Assignment: Government Meeting Attendance

📝 Description

Attend a public government meeting (city council, school board, county commissioners, planning commission, or similar legitimate public body) and write a structured 500-word reflection connecting your observations to course concepts. This activity helps students see how theoretical government concepts play out in real decisions affecting their communities.

Estimated Time: 3-4 hours total

Category: Higher Effort Activity

📋 Requirements

Attend a legitimate public government meeting
Write a 500-word minimum reflection
Provide proof of attendance (photo, program, screenshot, signed sheet)
Identify at least 3 specific issues discussed
Connect observations to at least 2 course concepts

✅ Complete/Incomplete Rubric

Student receives full points when ALL criteria below are met:

Attendance Evidence ✓

Proof of attendance provided (photo, program, screenshot, signed sheet, etc.)
Meeting date clearly identified
Meeting location clearly identified
Meeting was a legitimate public government meeting (city council, school board, county commissioners, planning commission, etc.)

Reflection Quality (500 words minimum) ✓

Meets or exceeds 500-word requirement
Demonstrates actual attendance with specific details about meeting content
Identifies at least 3 specific issues discussed during the meeting
Makes clear connections to at least 2 course concepts (federalism, representation, checks and balances, etc.)
Shows analysis beyond basic summary (personal insights, surprises, questions raised)
Uses proper grammar and organization

Course Connection ✓

Explicitly connects observations to specific concepts from readings/lectures
Goes beyond surface-level connections to show deeper understanding