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3. UMI Proquest
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3. UMI Proquest
Civics
S309
Welcome to Civics in Action! This will be a multi-step project in which you choose a local, national, or global issue that you would like to impact change with. Your CIA project will consist of the following components:
Here are some things to keep in mind as you research and create your project (ideas adapted from the Constitutional Rights Foundation):
The Six Basic Steps of an Action Project
Here are six basic steps you can use for any action project.
Step 1: Select a Problem/Issue. Consider what community problems concern you. Make a list and choose one problem to focus on. To help you decide, ask the following questions: Which problem affects your community the most? Which would be most interesting to work on? Which could be worked on most easily? Which would you learn the most from?
Step 2: Research the Problem/Issue. The more you know about a problem, the more you’ll understand how to approach it. Try to find out as much as you can about these questions:
To find answers to these questions, try the following:
Use libraries and online databases. Look up newspaper and magazine articles. Ask the reference librarian for help. Interview experts. Call/write local government officials. Find people at non-profit organizations that work on the problem. Survey community members. Ask questions of people you know.
Step 3: Decide on an Action Project. Think of project ideas that would address the problem you have chosen. Make a list, and decide on the top three project ideas. Think about the pros and cons of each project idea. Evaluate each in terms of your available time, materials, and resources. Select the most suitable one.
Step 4: Plan the Project.
Step 5: Do the Project.
Step 6: Evaluate the Project. While implementing the project, it’s important to evaluate—to think about how you are doing and figuring out how you can do things better. At the end of the project, you’ll want to evaluate how you did.
Part 1: Identifying and Brainstorming Your Topic
Will it work?
Complete the table below to determine if you think each potential issue would make a good CIA essay/research topic. Be sure to list at least two advantages/disadvantages for each.
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Sample Topics/Topic Ideas
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Brainstorming Your Topic
List 3 issues you care deeply about (feel free to look at the topics chart for ideas). Describe why you care for each issue.
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Essential Question (this is the big picture question that you want your project and essay to respond to). Example, if your topic is climate change--that’s a really big topic. You may ask the question “how has climate change impacted the Great Lakes?” Or more closer to home: “How has climate change impacted Evanston?”
Essential Question:
