Sample: Service Learning Project Assignments
(To be kept in a binder)
Service Learning Project
Student Name:
_________________________________________
Email:
_________________________________________
Community Partner:
_________________________________________
Supervisor:
_________________________________________
Supervisor Email/Phone:
_________________________________________
This binder includes all of the information, forms, and assignments that you will need to
successfully complete your service learning project for this course. Please note the following:



All assignments must be turned into the instructor in this binder
You must keep copies of all completed/signed forms in this binder
You must bring this binder with you whenever you are at your community
partner site/working on your service project.
The enclosed “Student Guide to Community Engagement” includes information and forms that
you will be referring to throughout your project. Also, please review the introductions to each
section so you are clear on expectations and due dates.
If at any point during your service, you have questions or concerns please contact your site
supervisor and your sociology instructor immediately.
Good luck on this exciting project!
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Service Learning Project Due Date Check List
Review this check list of assignments often throughout your project and check off the
assignments/forms/responsibilities as you finish them. Please note that electronic copies of all forms can also be
found online at www.shastacollege.edu/sccce.
Element 1:
Preparation______________________________________________________________
Due Date:
Thursday, February 16

Reading Reflection (25 Points)

FACE Assessment (10 Points)
Element 2: Introductions________________________________________________________________
Due Date: Thursday, March 1
Writing Assignments

Reading Reflection (25 Points)

Letter of Introduction to Community Partner (10 Points)

Date of Introduction Interview: This must be set BEFORE Thursday, March 8
Forms




Service Learning Assumption of Risk & Release of Liability for Students (5 points)
Contact Information (5 Points)
Learning Plan (5 Points)
Service Learning Agreement (5 Points)
Due Date: Thursday, March 15
Writing Assignment:
 Community Partner Interview Summary (10 Points)
Element 3: Reflection___________________________________________________________________
Due Dates: March 29, April 17, April 26, May 10
Writing Assignments
 Reflection Assignments (Four at 25 Points Each)
Meetings with Instructor (Two at 15 Points Each)
 You will be asked to meet with the instructor twice during the course of the semester to discuss your
reflection assignments/service projects/questions/concerns.
Element 4: Closure/Evaluation___________________________________________________________
Due Date: Thursday, May 10
Writing Assignment
 Closure Letter/Meeting (10 Points)
Due Date: During the week of March 14.
Forms:
 Evaluation by Site Supervisor (5 Points)
 Student Assessment (5 Points)
Due Date:
Essay Due Tuesday, May 15/Oral Presentation During the week of May 15 (150 Points)
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Element 1:
Preparation________________________________________________________
This element is designed to get you more familiar with the concept of service learning and
provide you context for your project. Remember, all assignments must be typed, double
spaced, include numbered pages, and be turned in on the due date at the beginning of class in
your service learning binder.
Due Date:
Thursday, February 16

Reading Reflection (25 Points)

FACE Assessment (10 Points)
I. Reading Reflection
A. Read the following three articles and two sections of your “Student Guide to
Community Engagement at Shasta College”. All of this material can be found here in
your service learning binder.
i. Furco “Service-Learning: A Balanced Approach to Experiential Education”
ii. Haas Center for Public Service “Principles of Ethnical and Effective
Service”
iii. Astin “Executive Summary: How Service Learning Affects Students”
iv. Student Guide:
1. “Ethics of Service & Good Practice
2. Strategies for Success
B. In 2-3 pages, provide answers to the following questions based on the readings
v. What does “service learning” mean to you? Explain.
vi. What makes service learning both meaningful and useful as a learning
tool?
vii. Based on these readings, why do you think service learning is a good
option for you?
II. FACE Assessment
A. Review and complete the FACE Assessment in your binder. Feel free to use
additional paper if necessary
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Element 2:
Introductions_______________________________________________________
This element is focused on providing you the necessary tools to make meaningful introductions
to both your site and site supervisor. Remember, all assignments must be typed, double
spaced, include numbered pages, and be turned in on the due date at the beginning of class in
your service learning binder.
Due Date: Thursday, March 1
Writing Assignments

Reading Reflection (25 Points)

Letter of Introduction to Community Partner (10 Points)

Date of Introduction Interview: This must be set BEFORE Thursday, March 8
Forms




Service Learning Assumption of Risk & Release of Liability for Students
Contact Information (5 Points)
Learning Plan (5 Points)
Service Learning Agreement (5 Points)
(5 points)
1. Reading Reflection
A. Read the following sections of your “Student Guide to Community Engagement at
Shasta College”. This material can be found in your service learning binder.
1. Orientation to Your Site
2. Orientation Interview Checklist
3. On Site Orientation Checklist
4. Risk Management: An Introduction
B. Create a list of no more than 10 questions that you want to address in your
introduction interview with your community partner supervisor based on the readings.
2. Letter of Introduction to Community Partner
A. Compose a formal letter of introduction to your community partner that includes the
following three elements and that is no longer than 1 page (see the enclosed sample
formal letter for guidance on how to structure a formal letter). Once you have received
comments from the instructor on your letter, you must bring this letter to your first
meeting with your community partner. It must include the following elements:
 A brief description of why you are interested in participating in this service
learning project (you may consider the answers you included in reading
reflection #1)
 A discussion of any skills you have that you can bring to the project (i.e.
technology, art, communication, work and/or volunteer history)
 A list and brief discussion of the things you would like to learn during this project
(to be included on the “Learning Plan” form
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
Your contact information (including email/phone)
2. Interview with your Community Partner: This interview should be used as an
opportunity to become familiar with your site, ask questions, etc. Use your letter of
introduction to start the conversation. You should also discuss/fill out the following
forms at this initial meeting, especially the “Learning Plan” as this will help clarify
expectations. Bring signed copies to the instructor, copies will be made and distributed.
 Service Learning Assumption of Risk & Release of Liability for Students (5 points)
 Contact Information (5 Points)
 Learning Plan (5 Points)
 Service Learning Agreement (5 Points)
Due Date: Thursday, March 15
Writing Assignment:
 Community Partner Interview Summary (10 Points)
1. Community Partner Interview Summary
A. Provide a 2-3 page summary of your initial interview with your community partner
supervisor. Be sure to include at least the following elements
 A brief overview/history/mission of the community partner
 The community partner’s general expectations of you as a student
 A description of the project you will be working on including when you will be
working, how/when you will check in with your site supervisor and the expected
outcome of this project
 Description of 1) Your learning objectives and 2) your community partner’s
service expectations and how these both relate to the course.
 A plan for what to do should a problem arise or you as a student have questions
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Structure for a Formal Letter of Introduction
[Your street address]
[City, State Zip]
[Date]
[Supervisor’s Name]
[Name of Community Partner]
[Street Address of Community Partner]
[City, State Zip]
Dear Ms/Mr. [Last name of community partner supervisor]:
[Body of letter]
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Your typed name]
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Element 3:
Reflection__________________________________________________________
This section is crucial to making the connection between the course and your service learning
project. It is designed to get you to look back on, think critically about, and learn from your
service experience.
Due Dates: March 29, April 17, April 26, May 10
Writing Assignments
 Reflection Assignments (Four at 25 Points Each)
Meetings with Instructor (Two at 15 Points Each)
 You will be asked to meet with the instructor twice during the course of the semester to
discuss your reflection assignments/service projects/questions/concerns.

Please note that all journal entries are confidential. Information within these journals
will not be shared with the community partner, other students or instructors unless
permission is granted by you to do so.
Reflection #1: Due March 29
Prompt: (2-3 pages)
What are some of the issues around racial inequality being discussed in “The Moon in Our
Hands”? Explore at least issues while focusing on what social structures made this possible at
that time. In what way/s does your community partner address issues of social inequality?
What social structures/patterns are they attempting to change to challenge this? Explain.
Reflection #2: Due April 17
Prompt: (visual and 2-3 written pages)
Create a visual presentation of your reaction to social inequality as portrayed in “The Moon in
Our Hands”. Make connections to the feelings/reactions to the social inequality you see
challenged in your site. This can include (but is not limited to): a scrapbook, collage, short
video montage, painting, drawing, music compilation. Write a 2-3 page explanation of your
visual presentation.
Reflection #3: Due April 26
Prompt: (2-3 pages)
Using all four of your senses (taste, touch, sight, hearing), describe what it must feel like to be
the main character in “Middlesex”. Do the same with a recent experience you had at your
service site. Make the connection between the two by describing the experience of being
different/other/less than.
Reflection #4: Due May 10
Prompt: (page length varies)
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Create a “Minorities in the Community” newsletter that describes your service project, your
experiences, and stories and connect them to how your project connected with the concept of
social inequality. You may want to incorporate material from previous journal entries. You are
encouraged to be creative in terms of format, artwork, graphics, etc.
(5 Points Each)
Extra Credit Reflections
Extra Credit Reflection #1
Prompt:
Reflect on a recent service day. Pretend that you were a “fly on the wall” observing but not
participating in the scene, and write a short descriptive passage based on your observations.
Extra Credit Reflection #2
Prompt:
List 6 words that describe a recent interaction/experience you had at your project site. Discuss
how these six words are interconnected.
Extra Credit Reflection #3
Prompt:
Write an email to a famous person (living or deceased) describing your project and why you
think they would be interested in it.
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Element 4:
Closure/Evaluation__________________________________________________
This element is designed to provide closure both in your relationship with your community partner and
the course through written assignments and evaluations.
Due Date: Thursday, May 10
Writing Assignment
 Closure Letter/Meeting (10 Points)
This letter is designed to provide a sense of closure to the relationship you have with your community
partner/supervisor. Your letter should be formal (in the style of your letter of introduction), should be
given/sent to your site supervisor after receiving feedback from the instructor, and should include the
following elements:
 What you feel was successful about the project/what could make it better in the future
 What you feel was positive about serving at this site/what could make it better in the future
 Review your learning and service objectives from the Learning Plan. Do you feel like these were
met? Why? Why not?
 Reflections on how this community partner/project contributed to your understanding of
minorities and social inequality
 How this service learning project experience has/will affect any personal or professional goals as
you move forward
Due Date: During the week of March 14.
Forms:
 Evaluation by Site Supervisor (5 Points)
 Student Assessment (5 Points)
Due Date: Essay Due Tuesday, May 15/Oral Presentation the week of May 15 (150 Points)
You may decide to either write an essay or do an oral presentation to the class that is in APA format
(APA in-text references, title page, reference page) that incorporates all of the following elements:
 An introduction to your community partner (mission, goals, etc)
 A description of your service project
 A review of your learning & service objectives
 How your experience connected with the concepts of gender, gender identity, gender inequality
 You must include a minimum of two references here to support your argument: one may be
from the course, two must be outside resources from a peer reviewed source.
 How/in what way/s your understanding of gender, gender identity, gender inequality was
influenced by your service project including:
 Were your understandings challenged/reinforced? Why?
 Did your experience reinforce/challenge gender stereotypes and/or inequality? Why? Why
not?
You must include a minimum of two references here to support your argument: one may be from the
course, the other must be from a peer reviewed, external source. Hard copies of power points must be
given to the instructor the day of the presentation.
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