• identification of a problem in your community
• an outline of the problem and a plan of action for addressing it, formatted as a 5–7 slide PowerPoint presentation
• use of appropriate terminology and processes such as the legislative, executive, and judicial channels
• use of persuasive language and appropriate examples that speak to the target audience

Use what you have read in this lesson to assemble your presentation slides. Follow these guidelines to create an effective presentation.

• Do your research first. Know what you want to say before you start making slides. Use a flowchart to organize your thoughts. Put one idea in each box. Make sure your ideas follow a logical order and fit the outline provided in this lesson. Select the link to complete the Flowchart.  Flowchart
• Do not overfill your slides with too much text. Choose key words or phrases that use appropriate government terminology and reference government processes. Use bullet points, but limit yourself to no more than five bullet points per slide.
• Be careful (and simple) with the layout. Do not use flashy graphics or strange fonts. Use transitions and animations sparingly. One surprise can be fun for your audience, but a surprise on every slide may distract from your message.
• Keep your slides easy to read. Use contrasting colors so that words and graphics are easy to see and understand. Pick one of the built-in design themes to help achieve a good color scheme.

Here are some examples of common community problems:

• overcrowded animal shelters
• poor-quality school lunches with low nutritional values
• people driving too fast on residential streets
• criminal activity in nearby vacant homes
• cigarette advertisements near schools
• homelessness
• parks filled with litter
• students in wheelchairs not being able to get into the school bleachers
• drunk driving

Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1) Points Awarded (Weight)
     

Slide 1 should contain a succinct statement of the problem.

• What is going on in your community that needs to be fixed?
  • Why is it a problem? Whom does it harm or affect, and why?
• Your teacher may not live in the same community as you, so provide information relevant to where you live.
• Use appropriate research to justify why this issue requires attention.
  • Has anyone else identified or written about this problem? Conduct a safe search on the Internet or look in your local library to find others who have examined this issue.
  • Politicians often use statistics to persuade their audience. Use trustworthy graphs and maps that support your case. Make sure you cite your sources.

  On slide 2, provide some background on your chosen problem.

  • What caused this problem?
  • Explain the consequences of the problem if it is not addressed. What will happen if nothing is done?
  • State why there is a community obligation (civil responsibility) to remedy the problem.
  • Use what you learned previously about guaranteed rights and civil liberties (from both your state constitution and the U.S. Constitution) to explain the problem.

  On slide 3, propose a solution to the problem.

  • Write down the pros and cons of your proposed solution.
  • Explain what change will occur if the solution is implemented.
    • Refer back to slide 2 and explain how the consequences of the problem may change with your proposed solution.
  • What resources might you or the government require to follow through with your proposal, and where would those resources come from?
  • What budgetary limitations might stop your plan?
    • Explain how your plan will impact local budgets. Use knowledge from this unit about state and local funding and taxes.
  • What sources of revenue might exist to help pay for your plan if there is a cost?

  Map out your strategy on slides 4 and 5.

  • Using the local government chart you created in a previous lesson, identify which governmental authorities you could approach with your issue.
  • What arguments will you make?
    • What will be most persuasive to your community leaders?
    • What examples of the problem and the solution will be most convincing?
  • What evidence will you offer?
    • Research your solution by conducting a safe search on the Internet or looking in your local library to find trustworthy sources.
    • Are there any communities that have used plans similar to yours that can be used as models for what you propose to accomplish?
    • Remember to cite your sources using APA style.
  • Evaluate any likely opponents that may reject or dispute your plan, such as taxpayers, resource providers, or other community groups.
    • Anticipate their arguments and prepare counterarguments.

    On slides 6 and 7, elaborate on the details of your plan.

    • What local groups might you seek help from?
      • Where in your proposal might these groups provide additional support?
      • How will you encourage and persuade your community’s residents to support this plan?
    • How can individual and/or media strategies help you raise awareness about your issue?
    • Besides asking your local government for help, are there any other tactics you could use to affect change?