Civic Involvement Project: Attending a Government Meeting
Objective: all students are required to attend ONE town/local, state, or national government meetings to
fulfill a requirement for Honors Civics class. Students will personally observe government in action,
make notes of their observations, and act as reporters by creating a written article + separate editorial
including their impressions of topics discussed, elected officials, audience members, meeting format,
decisions made, etc.
Check one: ____ I attended a meeting in person OR ____ I watched it as a video
NAME:______________________________________________DATE:_________________________ PER:___
MEETING + TOPIC:__________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION:___________________________________________________Date of Mtg:___________________
Attach meeting agenda - get at meeting or print on-line!
NAMES + TITLES OF OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:
AUDIENCE MEMBERS (how many, age, who spoke/participated, any clapping, cheering, booing, etc.):
KEY VOTES/DECISIONS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MEETING:
Civic Involvement Project EVALUATION RUBRIC
Excellent
CATEGORY
Cover Sheet:
(5%)
Notes:
(15%)
Points earned ____
Good
Fair or Poor
Completely filled out cover sheet.
Somewhat filled out cover sheet.
Missing cover sheet or not
filled in.
Student notes taken during meeting
written thoroughly, INCLUDING:
 format of meeting,
Student writes some notes taken
during meeting:
 mentions format of meeting,
 key quotes (identifies officials +
audience members who said
them),
 mentions some key quotes (by
some officials + some audience
 format of meeting,
members who said them),
 identifies and describes topics
discussed + includes mtg. agenda
 describes topics discussed,
 key quotes by officials +
audience members who
 identifies and summarizes major
decisions/votes.
 summarizes major
decisions/votes.
 topics discussed,
Written summary completed.
Written summary
incomplete or COPIED.
Student writes some notes
that include some but not
all of the following:
said them,
Written summary thoroughly
News Article:
completed. Fluent writing style.
FACTUAL
written summary
 major decisions/votes.
Authentic like a newspaper article
Somewhat authentic.
(including an eye-catching + factual
headline or title + descriptive subtitle
+ reporter’s name + date + place).
Not authentic (not in
newspaper article format).
Thorough description of meeting.
Description of meeting.
Description missing/lacking
Many supporting details and
examples of meeting events/info.
Some supporting details and
examples.
Few supporting details or
examples.
Points earned ____
Key facts, ideas, issues thoroughly
discussed.
Some facts, ideas, issues
discussed.
Few facts, ideas, issues
discussed.
EDITORIAL:
OPINION,
conclusion, and
connection to
Civics
Authentic, including a judgmental
title (“Council Vote on Track” or
“Board of Ed. Fails to Act”).
Somewhat authentic.
Not authentic.
Written editorial thoroughly
describes personal feelings and
takes a strong stand for or against
the actions, decisions, and/or votes
of elected officials + explains why.
Some personal feelings.
Includes some but not all
of the following:
 personal feelings,
Stand for or against taken.
 taking a stand,
(write in
newspaper
article
format like a
reporter would)
(40%)
(like a
newspaper
editorial)
(40%)
Points earned ____
Makes a strong recommendation for Somewhat criticizes or praises.
improvement OR praises decisions,
 criticism or praise,
+ strong connection to Civics (how
government helps citizens solve
problems, make decisions, etc.).
 connection to Civics.
____ points for filling out cover sheet
______ Total Points
______ FINAL GRADE (test grade)
Somewhat connects the
importance of these events to
Civics.
Civics Project: Southington High School
Objective: all students are required to attend ONE town/local, state, or national government meetings to
fulfill a requirement for Honors Civics class. Students will personally observe government in action, make
notes of their observations, and act as reporters by creating a written article + separate editorial
including their impressions of topics discussed, elected officials, audience members, meeting format,
decisions made, etc.
Dear Parent/Guardian:
In order to convey the importance of Civics, students will conduct a project allowing them to witness
government at work firsthand. Students will act as reporters by writing a factual article about the meeting. In
addition, they will write an editorial article giving their opinion of the meeting, judging its accomplishments,
and determining its connection to Civics by relating how government and citizens work together.
Students should attend a government meeting for at least one hour, during which time the actual meeting
is taking place, issues are being debated, and votes are being taken or considered. Note: if you leave before
votes/decisions are made, you’ll have to research and get the info (videos + agendas are available on-line).
Attendance at such meetings may occur any time from now until Monday, November 30, 2015 with the written
project due by Friday, December 11, 2015 at the latest. Please review the attached project instructions and
grading criteria for further details.
Some students who attend Southington High School do not live in town. These students are encouraged
to attend a government meeting in their own community, but may attend any other government meeting.
I’m asking you as a parent/guardian to be a partner in fulfilling this requirement. Permission and
transportation to any government meeting must be provided and approved by you since this activity will take
place outside of school hours. IN ADDITION, YOU AND/OR ANOTHER APPROPRIATE ADULT MUST
BE IN ATTENDANCE TO SUPERVISE YOUR CHILD. I ask for your support in helping your child
participate in an authentic civic experience.
Below, please check any of the following, indicating your preference and support:

I support bringing my child to a government meeting by the dates listed above. We plan on attending a
(circle one: LOCAL, STATE OR NATIONAL) government meeting.

I support allowing my child to view a meeting on television or archived video by the dates listed above
for one of the following:
o Southington community access channel (Cox Cable Channel #14);
o a state access channel (CT-N) program (Cox Cable Channel #13, ATT UVerse #83);
o a national station broadcasting U.S. government meetings (C-SPAN or C-SPAN2 or 3, c-span.org);
o any of the above available via Internet streaming or archived video
______________________________________________________________ _________________________________
Student Name
Civics class period #
______________________________________________________________ _________________________________
Parent Signature
Date
Should you have any questions, please call or e-mail your child’s Civics teacher. Thank you for your support!
Teacher Info: Mr. Hart at SHS, 628-3229 or dhart@southingtonschools.org
LOCAL, STATE OR NATIONAL government meeting?
 Most students will attend a local Southington meeting
 If you have a state or national connection, please try to attend
 Watching a video/TV channel is also an option (though attending one gives the full experience)
Government Meetings - Internet video resources
*Don’t forget to watch at least an hour of video! You may have to play several videos to do this.
o meetings available via Internet streaming or archived video
 Southington town meetings at www.theeventisonline.com/southington/tcm.html
 CT government is at www.ctn.state.ct.us (click “Watch Archived Videos” on left side)
 Federal government meetings at c-span.org (click “Featured Topics” at the top)
Town Meetings: how to find out about them
Internet
Go to http://southington.org/ and click on “View Calendar” on the left bottom side (the “Town Meeting
Calendar” will appear – if not, click the drop down box above the calendar).
*Notice the link on the left Agendas, Minutes & Videos – this will help you before + after a meeting
Newspaper
The Southington Citizen lists “Government Meetings” each week and Monday’s edition of the Record
Journal (see the “Local & State” section) always lists meetings for the week.
**The Citizen, Observer, Record Journal, http://patch.com/connecticut/southington all have articles in
the paper + on-line about town meetings. Use these articles as a resource to help you!
Most important town boards:
 Town Council meetings on Mondays at Municipal Center (old North Center school)
 Board of Education meeting on Thursdays at Municipal Center
 Board of Finance meetings - budget and spending issues
 Planning and Zoning (PZC) and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) – where to build, approvals
for new businesses in town – meetings on Tuesdays
 Middle Schools Building Committee (overseeing DePaolo/JFK renovations) – Tuesdays 4:30 JAD
Checklist of reminders:
 fill out cover sheet completely
 *agenda: include the meeting agenda (if you don’t get one at the meeting, southington.org has it – print it)
 title = eye-catching, but also add a descriptive subtitle to let the reader know the topics/issues addressed –
Example: Board of Education Cuts Budget: parents change board’s mind about funding new textbooks
 feature the most important decision/debate/discussion in your articles – nobody wants to read a big list
 don’t just go in order - start right away with the most important topics/issues debated - don’t wait until the
middle of your article!
 intro - draw the reader in – make the reader want to read more
 identify speakers by name, especially government and elected officials
 editorial - singling people out and commenting on their words/actions/decisions helps you be persuasive
 conclusion – each article should have a conclusive paragraph
o factual article – sum up the most important votes/decisions; if issue not resolved, when will it be?
o editorial – 1) be critical by praising or recommending improvement(s)
2) sum up with a Civics connection – how gov+citizens solve problems/make decisions
3) be sure to relate your Civics connection directly to the meeting/officials/votes etc.
Example: The BOE listened to citizens’ comments and changed its vote. This shows…