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Example 6: Participation in Government – The American Project (government)

Kevan Ottochian teaches Government and US history at Warwick Valley High School  in Warwick, NY. He incorporated the 10 Questions framework into a final student assignment, “Participation in Government: The American Project.”  Students began by analyzing the government's  performance based on a few major federal policies. Then they interviewed other members of the community to see how they evaluated government performances on those policies; students conducted interviews with three adults (from inside and outside of WVHS) and two WVHS (11th or 12th grade) students. Synthesizing the results, students ultimately wrote letters to influence specific policymakers with concrete suggestions for change. The 10 Questions structure was used to guide effective letter writing. See more below. 

 

Step A: Grade The Federal Government

  1. Grade the federal government’s current performance as it relates to goals stated in opening preamble of constitution. Must correctly calculate your average total score.
  2. Thorough completion and submitted on time, counts as 2 homework and 2 classwork grades.

government_performance_evaluation

Step B: Interview

  1. Conduct interview of 5 individuals: 3 adults (from inside and outside of WVHS) and 2 WVHS (11th or 12th grade) students.
  2. Participants can NOT be from this Government class.
  3. May include yourself as 1 participant.
  4. If adult or student already took survey, they can NOT be used twice.
  5. Each participant will answer a series of questions. See attached documents.
  6. For each participant: a) record background information. b) record responses to questions. See attached documents.
  7. Thorough completion of interview and submitted on time, counts as 2 test grades.

interview questions

Step  C: Letter

  1. Task 1: must address both essential questions of the project. Task 2: must address 1 compelling question. It can come from the generated list provided or original created and pre-approved question.
  2. Use research collected from interview and own experiences to address the two tasks.
  3. Must use at least 1 source for information/research used to address the two tasks. A Works Citied page will be required- MLA Format. It will handed in via Google Doc. See attached document.
  4. The letter will be professionally structured and written. See attached documents. You will decide the best individual to receive letter in order to affect change. See attached documents.
  5. The introduction has been prewritten and will be shared via Google Doc. Use font size 12, times new roman font style, double-spaced. Construct letter in Google Doc. You are responsible ONLY for printing out your letter, not sending it.
  6. Must incorporate elements of Harvard University’s Youth Participatory Politics Research Network- 10 Questions for Change Makers. See attached document.
  7. Will be graded using the writing rubric.
  8. Thorough completion of letter and submitted on time, counts as 2 test grades.

 

Step D: Tweet

  1. Construct 1 tweet based on Task 1 and 2 of the project. Convey your message!
  2. Will be graded using the tweet rubric.
  3. Thorough completion and submitted on time, counts as 2 homework and 2 classwork grades.
new_the_american_project-_directions_step_abcd_2018.pdf214 KB