Civic Involvement Project: Attending a Government Meeting

Civic Involvement Project: Attending a Government Meeting

Objective: all students are required to attend ONE town/local, state, or national government meetings to fulfill a requirement for Honors Civics class. Students will personally observe government in action, make notes of their observations, and act as reporters by creating a written article + separate editorialincluding their impressions of topics discussed, elected officials, audience members, meeting format, decisions made, etc. Check one: ____ I attended a meeting in person OR ____ I watched it as a video

NAME:______DATE:______PER:___

MEETING + TOPIC:______

______

LOCATION:______Date of Mtg:______

NAMES + TITLES OF OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

AUDIENCE MEMBERS (how many, age, who spoke/participated, any clapping, cheering, booing, etc.):

KEY VOTES/DECISIONS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MEETING:

Civic Involvement Project EVALUATION RUBRIC

CATEGORY / Excellent / Good / Fair or Poor
Cover Sheet:
(5%)
Notes:
(15%)
Points earned ____ / Completely filled out cover sheet.
Student notes taken during meeting written thoroughly, INCLUDING:

• format of meeting,

• key quotes (identifies officials + audience members who said them),

• identifies and describes topics discussed + includes mtg. agenda

• identifies and summarizes major decisions/votes.

/ Somewhat filled out cover sheet.
Student writes some notes taken during meeting:

• mentions format of meeting,

• mentions some key quotes (by some officials + some audience members who said them),

• describes topics discussed,

• summarizes major decisions/votes.

/ Missing cover sheet or not filled in.
Student writes some notes that include some but not all of the following:

• format of meeting,
• key quotes by officials +

audience members who said them,

• topics discussed,
• major decisions/votes.

News Article:
FACTUAL written summary
(write in newspaper article format like a reporter would)
(40%)
Points earned ____ / Written summary thoroughly completed. Fluent writing style.
Authentic like a newspaper article (including an eye-catching + factual headline or title + descriptive subtitle + reporter’s name + date + place).
Thorough description of meeting.
Many supporting details and examples of meeting events/info.
Key facts, ideas, issues thoroughly discussed. / Written summary completed.
Somewhat authentic.
Description of meeting.
Some supporting details and examples.
Some facts, ideas, issues discussed. / Written summary incomplete or COPIED.
Not authentic (not in newspaper article format).
Description missing/lacking
Few supporting details or examples.
Few facts, ideas, issues discussed.
EDITORIAL:
OPINION, conclusion, and connection to Civics
(like a newspaper editorial)
(40%)
Points earned ____ / Authentic, including a judgmental title (“Council Vote on Track” or “Board of Ed. Fails to Act”).
Written editorial thoroughly describes personal feelings and takes a strong stand for or against the actions, decisions, and/or votes of elected officials + explains why.
Makes a strong recommendation for improvement OR praises decisions,
+ strong connection to Civics (how government helps citizens solve problems, make decisions, etc.). / Somewhat authentic.
Some personal feelings.
Stand for or against taken.
Somewhat criticizes or praises.
Somewhat connects the importance of these events to Civics. / Not authentic.
Includes some but not all of the following:

• personal feelings,

• taking a stand,

• criticism or praise,

• connection to Civics.

____ points for filling out cover sheet

______Total Points

______FINAL GRADE (test grade)

Civics Project: Southington High School

Objective: all students are required to attend ONEtown/local, state, or national government meetings to fulfill a requirement for Honors Civics class. Students will personally observe government in action, make notes of their observations, and act as reporters by creating a written article + separate editorial including their impressions of topics discussed, elected officials, audience members, meeting format, decisions made, etc.

Dear Parent/Guardian:

In order to convey the importance of Civics, students will conduct a project allowing them to witness government at work firsthand. Students will act as reporters by writing a factual article about the meeting. In addition, they will write an editorial article giving their opinion of the meeting, judging its accomplishments, and determining its connection to Civics by relating how government and citizens work together.

Students should attend a government meeting for at least one hour, during which time the actual meeting is taking place, issues are being debated, and votes are being taken or considered. Note: if you leave before votes/decisions are made, you’ll have to research and get the info (videos + agendas are available on-line). Attendance atsuch meetings may occur any time from now until Monday, November 30, 2015 withthe written projectdue by Friday, December 11, 2015 at the latest. Please review the attached project instructions and grading criteria for further details.

Some students who attend Southington High School do not live in town. These students are encouraged to attend a government meeting in their own community, but may attend any other government meeting.

I’m asking you as a parent/guardian to be a partner in fulfilling this requirement. Permission and transportation to any government meeting must be provided and approved by you since this activity will take place outside of school hours. IN ADDITION, YOU AND/OR ANOTHER APPROPRIATE ADULT MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE TO SUPERVISE YOUR CHILD. I ask for your support in helping your child participate in an authentic civic experience.

Below, please check any of the following, indicating your preference and support:

I support bringing my child to a government meeting by the dates listed above. We plan on attending a (circle one: LOCAL, STATE OR NATIONAL) government meeting.

I support allowing my child to view a meeting on television or archived video by the dates listed above for one of the following:

• Southington community access channel (Cox Cable Channel #14);
• a state access channel (CT-N) program (Cox Cable Channel #13, ATT UVerse #83);
• a national station broadcasting U.S. government meetings (C-SPAN or C-SPAN2 or 3, c-span.org);
• any of the above available via Internet streaming or archived video

______

Student Name Civics class period #

______

Parent SignatureDate

Should you have any questions, please call or e-mail your child’s Civics teacher. Thank you for your support!

Teacher Info: Mr. Hart at SHS, 628-3229 or

LOCAL, STATE OR NATIONAL government meeting?

• Most students will attend a local Southington meeting
• If you have a state or national connection, please try to attend
• Watching a video/TV channel is also an option (though attending one gives the full experience)

Government Meetings - Internet video resources

*Don’t forget to watch at least an hour of video! You may have to play several videos to do this.

• meetings available via Internet streaming or archived video
• Southington town meetings at
• CT government is at (click “Watch Archived Videos” on left side)
• Federal government meetings at c-span.org(click “Featured Topics” at the top)

Town Meetings: how to find out about them

Internet

Go to and click on “View Calendar” on the left bottom side (the “Town Meeting Calendar” will appear – if not, click the drop down box above the calendar).

*Notice the link on the left Agendas, Minutes & Videos – this will help you before + after a meeting

Newspaper

The Southington Citizen lists “Government Meetings” each week and Monday’s edition of the Record Journal (see the “Local & State” section) always lists meetings for the week.

**The Citizen, Observer, Record Journal, all have articles in the paper + on-line about town meetings. Use these articles as a resource to help you!

Most important townboards:

• Town Council meetings on Mondays at Municipal Center (old North Center school)
• Board of Education meeting on Thursdays at Municipal Center
• Board of Finance meetings - budget and spending issues
• Planning and Zoning (PZC) and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) – where to build, approvals for new businesses in town – meetings on Tuesdays
• Middle Schools Building Committee (overseeing DePaolo/JFK renovations) – Tuesdays 4:30 JAD

Checklist of reminders:

fill out cover sheet completely

*agenda: include the meeting agenda (if you don’t get one at the meeting, southington.org has it – print it)

title = eye-catching, but also add a descriptive subtitle to let the reader know the topics/issues addressed – Example: Board of Education Cuts Budget: parents change board’s mind about funding new textbooks

feature the most important decision/debate/discussion in your articles – nobody wants to read a big list

don’t just go in order - start right away with the most important topics/issues debated - don’t wait until the middle of your article!

intro - draw the reader in – make the reader want to read more

identify speakers by name, especially government and elected officials

editorial - singling people out and commenting on their words/actions/decisions helps you be persuasive

conclusion – each article should have a conclusive paragraph

• factual article – sum up the most important votes/decisions; if issue not resolved, when will it be?
• editorial – 1) be critical by praising or recommending improvement(s)

2) sum up with a Civics connection – how gov+citizens solve problems/make decisions

3) be sure to relate your Civics connection directly to the meeting/officials/votes etc.

Example: The BOE listened to citizens’ comments and changed its vote. This shows…