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 editorial including 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: |Completely filled out cover sheet. |Somewhat filled out cover sheet. |Missing cover sheet or not filled in.|

|(5%) | | | |

| |Student notes taken during meeting written |Student writes some notes taken during | |

|Notes: |thoroughly, INCLUDING: |meeting: |Student writes some notes that |

| |format of meeting, |mentions format of meeting, |include some but not all of the |

|(15%) | | |following: |

| |key quotes (identifies officials + audience |mentions some key quotes (by some officials +| |

| |members who said them), |some audience members who said them), |format of meeting, |

| | | |key quotes by officials + |

| |identifies and describes topics discussed + |describes topics discussed, |audience members who said them, |

| |includes mtg. agenda | |topics discussed, |

|Points earned ____ | | |major decisions/votes. |

| |identifies and summarizes major decisions/votes. |summarizes major decisions/votes. | |

|News Article: |Written summary thoroughly completed. Fluent |Written summary completed. |Written summary incomplete or COPIED.|

|FACTUAL written summary |writing style. | | |

| | | |Not authentic (not in newspaper |

|(write in newspaper |Authentic like a newspaper article (including an |Somewhat authentic. |article format). |

|article format like a |eye-catching + factual headline or title + | | |

|reporter would) |descriptive subtitle + reporter’s name + date + | | |

| |place). | | |

|(40%) | | |Description missing/lacking |

| |Thorough description of meeting. |Description of meeting. | |

|Points earned ____ | | |Few supporting details or examples. |

| |Many supporting details and examples of meeting |Some supporting details and examples. | |

| |events/info. | |Few facts, ideas, issues discussed. |

| | |Some facts, ideas, issues discussed. | |

| |Key facts, ideas, issues thoroughly discussed. | | |

|EDITORIAL: |Authentic, including a judgmental title (“Council|Somewhat authentic. |Not authentic. |

|OPINION, conclusion, and |Vote on Track” or “Board of Ed. Fails to Act”). | | |

|connection to Civics | | |Includes some but not all of the |

| |Written editorial thoroughly describes personal | |following: |

|(like a newspaper |feelings and takes a strong stand for or against |Some personal feelings. |personal feelings, |

|editorial) |the actions, decisions, and/or votes of elected | | |

| |officials + explains why. |Stand for or against taken. |taking a stand, |

|(40%) | | | |

| |Makes a strong recommendation for improvement OR | | |

| |praises decisions, | | |

|Points earned ____ | |Somewhat criticizes or praises. |criticism or praise, |

| |+ strong connection to Civics (how government | | |

| |helps citizens solve problems, make decisions, | | |

| |etc.). |Somewhat connects the importance of these |connection to Civics. |

| | |events 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 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 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 at such meetings may occur any time from now until Monday, November 30, 2015 with the written project due 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:

o Southington community access channel (Cox Cable Channel #14);

o a state access channel (CT-N) program (Cox Cable Channel #13, ATT UVerse #83);

o a national station broadcasting U.S. government meetings (C-SPAN or C-SPAN2 or 3, c-);

o any of the above available via Internet streaming or archived video

______________________________________________________________ _________________________________

Student Name Civics class period #

______________________________________________________________ _________________________________

Parent Signature Date

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 dhart@

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.

o meetings available via Internet streaming or archived video

▪ Southington town meetings at southington/tcm.html

▪ CT government is at ctn.state.ct.us (click “Watch Archived Videos” on left side)

▪ Federal government meetings at c- (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 town boards:

• 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, 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

o factual article – sum up the most important votes/decisions; if issue not resolved, when will it be?

o 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…

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Attach meeting agenda - get at meeting or print on-line!

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