U.S. Government Project-Based Civics Assessment

For this project, you will create a digital portfolio centered on a public policy issue. Together as a class, we will look at different public policy issues. You will choose a public policy issue that interests you or identify a problem within your community, conduct research, consider alternatives and develop a solution. You will conclude the assignment by writing a letter to a local or state official. This project uses materials adapted from Project Citizen in order to meet the requirements of state legislation passed in 2012. (TCA, Section 49-6-1028)

You will complete this project individually or with a partner. Each group will be responsible for sharing responsibilities. Group members will complete a self and peer-evaluation at the end of the project.

How to create your project:

You may create/present your project using Weebly, Google Sites, or another method chosen by you (get approval first). Weebly is probably the most user friendly.

If you make a google site, you will need to create a google account.

Project Steps

Step 1 – What is the Problem?

Identify a public policy problem within your community or state. It is important that you choose something that interests you. A list of sample issues is included at the bottom of this page. If you would like use an issue not on the list, you must get approval before you begin working.

·  Once you have an issue picked:

o  Develop a list of questions about your topic. What do you want to know about the topic? These should be thoughtful questions that will lead to a better understanding of the topic.

Step 2 – Background Research

Research your selected public policy issue and take a position either in favor or against. What are the pros and con surrounding the issue?

Step 3 – What actions are taking place?

Research how the public policy issue is being dealt with in Tennessee. Is there any current legislation focused on your issue? What is the government doing, or not doing about the issue? Look for specific legislation or state agency resources.

Step 4 – Government’s Position Research

Determine the stance of the major parties regarding your issue. Are they in favor or against the issue? What actions are local and state representatives taking to address the issue?

Step 5 – Action Plan

Develop an action plan to assist local government leaders as they work to address the problem. Create your own public policy recommendations based on your research. Evaluate solutions that have already been proposed.

·  Create 2-3 solutions of your own. (continued on next page)

·  Are there alternative policies that exist? How would you suggest solutions and policies related to your issue be created and put into place? You must have something (data, research, etc.) to back up your argument.

·  Questions to Think About

o  How do the current policies regarding your issue apply to people in our school, community, and state?

o  What changes do people want?

o  What changes do YOU want made on this issue? Why?

o  How can those changes be made? Who would be responsible for taking action?

o  How can you influence leaders to address your concerns or take action on your proposed policies?

Part II – Write a Letter to your local Elected Official

Now that you have determined the public policy change that you would like to see, it is time to use your voice to try to influence the person(s) with the power to change the policy. Before you begin writing, you should meet with me to discuss your proposal. Your letter should include the four sections listed below.

Letter Contents:

·  Introductory paragraph

·  Explain who you are, and why you are writing.

·  Research summary

·  Give main points from research that supports your public policy suggestion.

·  Public Policy Suggestion

·  Explain your specific public policy suggestion/request.

·  Closing

·  Thank the elected official for time and attention, and express hope for a positive outcome.

Sample Issue List

Affirmative Action Programs
Agriculture regulations
AIDS Research
Airplane Safety
Animal Cruelty
Assisted Suicide
Billboard Advertisements
Bicycle Safety
Campaign Finance
CD Warning Labels
Cell Phone Use
Civil Lawsuit limits
Consumer Safety
Clean Air
Community Recycling
Consumer Credit
Consumer Product Recalls
Copyrights
Copyrights on the Internet
Curfews
Currency
Criminal Laws
Death Penalty
Disabled Workers
Disaster Relief
Drinking Age
Drivers Licensing
Drug Research
Drug Testing
Drug Traffic Laws
Drunk Driving Laws
Energy Conservation
Electoral College
Emissions
Employee privacy (i.e., email)
Endangered Species
Environmental Protection
Exports
Flag Burning
Zoning Ordinances /
Food Safety
Genetic Engineering
Graffiti Penalties
Growth Policies
Gun Controls
Hate Crimes
Health Care
Helmet Laws
Income Taxes
Immigration
Import Regulations
International Travel
Internet Privacy
Jury Duty
Juveniles tried as adults
Legalized Gambling
Lotteries
Minimum Wage
Military Service
Missile Defense Treaty
Mortgages
Motor Vehicles
National Monuments/Parks
NATO
National Weather Service
Naturalization Laws
Nuclear Waste Disposal
Nursing Homes
Organ Transplants
Panhandling
Peace Treaties
Photo-radar speeding tickets
Post Offices
Pot Holes
Prescription Drugs
Prisons / Racial Profiling
Refugees
Road Repair
Seat Belts
Sales Taxes
School Curriculum
School Funding
School Lunch Programs
School Prayer
School Records
School Uniforms
School Year Length
Sexual Harassment
Smoking Regulations
Social Security
State Parks
Student Privacy
Student Testing
Stem Cell Research
Teacher licensing
Term Limits
Traffic Laws
TV Violence
Unemployment
U.S. Troops in Bosnia, Korea, Europe
Vehicle Safety
Veterans' Issues
Vicious Dogs
Video Game Restrictions
Voting Machinery
Voter Registration
Washington DC Statehood
Water quality
Welfare
Worker Safety
Youth Violence

Source: http://www.tccle.org

Sample Project Exemplar – Click Here

Project Rubric

Project Citizen Presentation

Grading Rubric

Note: Any plagiarism will result in a zero on this assignment.

Exemplary
(5 points) / Proficient
(4 points) / In Need of Improvement
(3 points) / Incomplete or Unsatisfactory
(0-2 points)
Research Summary / Very clearly and thoroughly explains the most relevant points from research to support your public policy suggestion, and properly cites sources / Clearly and mostly thoroughly explains the most relevant points from research to support your public policy suggestion, and cites sources / Relevant points from research to support your public policy suggestion are not fully explained or supportedORsome sources aren’t properly cited / Summary of important points from research is very unclear or incomplete ORsources are not cited
Public Policy Suggestion / Gives a very clear, detailed public policy suggestion that could feasibly lead to the desired change, and correctly identified public officials to influence / Gives a clear public policy suggestion that could lead to the desired change, and correctly identified mostpublic officials to influence / Public policy suggestion is somewhat vague or unlikely to lead to the desired change, orproper elected officials were not identified / Public policy suggestion is very vague or inappropriate
Presentation / ·  Explanation was very clear
·  Visual aids were very clear
·  Excellent eye contact / ·  Explanation was mostly clear
·  Visual aids were mostly clear
·  Good eye contact / ·  Explanation was somewhat clear
·  Visual aids were largely unclear
·  Little eye contact / ·  Explanation was not clear
·  No visual aids
·  No eye contact
Cooperation/ Collaboration / ·  Worked very well with group members
·  Used class time very well / ·  Worked well with group members
·  Used class time well / ·  Worked somewhat well with group members
·  Used class time pretty well / ·  Did not work well with group members
·  Did not use class time well

Letter Rubric

Grading Rubric

Note: This will count as a summative grade. Any plagiarism will result in a zero on this assignment.

Exemplary
(5 points) / Proficient
(4 points) / In Need of Improvement
(3 points) / Incomplete or Unsatisfactory
(0-2 points)
Introduction & Closing / Very clearly explains the letter’s purpose in the introduction, and gives a positive closing that links back to letter’s purpose / Letter’s purpose is clear, and closing is positive in tone / Letter’s purpose is somewhat vague / Introduction or closing are very unclear or incomplete
Research Summary / Very clearly and thoroughly explains the most relevant points from research to support your public policy suggestion / Clearly and mostly thoroughly explains the most relevant points from research to support your public policy suggestion / Relevant points from research to support your public policy suggestion are not fully explained or supported / Summary of important points from research is very unclear or incomplete
Public Policy Suggestion / Gives a very clear, detailed public policy suggestion that could feasibly lead to the desired change / Gives a clear public policy suggestion that could lead to the desired change / Public policy suggestion is somewhat vague or unlikely to lead to the desired change / Public policy suggestion is very vague or inappropriate
Professionalism / Well-written, properly-formatted letter with no clear spelling or grammatical errors / Mostly well-written, properly-formatted letter with minor spelling or grammatical errors / Letter is complete, but there are major spelling, grammar, or formatting errors / Letter is incomplete or largely incomprehensible