Pols 381/Honors 450: Citizenship FINAL REPORT

Spring Semester 2002 Dr. Joe Kunkel

Complete your citizenship course by writing an end-of-the-year report in which you to reflect upon the entire experience. Due: 12:30 Tuesday May 8 or earlier

Your report should include:

1. Evaluation Essay (You may add other thoughts you feel are important.)

Think about the course objectives, the Kolb model and if you wish, the Social Studies standards. In writing discuss and evaluate both

a. What you experienced and learned and how you were changed.

b. What your Public Achievement team experienced, learned, attempted and accomplished.

c. What went well/not so well? What you might do differently.

2. Letter to Coaches

A one page letter addressed to an MSU,M student who will be a PA coach next year (before they have been to Dakota Meadows). What should they expect from Public Achievement and this course? What advice do you have? Please be detailed and specific. (I plan to copy and distribute these.)

3. Team Paragraph

One paragraph (120-150 words) telling the history of your team. This will be published as a permanent feature on our PA website and probably sent home to parents in the school newsletter. Include the paragraph both on the hard copy of your report and send via email to

The report should be typed, double-spaced, 10 or 12 point font, one inch margins. Five to six pages in length.

Kolb's Experiential Learning Model
Learners need four types of abilities:
a. Concrete Experience: Ability to involve one’s self fully, openly and without bias in new
experiences
b. Reflective Observation: Ability to reflect and observe experiences from multiple perspectives
c. Abstract Conceptualization ability, to create concepts that integrate observations into logically sound theories.
d. Active Experimentation: The ability to use theories and concepts to make decisions and solve problems (to plan for action and try new things) / Objectives of Course & Public Achievement
1. Students should become more motivated to become involved in public activity. They should develop an increased sense of civic responsibility.
2. Students should feel an increased sense of empowerment and efficacy. They should become more optimistic about their potential to influence public events.
3. Students should have an improved mastery of political skills. They should be better able to utilize practical techniques of influence.
4. Students should better understand political concepts such as citizenship, power, democracy, diversity and interest (and/or other core concepts). / Social Studies Portfolio: Relevant Standards and Categories.
see: http://www.mnsu.edu/sost/200/sampleportfolio.html
Knowledge Standards
6. How people create and change structures of power, authority and governance
10. Ideals, principles, and practice of citizenship in a democratic society.

Skill Categories

4. Develop strategies for promoting social responsibility among secondary social studies students.
6. Plan and provide a variety of learning opportunities to meet the developmental needs of diverse learners that challenge secondary social studies students to think critically and creatively, be active learners, and interact with fellow students.