Ohahase Education Centre

CHV2O: Civics

Independent Project: Stand Up!

Imagine that you've been hired by a stakeholder group that's working to create change
on a civic issue that you care about. In this Independent Project, your task will be to
create a “how to” guide for supporters, teaching them how to take action on
the issue using one of several different methods.

Step 1: Choose one of the following issues

Gun control
Improving Canadian health care
More refugees into Canada
Reducing Deseronto Transit fares
Balancing the deficit
Enhance Business in Tyendinaga
Child abuse prevention
End all wars- Non-violent Action
Mandatory vaccinations for preventable diseases
More funding and research for renewable energy sources
Increase foreign assistance to poor countries
Proportional representation voting system
Government monitoring of phones/emails
Other issue (with teacher approval)

Step 2: Research the Issue

What is the problem? Find statistics and/or other facts to clarify the importance of the issue

Step 3: Select the Action

Your task now is to select one of the following forms of action that could be used to
try to create change in the issue you've chosen to work on for this activity:
1. Letter to a government official 5. Speech
2. Letter to the editor of a newspaper 6. Petition
3. Public service announcement (print) 7. Political cartoon
4. Public service announcement (video)

Step 4: How-To Guide

Your task is to create a “how-to guide” for your selected form of action. Your guide
can be submitted as a written manual, a PowerPoint-style presentation, a website, a
podcast, or a video. Your guide should be written in clear, straightforward language.
You will also be required include the website links you used for this assignment. Be
sure to consult the rubric before starting, to know how you will be evaluated.
 Ohahase Education Centre
CHV2O: Civics

Suggested Headings/Sections:
-Introduction (what is the problem, include your research from step 2)
-Who to contact (level of government and/or organizations, including specific contact
information)
-The Stakeholders (who is affected negatively/positively and why)
-The action plan (details on type of action from step 3 and why you chose it)
-Procedure (at least five practical tips/advice on how someone could carry out your
selected action. For example, how do you write a letter to a government official, if
you chose that action)
Sources (copies of specific websites used)

Unit 2 Evaluation for: ___________________________________

Criteria - Level 1 + - Level 2 + - Level 3 + - Level 4 +

A1. Political Inquiry: use the political inquiry process and the concepts of political thinking when investigating issues, events, and developments of civic
importance;

Select and organize Information is severely Information is somewhat Information is sufficient, Information is carefully
relevant information lacking, very little research detailed (but some areas are some details, mostly relevant selected, thorough, detailed
has been done lacking); mostly relevant and relevant
Assess the credibility Sources are mostly credible,
of sources Sources are not identified Sources are limited and/or not but limited (only 1 or 2 are Sources are credible and varied
credible used) (2+ are used)

B2. Governance in Canada: explain, with reference to a range of issues of civic importance, the roles and responsibilities of various institutions, structures, and
figures in Canadian governance;

Guide clearly Guide does not clearly state Guide somewhat identifies Guide clearly states the Guide clearly states the
indicates the the institutions and/or institutions and/or government institutions and/or institutions and/or
institutions and government structures that structures that can help address government structures that government structures that can
governmental can help address the issue the issue can help address the issue help address the issue in great
structures that can detail
help address the civic
issue

C3. Personal Action on Civic Issues: analyse a civic issue of personal interest and develop a plan of action to address it.

Guide identifies a Civic action and/or ways in Civic action and/or ways in Civic action and/or ways in Civic action and/or ways in
way in which to make which one can contribute to which one can contribute to the which one can contribute to which one can contribute to
a civic contribution; the common good is not common good is identified only the common good is the common good is clearly
explains how civic identified briefly (no supporting details) identified (some supporting identified (thoughtful and
action can contribute details) detailed)
to the common good

Guide proposes a Course of action is missing Course of action is brief and/or Course of action is somewhat Course of action is thoughtful,
course of action that or incomplete unclear detailed and realistic detailed, and realistic
could be used to
address the civic
issue