Active Citizenship Assignment
Civics Summative Project
Purpose
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To research active citizens or groups who have made a difference by practicing
active citizenship.
To become more familiar with the names and accomplishments of a number of active
individuals or organizations.
To apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the course
To further develop research, writing, and presentation skills.
Here is a list of potential subjects to get you started. Other individuals or groups may be
studied with permission. ** Another good source for topics is the “Civic Star” boxes in
your text book.
Active Citizens
Nellie McClung
Martin Luther King
Simon Wiesenthal
Craig Kielburger
Agnes Macphail
Medger Evars
Jean Vanier
David Suzuki
Groups
Green Peace
Doctors without Borders
Amnesty International
World Vision
Right to Life
OXFAM
Canadian Food Grains Bank
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Ghandi
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Nelson Mandela
UNICEF
CRWC
Cdn Cancer Society
Care Canada
Task
Each of you will select a citizen or group to research from the list provided or of your
choice. There will be a sign-up sheet to ensure that all students are selecting a different
individual or group. You will be researching your chosen subject and presenting your
findings in a 3-5 page double-spaced report as well as a short 3-5 minute presentation for
your classmates.
Content
The following elements must be included in your report and presentation.
1. Introduction
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Biography of the citizen or group
o Include things such as: Where and when, birth, life, death, basic family
background, significant influences in his/her life.
o If doing a group: When was it created? Why was it created? Who are some
of the major contributors? etc.
o A picture of the person or a logo or something to visually recognize the
group
o Key points about the citizen or group or other interesting information.
2. Summary description of individual or group’s contribution
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In this section, write a summary of the ways in which this person or group
contributed to the history of Canada or the region he/she or the group influenced.
3. Why should this individual or group be considered a positive example of active
citizenship?
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In this section you will be applying your knowledge and forming an opinion about
why you think this person was important. For example, how would things be
different if this person/group never existed? Has the group been a positive or
negative influence, overall?
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Be sure to write in the third person (don’t use “me” or “I”).
4. Did faith or Christian values play a major role in the individual’s or group’s
beginnings?
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This factor may not be applicable to some individuals/groups. If it is not applicable,
try to think about what did motivate the individual/group. Was there a specific
motivation or philosophy that was influential?
5. Conclusion
Steps:
Part 1: Prepare for research
A. Selecting a topic:
DUE: Tuesday, March 1st
-you may wish to do a bit of initial research so that you know what the topic will include
-be prepared with your first, second, and third choices
B. Initial Research:
DUE: Friday, March 4th
-come to class with approximately 2 pages of research
*this is initial research – you don’t have to take any notes yet! You can print off from the
Internet
C. Expanding your topic:
1. Think Topics Web
2. Developing questions to guide research
DUE: Tuesday, March 8
Part 2: Access Resources
A. Discovering your resource possibilities – in class/computer lab/at home
1. Reviewing keyword searches
2. Reviewing available databases, search engines, etc
B. Selecting ONLY the best resources
1. Checklist for evaluating a website
2. MLA style review – How to properly record your resources
3. Tracking chart – fill in your 4 or 5 best resources
*remember – only 2 may be websites! Others must be books,
articles, magazines, etc!
DUE: Tuesday, March 15
Part 3: Process Information:
A. Ordering your resources:
-rank your resources from most general to most specific
B. Taking research notes
DUE: _________________
*start with the most general source and work towards the most specific
When taking notes:
1. Use a separate piece of paper for each source.
2. Write the name of the resource on the top of the paper.
3. Write the page numbers (if it is a book/magazine) in the side column as you go
through the resource.
4. Record a minimum of 3 quotations from your resource – use quotation marks!
5. Make sure you use your own words as you summarize the rest of the
information in the source. It is a MAJOR offence to plagiarize.
6. You should have 3-5 pages of notes
D. Outline
DUE: _______________
*Organize your research information under appropriate headings (refer to “Content”)
*this outline should be typed, in point form, and approximately 1 page long
Part 4: Transfer your learning
A. Oral Presentation of your topic
1. Requirements:
*3-5 minutes
*formal presentation style (like a speech!)
*multimedia – Power Point or other
*at least 2 quotes, properly cited (MLA style)
*Works cited (MLA)
2. Use of multimedia
-your visual aid is meant to be just that – an AID. It should not completely
dominate your presentation, but should compliment what you are presenting. For
that reason you should:
*create a very basic visual aid
*be saying more than what is in the visual aid
*be facing the classroom at all times (not the screen!)
*saying your presentation like a speech, NOT reading it from the screen
*use point form on your presentation, so that you can expand it in your
speech
*avoid fancy transitions and flashy colours
3. Use the suggestion sheets and evaluation sheet to guide you!
B. Student handout
*after your presentation, you will give a short handout to students that summarizes your
topic
*this student handout should be ½ page – 1 page in length and should be adapted from
your outline (ie. POINT FORM)
*this will be due BEFORE the presentation so that the teacher can make photocopies
** Print off of slides AND student handout – DUE: _________________________
** Presentations - DUE: _______________________________________________
-you will email your presentation as an attachment to hharding@rchs.on.ca OR
invite me to share your Google Doc (Mme.Harding@gmail.com)
-there will be some warm up time before the presentations, but most practice will
need to be done on your own time!
C. Written Report
1st draft
DUE: __________________
*using the outline you created, create properly formatted paragraphs under each heading
-be sure you are answering all the questions from the “Content” section
*do all writing using the third person (not “I” or “you”)
*all information must be in your own words, but you should include at least 2 quotations
in quotation marks
-you must reference your quotations in proper MLA style (author #) or (website)
*your report should be 3-5 pages in length and may contain up to 3 pictures
*include a Works Cited at the end of your report
Editing:
-You are expected to edit your own work and to have a friend or family member edit it as
well
-In class, we will have a peer edit session
-You will hand in a first draft and receive it back for correction and improvement
2nd draft
DUE: __________________