Community Service Projects

You have the opportunity to exercise your responsibilities as a citizen or resident of the United States.  One of the responsibilities we have read about and discussed in class is to be an active member of our community.  As one textbook put it, “Being part of a representative democracy does not mean that citizens hand over all the responsibility for society to their elected leaders and government. Indeed a successful democratic society requires the involvement of all citizens in improving the communities in which we live.” (Call to Freedom p. 296)

Requirements of Service:

            One and one half (1½) hours of YOUR time – travel time is not included

            Must serve others – those you do not normally help = COMMUNITY or NEIGHBORHOOD

-         can NOT be an act which assists family, church, mosque or synagogue member(s)

-         Neighbor OK, but NOT one you have helped before.

-         must be something NEW,

o       NOT what you usually do

o       NOT what someone else has planned for you to do.

o       NOT babysitting for free or working at a business for free.

Requirements of Documentation:     2 paragraph minimum using FINAL DRAFT FORMAT

            On a piece of unlined paper you must:

-         Type or write out a description of what you did: (paragraph #1)

ü      Include the 5 W’s and H = who, what, where, when, why, and how. (How did you set it up?  When did you work?)

ü      Use appropriate paragraph style in FINAL DRAFT FORMAT.

ü      Proof-read what you write, please:

§         NO spelling errors

§         NO grammatical errors.

-         Type or write out a paragraph about what you felt about this experience: (paragraph # 2)

ü      Was this the first time you have served another?

ü      How did you feel before, during and after your experience?

Requirements for Validation:

            On the DOCUMENTATION turned in,

-         a Parent Signature is REQUIRED!

-         the signature of any supervising adult would be appropriate, but the PARENT signature is still REQUIRED!

-         Signature(s) validate(s) that what you wrote is accurate

As Colin Powell said, “This is the time for each and every one of us . . . .  to look into our own community, to find someone who is in need . . . .to lift up a fellow American and put him on the road to success in this wonderful country of ours.”

DOCUMENTATION & VALIDATION DUE: no later than December 12, 2008