URBS 230W: Community Leadership
Fall Semester 2013
This syllabus is subject to change. Students should check D2L for the most current
changes.
Instructor: Mr. Mitchell R. Berg
Phone/Voice Mail: (W)507-389-5727
E-mail: Mitchell.berg@mnsu.edu
Class room: MH112
Office: Morris Hall 106A
Office hours: M and W 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Class: M and W from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. (230W-2)
M and W from 11:00-12:15 p.m. (230W-3)
W from 6:00-8:45 p.m.
(230W-4)
Required Text(s):
 Strategies for Active Citizenship, Drexler and Garcelon, (2005) ISBN 0-13117295-6
 The Civically Engaged Reader, Davis & Lynn (eds), (2006) ISBN 0-9-45159-49-8
 The Community Leadership Handbook, James F. Krile, (2009) ISBN 0-94006954-7
Course Purpose:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive overview of
community leadership within the public and nonprofit sectors. Students will learn to use
critical thinking, communication and teamwork skills to become a more actively engaged
citizen.
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge of:
1. Leadership (roles) within the public and nonprofit sectors and within the U.S.
democratic system
2. Greater understanding of what a community leader does and how to guide a
community engagement process
3. Learning what personal skills are required to become an effective leader
Values
1. A commitment to the values, ethics, knowledge, importance of being engaged
in your community
2. A commitment to respect and collaboration
Skills
1. Learn about and apply personal leadership talents and strengths
2. Apply creative problem solving and critical thinking in work with individuals,
families, groups, organizations and communities
3. Effective and professional communication, both oral and written
4. Research and reflection through writing papers
Instructional Methodology and Teaching Strategies:
A variety of instructional methodologies and teaching strategies will be employed
throughout this course. Above all, my teaching style in this course is based on an
“adult-centered” model wherein students are active participants responsible for their
own learning.
Assignments:
This course is a combination of reading, completing papers, group/class discussion,
guest speakers, and research and student presentations. I will give partial credit for late
assignments that come in after the class due date; assignments submitted to me after
will not earn course credit unless there is a prior agreement.

Readings (5 readings)
From the book The Civically Engaged Reader you will be assigned to read five
readings in each set during the assigned period in the course calendar and write
a minimum of one paragraph per reading from each set of readings.

Current Event assignment (4 current events)
You will be responsible to find 1 current event during each assigned period in the
course calendar, for which the topic of the article is described in the overview.
You are to make a copy of the article and write a 2-3 page paper on the current
event. Come prepared to discuss your article and relate it to our class.

Guest Speaker questions (5 guest speaker sessions)
Be sure to ask the instructor the week before their appearance for some
background information on the speaker(s) as you will be required to develop two
(2) intelligent and meaningful questions to pose to them. Your questions must be
typed and have your name and date showing in the upper right hand corner. In
addition, you must submit your written questions to me prior to the end of class to
be eligible for credit.

Papers
o Assignment 1 - See overview of writing assignment
o Assignment 2 - See overview of writing assignment
City Council Meeting:
Each student must attend a school, city or county meeting during this course. If you
cannot attend one of these meetings a different type of public meeting may be
substituted, but with prior permission from the instructor. Be sure to collect a paper
copy of the agenda – you will need to turn this in.
Midterm and Final:
The midterm may consist of multiple choices; fill in the blank; and several essay
questions. The final will consist of a final project, which may be assigned as a group
project. However, please note the instructor also reserves the right to have a
comprehensive final exam if class attendance falls off or classroom participation is poor.
Guest Speakers:
Throughout the semester guest lecturers may speak to the class. These appearances
will be listed on D2L or announced. Guest speakers may include community leaders,
lobbyists, and appointed or elected officials. Be sure to ask the instructor the week
before their appearance for some background information on the speaker(s) as you will
be required to develop two (2) intelligent and meaningful questions to pose to them.
Your questions must be typed and have your name and date showing in the upper right
hand corner to earn credit. They are to be turned in at the end of class in order to
receive credit. Note: Open laptops, text messaging, or cell phone use during these
presentations are prohibited.
Student Code of Ethics:
Students should familiarize themselves with the University’s policy on plagiarism. Be
sure to properly use APA/MLA standard formats. Plagiarized assignments will result
in a failing grade.
Course Attendance:
You are expected to attend each and every class. Students coming in late or leaving
early will not get full attendance points. Excused absences are only permitted for
University sponsored events or activities. A total of 16 class points will be awarded for
class participation.
Please no text messaging or cell phones use during class.
Class Cancellations:
Due to inclement weather or events beyond the University’s or the professor’s control
there may be a class session (or more) that will need to be cancelled. Every available
attempt will be made to contact each student via D2L or by e-mail. Nevertheless, if a
class is cancelled all assignments, readings and papers shall be due on the date listed
in the course calendar.
If, however, a class is cancelled the professor has the right to adjust the syllabus and
course schedule as necessary. Any changes or adjustment to this syllabus or course
schedule shall be posted on D2L.
Grading:
Maximum points 100
Attendance:
16
Paper #1
6
Current Events assignment
12 (3 points per current event paper)
Guest Speaker Questions
10 (1 point per question -max 2 points awarded per
speaker)
Readings
15(3 points each paper)
Paper #2
6
Midterm
15 (Multiple Choice and Essay)
Final
20 (6-12 page paper and presentation)
ADA:
ADA requires that the University provide services for persons with disabilities. For more
information regarding the services that are available to you, please contact the MSU
Disability Services Office at 507-389-2825 or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY). If you are a
person with a disability, please discuss any special needs with me within the first week
of class. This will allow you and the instructor ample opportunities to make
arrangement for taking notes, completion of assignment and examinations.
Other Policies: You should exchange information with at least two of your fellow
students. These contacts should be used to learn about what you missed when absent.
Assignments may be posted on D2L .
Overview of Writing Assignment
There are two writing assignments which are worth 6 points each, for a total maximum
of 10 points. Please use APA/MLA standard style for your writing; please use Arial,
font size 11 or 12, 1 inch margins (top/bottom/left/right), double spacing when writing
your papers. Each paper requires 3-6 pages of writing.
Paper 1- What was my experience at a council meeting
 Attend a city council, county, or school board meeting open to the public which
has an agenda made available for the public. This paper must be 3-5 pages in
length and you must submit a copy of the agenda with the paper. In your paper
address:
o Your overall impression of the meeting
o Summarize what occurred during the meeting (identify key topics as well
as address if there was any interaction with the public)
o Your opinion of how the chair conducted the meeting and how the chair
interacted with the rest of the members and public (if applicable)
o Your opinion on how the rest of the elected-body and the appointed-body
interacted with each other, to the chair, and to members in the audience.
o Suggestions you would give to the chair to help them run the meeting
more efficiently (if applicable)
o Any other observations you would like to share about the meeting (as it
relates with what you have learned in class)
Paper 2 – Choose a local organization that used a civic engagement process to engage
the public and describe the process they used
o What was the problem (or objective or goal) they wanted addressed?
o How did they arrive at determining what the problem was?
o Did the organization use an engagement process (i.e. surveys, focus
groups, town hall meetings, and/or small group sessions) to help them
arrive at and/or help to find a solution to the problem?
o Who were the stakeholders that participated in the public engagement
process?
o What were the solution(s) of the engagement process?
o Was the engagement process successful, if not, how so?
o Could the engagement process been improved, if so how?
Overview of Current Event Assignments
Please write a summary of the article and your own thoughts and impressions, as it
relates to class. Please attach a copy of the article or a copy of the web address with
your summary. Each Current Event Assignment should be more than 2-3 pages in
length.




Find an article (newspaper, magazine, or on the internet) of which an
organization (not for profit) is discussing values, mission statements, and/or
goals. Explain why the organization is undergoing this discussion and your
thoughts and reflection on if the discussion will bring overall success to the
organization.
Find an article (newspaper, magazine, or on the internet) in which the writer is
using one or more of the identified false logics and biases (as mentioned during
class.) Please write a summary of the article and specifically identify which false
logic and biases the writer is using (if you feel there are more than one please
note which ones in your summary.) Also, identify what you feel is the purpose
or reasoning behind the writer wanting to use this (or these) particular false
logic(s) and bias(es.)
Choose a newspaper, magazine, or professional journal article in which an
organization is undergoing a civic engagement process to collect input. Explain
what kind of engagement they are pursuing and what they are trying to achieve
through the engagement process.
Find an article where an organization is changing leadership and describe what
that will mean to the organization?
Overview of Readings
Readings from the Civically Engaged Reader
Read the following readings and write a minimum of a paragraph on each reading.
Your paragraph should give your brief impression of the reading. Each paper should be
no more than 2 – 3 pages in length.
Reading Set:
• ARISTOTLE – POLITICS
• CAVAFY – WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS
• TURNER – I SHALL NOT BEG FOR MY RIGHTS
• KAFKA - FELLOWSHIP
Reading Set:
• DE TOCQUEVILLE – DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA
• W.E.B. DU BOIS – THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLK
• HUGHES – THEME FOR ENGLISH B
• FROST – MENDING WALL
Reading Set:
 THE MORAL EQUIVALENT TO WAR
 DRY DOCK
 THE SUBJECTIVE NECESSITY OF SOCIAL SETTLEMENT
 THE LOVERS OF THE POOR
Reading Set:
• IF ALL WHO HAVE BEGGED HELPED, ANNA AKHMATOVA
• A BED FOR THE NIGHT, BERTOLT BRECHT
• THE SWEETNESS OF CHARITY, MAYA ANGELOU
• WHERE WERE WE, DAVE EGGERS
Reading Set:
• THE LESSON
• SELECTION FROM THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
• THE HISTORY TEACHER
• SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Course Calendar
To be handled out at the beginning of class