1. Civic Involvement, Participation, & Skills
Topic 1
Civic Involvement, Participation, & Skills

2. Let’s review how we engage in civic opportunities through political & public policy processes

3. A town council faces budget cuts & can no longer afford to pay for landscaping in town parks. How could a citizen work within his/her own community to help the local government address this problem?
a.) Ohio’s congressional delegation to inform them of this issue b.) organize a group of residents to volunteer for weekly park maintenance c.) request that the governor supply the town with state funds for park maintenance d.) run for a seat in the General Assembly w/the promise to increase funding for local parks

4. How can a citizen become involved in addressing problems that affect the entire state?
a.) by joining a community watch group b.) by volunteering for the fire department c.) by signing petitions to place issues on the ballot d.) by attending a meeting of the local school board

5. Your city is debating whether to install a skateboard park on city-owned land. You want to support the park. Which method would be effective in helping to determine public policy on this decision?
a.) participate in the governor’s re-election campaign b.) send an to your U.S. senators expressing your point of view c.) attend the meeting of the city council & present the benefits of a park d.) organize a letter-writing campaign to members of the Ohio General Assembly

6. 2. Political parties, interest groups & the media provide opportunities for civic involvement through various means

7. Organizations whose members hold similar views on public issues
a. What are political parties & how do they provide opportunities for civic involvement?
Organizations whose members hold similar views on public issues
They seek to dictate public policy through winning elections & having their members hold office

8. Can you think of examples of political parties?
Democratic Party
Green Party
Republican Party
Tea Party
Libertarian Party

9. Organizations whose members hold similar views on public issues
b. What are interest groups & how do they provide opportunities for civic involvement?
Organizations whose members hold similar views on public issues
They seek to influence the making & execution of public policy by engaging in political/public policy processes

10. Can you think of examples of interest groups?
Alt Left
Alt Right
Black Lives Matter
Green Peace
Anonymous

11. Various means of mass communication w/different audiences
a. What is the media & how does it provide opportunities for civic involvement?
Various means of mass communication w/different audiences
Political parties & interest groups use the media to influence the political & public policy processes

12. Can you think of examples of how the media influences civic involvement?
CNN will cover the news from a liberal perspective supporting the Democratic Party
Fox News will cover the news from a conservative perspective supporting the Republican Party

13. Civic Involvement In-Class Activity #2 (10pts.)
In small groups (2-3), view the following political advertisements from groups w/different political perspectives & compare these advertisements based on the following criteria… a.) media technique employed (card stacking – giving only 1 side; plain folk – candidate as a regular person; testimonial – someone vouges for candidate) b.) type of message (logical argument – message makes sense; ad hominem attack – personal attack against opponent; positive image – message says everyone will be okay)

14. Political Advertisement #1
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

15. Political Advertisement #2
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

16. Political Advertisement #3
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

17. Political Advertisement #4
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

18. Political Advertisement #5
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

19. Political Advertisement #6
This one is hilarious
Focus on the middle when he brings up his opponent
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

20. Political Advertisement #7
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

21. Political Advertisement #8
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

22. Political Advertisement #9
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

23. Political Advertisement #10
a.) media technique used ___________________ b.) type of message

24. Civic Involvement In-Class Activity #2 (10pts.)
In small groups (2-3), view the following political advertisements from groups w/different political perspectives & compare these advertisements based on the following criteria… a.) media technique employed (card stacking – giving only 1 side; plain folk – candidate as a regular person; testimonial – someone vouges for candidate) b.) type of message (logical argument – message makes sense; ad hominem attack – personal attack against opponent; positive image – message says everyone will be okay)

25. Civic Involvement In-Class Activity #2 (15pts.)
In those same small groups (2-3), select a political party or interest group and address a civic issue (public policy). Create a political ad (print or commercial) that reflects one of the media techniques & message types identified earlier. Make sure your message corresponds to the political party & ideology that you chose.

26. Civic Involvement In-Class Activity #2 Rubric (15pts.)
Points
Category 1 3 5
Total
Components
Missing most components for this assign.
Missing some of the components for this assign.
Exhibits all of the components for this assign.
Party/Ideology Match
Does a poor job matching message to party/ideology
Does a adequate job matching message to party/ideology
Does a excellent job matching message to party/ideology
Effort/Creativity
Displays very poor effort/creativity
Displays adequate effort/creativity
Displays tremendous effort/creativity
Total Points:

27. Political Party Democratic Party Card Stacking Ad – Hominem attack
Let’s Review…
Political Party
Democratic Party
Card Stacking
Ad – Hominem attack

28. Interest Group Republican Party Plain Folk Positive Image
Let’s Review…
Interest Group
Republican Party
Plain Folk
Positive Image