Week 1 Primary Assignment

Note on Primary Assignments:
Each week you will submit a Primary Assignment. In many weeks, you can choose between two options for this assignment. Before you opt for which assignment option to answer, you will want to consider which option affords you the best opportunity to demonstrate learning based upon the assigned course materials. All Primary Assignments include a thesis statement, a bibliography (APA style), and the use and citation of three assigned reading articles from the current week and one assigned reading article from a previous week.

The Tension between Engaged Citizenship & Individualism
Learning Objective: The creative tension between individualism and engaged citizenship is examined. The Service Learning Project (SLP) is introduced.

Option 1:
Watch a movie! Choose one of two films, Stand and Deliver, or McFarland. Both of these films are dramatic enactments of actual people whose choices and behaviors influenced the lives of others. The central figure in these movies is an ordinary person who chooses to defy conventional wisdom, while overcoming physical and other threats, to pursue a selfless goal which ultimately uplifted the human spirit of those around them. Compose an essay comparing and contrasting the behavior of the films central figure against our assigned readings this week regarding engaged citizenship. How do the choices and behaviors of the central figures in these films demonstrate engaged citizenship? Can you envision yourself in a similar role? Have you witnessed someone whose actions have been similarly inspirational? Please note, you may incur an out-of-pocket cost to view these films. The links below include free previews to the film.
    Stand and Deliver, YouTube Movies, 2011
    McFarland USAYouTube Movies, 2015

Option 2:
Step One: In a document of at least 400 words, list and contrast the duties of citizenship discussed in our assigned reading articles this week. Give examples where Americans are, or are not, fulfilling the role(s) of engaged citizenship, as defined by the authors of the assigned articles. Consider how the authors describe engaged citizenship and briefly offer your thoughts on the reasons people are or are not engaged, citizens.
Step Two: Find or create, and share a photograph which depicts Americans fulfilling (or not fulfilling) one of the duties of citizenship discussed in our assigned readings. In an analysis of at least 200 words, make connections between the expectations of engaged citizenship discussed in the readings and the photograph.

Required Reading / Videos

https://archive.org/details/JusticeWhatIsTheRightThingToDoByMichaelSandel/page/n7
https://archive.realtor.org/sites/default/files/BowlingAlone.pdf
https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/civic-virtue
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
https://www.newstatesman.com/sites/default/files/combined_executive_summary.pdf
https://www.oecd.org/insights/37966934.pdf
https://youtu.be/kBdfcR-8hEY