Social Advocacy Project Proposal

Before completing your Social Advocacy Project proposal, make sure you have carefully reviewed the guidelines for the entirety of the project (attached). The finished products from this project will be due in Week 10, but this proposal allows you to plan out and articulate what you will do for this project and get any feedback you may need.

For your project proposal, consider what organization or social movement you would like to engage with. Research opportunities for volunteer tasks, and, if needed, schedule your volunteer shift in advance. Note that organizations often need face-to-face help for various events, but that volunteers can also often engage remotely. You can choose to work with an organization that you already have connections with or choose to pursue a new volunteer activity.

Note, too, that you do not have particular length requirements for your volunteer act; you can negotiate this with the organization you choose to engage with. Make note of what this experience entails; it may be relevant if you choose to discuss the role of communication volunteer recruitment and retainment.

Social Advocacy Project
COM 377: Communication and Civic Engagement
For this communication and civic engagement course, you will perform civic engagement
through a volunteer activity, ultimately reflecting on this process through a presentation and
written report. You will engage with an online or in-person activist community to explore the act
of civic engagement and role of communication in social advocacy.
Here are the stages of this project:
1. Week 5: Submit a proposal describing the proposed volunteer activity.
2. Weeks 6-9: Complete the volunteer activity and reflect on your experience.
3. Week 10: Submit a Kaltura media presentation that shares your experience and findings
with the class and submit a written reflection paper.
1. Social Advocacy Project Proposal (20 points): For your project proposal, consider what
organization or social movement you would like to engage with. Research opportunities for
volunteer tasks, and, if needed, schedule your volunteer shift in advance. Note that
organizations often need face-to-face help for various events, but that volunteers can also
often engage remotely. You can choose to work with an organization that you already have
connections with or choose to pursue a new volunteer activity.
Note, too, that you do not have particular length requirements for your volunteer act; you can
negotiate this with the organization you choose to engage with. Make note of what this
experience entails; it may be relevant if you choose to discuss the role of communication
volunteer recruitment and retainment.
Your proposal is due in Week 5: Sunday, February 12, by 11:59 PM. Your proposal should
be submitted as a .doc or PDF and, for full credit, must include:
a.
b.
c.
d.
The name of the organization you plan to engage
Why you are interested in this organization or cause
The volunteer task you will be completing
The tentative date or date range of your volunteer work
2. Media Presentation and Peer Feedback (40 points): You will share your experiences and
findings via a Kaltura media presentation in Week 10. This 5-7 minute presentation should
include visual aids, but we must also be able to see you as you speak (more on this in terms
of software and recording approaches on Blackboard). While your presentation is due before
your final written report, you will need to have substantial work done on your paper in order
to plan your presentation. Your presentation (30 points) is due Thursday, March 16, by
11:59 PM, and your peer responses to other presentations (10 points) are due Sunday,
March 19, by 11:59 PM. Your presentation should include:
a. An overview of your experience: who you volunteered for, what you did, and how
you felt about the experience.
b. What lessons did you learn about the organization and the broader social issues it is
connected to?
c. What communication strategies does this organization use? How might you describe
their rhetorical tactics? (cite our course authors as needed)
d. What themes from this class did you notice as you conducted your volunteer work?
(cite our course authors as needed)
e. What suggestions do you have for others who might be interested in this organization
or the issues it aims to address?
Your presentation will be graded on the following criteria:
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•
•
•
•
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Demonstrates clear critical thinking
Addresses pertinent prompts thoroughly
Demonstrates clear understanding relevant course concepts
Presents information in an organized, interesting way
Follows instructions
Provides productive peer feedback
3. Final Reflection Paper (40 points): You will also record your findings in a written report
which includes several sections. You may use these sections to organize your paper, or you
can choose to use an essay format. The report is due Sunday, March 19, 11:59 PM, and
should address the following through high-level writing:
a. Overview: An overview of your experience: who you volunteered for, what you did,
and how you felt about the experience.
b. Lessons: What lessons did you learn about the organization and the broader social
issues it is connected to?
c. Communication: What communication strategies does this organization use? How
might you describe their rhetorical tactics? Cite our course readings in-text (author
last name(s), year of publication) as needed.
d. Course Themes: What themes from this class did you notice as you conducted your
volunteer work? Cite our course readings in-text (author last name(s), year of
publication) as needed.
e. Reflection: How does this civic engagement fit in with your other forms of civic
engagement? Critically reflect on your current level and style of civic engagement; do
you want to make any changes in your routine? Why? What might this look like
moving forward?
Your report will be graded on the following criteria:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Demonstrates clear critical thinking
Addresses pertinent prompts thoroughly
Demonstrates clear understanding relevant course concepts
Draws clear connections to course concepts and themes; cites texts accordingly
Follows instructions
Employs high-level writing and style