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Assignment Overview

 

 

Assignments

Wt.

I.

Reading and Participation

  • Quizzes, Class participation, and Mini-Presentations

 

20%

II.

Tests

  • Test 1
  • Test 2

 

20%
20%

III.

Portfolio and Presentation

  • Journal (15%)
  • Reflective Paper (15%)
  • Portfolio (5%)
  • Oral Presentations (5%)

 

40%

 

Reading, Participation, and Quizzes 30%

Participation includes the following

    1. Showing up
    2. Asking and answering questions
    3. Participating in class presentations
    4. Serving as a discussion leader
    5. Participating fully in your group

Group or Individual Mini-Reports: On some Wednesdays, you will be assigned a mini-report or will work with a group of about 3-4 students to lead a class discussion.

Quizzes: Each week you will receive a reading guide with discussion questions. Most weeks, you will have a quiz drawn from this reading guide. If you take notes as you read, you may use your notes during the quiz.

    1. Critical response to the readings
    2. Discussion of how the readings relate to one's personal and/or service experiences
    3. Questions we can use for class discussion

Tests: The three tests will include both short answer, short essay, and a take-home essay.

Service Project
This course should help you synthesize academic and experiential learning.  Each of you will serve with an organization that focuses on poverty issues. Why service?  It's a way to learn.  It puts your feet on the street.

Service Sites
Your service project will be an integral part of your history studies. You will engage in at least 24 hours of service. If we can work out our schedules, we may do some hours as a class. You should plan to work at your service site at least 6-8 times

In addition to serving, you will observe, talk with employees and clients, collect anecdotal evidence, and explore your own motives and reactions to service.Your placement should benefit both the organization and you as a history student.

As soon as you confirm your service learning placement, write a brief 1- page (double- spaced, word processed) proposal including the following information:

  • Site location and contact information
  • Description of the organization/program and why you chose it -- IF other than the Youth Dreamers
  • Tentative schedule (adds up to 24 hours) and your responsibilities/tasks
  • Questions/goals that you hope to explore during service learning
  • Questions for your teacher (optional)

Basic Service Guidelines

    • New people, new places, new tasks: Show respect for all those with whom you work!
    • Treat your service as a professional commitment (be on time, call if you will be late or absent, etc.)
    • Plan to meet minimum number of hours by the end of the semester to receive full credit. Deception or falsification (a form of academic dishonesty) will result in an automatic "F" for the course.
    • Travel time, shopping during your lunch break, etc. do not count as service hours!
    • Two students may work together at the same location, but not more than two.
    • Each time you attend your service site, you should fill out your service log (handout) and have your supervisor or contact person sign and date it to verify your hours.
    • I will visit your service site once during the semester, but please come see with any questions or concerns or good stories about your service!
    • Most important: Think of this experience as more than a fulfillment of course requirements. Try to see it as an opportunity for personal growth and as the beginning or continuation of meaningful civic and community engagement.

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Service Journal
Each week after your service hours, please write a journal entry -- a place to record your observations, activities, reflections. Think of each journal as a three-part task (they range from easiest to most difficult):

  • Description: What did you do, see, observe? Note: Please do not identify by name any of the "clients" you work with on site. Use pseudonyms if you wish.

  • Reflection: Include both your mental/intellectual and your emotional reaction to what you did and observed. Consider your thoughts about the agency and its clients as well about your own personal thoughts, reactions, self-knowledge. You may add problems you experience, as well.

  • Analysis: This section is more challenging especially at the beginning of the semester, but it's also the part that will make your brain grow. Explain how your service relates to class work: facts, ideas, concepts, theories, etc. from our class readings, discussion, lectures. You may want to consider how service helps you better understand the academic and/or how the academic part enriches your service.

  • Post your journal entries on Blackboard after each visit according to the following guidelines:
  • You should post at least 6 journal entries on Blackboard during the semester.
  • You may post no more than 2 entries in any given week (in other words, don't put off posting until the end of the semester!)

At the end of the semester, you will submit your edited and proofread journal entries (typed with the date at the top of the page) as part of the final portfolio.

 

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Reflection Paper
Your paper should tie together your service project with class themes. Plan to include the following in this 5 page essay. THIS ESSAY WILL BE PART OF YOUR FINAL EXAM!

Part I: Introduction
 Brief overview of your service project. Your controlling statement might point to how this experience enhanced (or not) your study of urban history.

Part II: An overview of your service site and its neighborhood
Include a brief history of the neighbohrood as well as current neighborhood demographics. Where will you get this information?

  • Handouts and links provided for each site: Hampden, Waverly, Jones Falls, Pigtown, etc.
  • Demographics (in-class work)

 

Part III: Your Site in historical context
Now here's the fun - and major - part of the assignment. Reflect upon the history you have learned in relation to your service project. Try to relate class readings and themes to the neighborhood and organization in which you are working. Draw on your volunteer work itself, as well as on neighborhood observations

Portfolio
During the last week of class, each of you will present your service project to the class and will submit a portfolio consisting of the following:

Title Page: Please include the name of organization or program, the type of services provided, the organization's address, phone number, website, the name and phone number/email address of your supervisor or contact person.

Log of your service hours. Please keep it up to date!

Background on your service organization.
You may include any or all of the following

History, mission and goal: organizational structure (board, paid staff, volunteers, who does the work);funding; types of projects, activities, unique aspects and/or achievements; problems

Where will you get this information?

  • The organization's website
  • Organization's written materials
  • An interview with a key person (required)

Your Journal (see above)

Final Journal Entry

  • Has your definition of service or citizenship changed?
  • What did you learn about yourself from this experience? About others?
  • How did your service experience help you understand the historical concepts and narrative covered in the course?
  • Would you do this again? Will you continue your work with this rganization?
  • How would you suggest making this experience better for students next time?

Optional but highly recommended

  • Photographs or work products
  • Printed materials from the organization; anything else you wish to provide!

Oral Presentation
For your final oral presentation, you will draw on the information covered above. Include the following:

    1. A description of your service site, it's goals and activities
    2. What you did
    3. What you learned
    4. How your service ties to the history we have studied

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