Active Citizens 101 - National Service Inclusion Project

Social Capital and
Democracy
Civic Action Guide
MODULE FIVE: SUPPLEMENTAL LESSONS
WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM
This lesson is one way to decide which
community issue participants should identify
and address in order to implement an
effective service project. It’s a good idea to
focus on one community issue, as it allows
participants to conduct more focused and
in-depth research. This community issue
will be refined as participants select and
develop an appropriate project.
As facilitator you have two options, you
can simply provide members with the
handout at the back of this section “Narrowing
Down the Problem.” Or, you can
lead your members through the engaging
nd worthwhile (though time consuming–
allow for about 90 minutes) activity that
follows.
Activity
First, in a forced-choice activity, the facilitator
presents participants with six broad
problems, and participants groups themselves
according to the problem they believe
is most serious. They present three
arguments supporting their position. Then,
in groups, participants chart the problems’
causes and effects. Next they take a vote
on which problems they want to work on
and whether to work on one of its causes,
effects, or subproblems. The process is repeated
until a refined problem selection is
made.
Active Citizen 101 Objective
Participants will enhance their analytical
skills by identifying the causes and effects
of an important community problem in order
to plan an effective service project.
Materials and Prep:
Easel pad, markers.
Facilitator and participants read Handout:
“Narrowing Down the Problem.”
Objectives
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify problems currently facing their
community.
2. Rank and select problems on the basis
of importance to them as individuals and
as a group.
3. Identify causes and effects of problems.
4. Select one problem.
5. Further refine the problem.
6. Understand the interconnectedness of
problems.
Time Needed
1.5 Hours
DRAFT
43