local café or community space.)
By 11/1: I will design a flyer for both the rally and the sign-making party with catchy, brief, and factual persuasive arguments on the importance of mental health care for veterans. I will get feedback on the flyer from my teacher and a couple friends.
By 11/6: I will revise, print and post the flyer around the school and my neighborhood. I will announce it at general meeting and in classrooms during advising. I will give it to friends, family members, and other peers, teachers, etc. at school, karate class, youth group, etc. I will personally invite people. I will tell them how this issue is important to me because my older sister is a veteran with PTSD and does not have access to a good therapist, and it’s really hard.If people are interested but not sure they can come, I will ask why and help problem-solve. If transportation is an issue, I will organize a carpool or meeting at a bus stop. I will adapt the flyer as a meme and invite people via social media. I will also bribe people to come to the sign-making party with the promise of snacks and a good time.
By 11/9: I will prep for the sign-making party by gathering materials, snacks, and an inspiring playlist for background music. I will also brainstorm a few slogans people might want to use and prep a brief presentation about why the issue is important. We will then have the sign-making party.
By 11/10: I will reaffirm commitments from people who have indicated interest in attending the rally and make sure they plan to show up. (Note: This may require recruiting 9 people with the expectation that 3 will actually show).
By 11/11: I will attend the rally with friends and signs. If I wind up with more signs than people, I will share offer them to other sign-less rally participants. I will take pictures to document the event.
By 11/12: I will post pictures and thank people who showed up in support and encourage them and others to follow-up by contacting their legislators with a link to the RI Veterans Coalition.
By 11/14: I will write up a reflection with photos about the project and share it with the class.
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