Two tests will be given.  The final will be comprehensive, and thus may include information from the first half of the semester.  Tests will consist of a variety of question types, including but not limited to matching, multiple choice, and short essay.  Approximately 80% of test questions will be based on lectures, outlines, and handouts, and the remainder will be taken from the readings.  Much of the content of the tests will be based on critical thinking skills, and students will be asked to generalize principles that have been discussed in class to specific examples.  Approximately 20% of test material will be taken from student assignments.

Assignments

 There will be three assignments for this class, each worth 15% of the final grade.  The first two assignments will include a short presentation and a two page written paper on the topic. All papers are to be APA formatted, and include at least three resource citations from a variety of sources.  Following is a description of each of these assignments:
 

 Assignment #1 (Option a)

Students will choose a historical issue (child labor), book (the Jungle), video (Matewan) person (Saul Alinsky) or group (United Farm Workers) important to the development of community organization or social reform in the United States.  Options will be given out on June 28th, and all students will choose an option, on a first-come, first-served basis, by June 30th.  On July 7th all students will be prepared to present a 7-10 minute mini-presentation and turn in a short paper related to their issue, person or group.

 OR

Option B

Students will choose one interest group or recent major social action campaign.  Interest groups are described as collectives of individuals with common concerns who do not necessarily live in a prescribed geographic region.  These individuals have come together in an attempt to provide support to one another and work toward common goals, usually involving the diminishment of their problem.  An action campaign is a major effort to effect institutional, political or industrial change through social action tactics such as marches, boycotts, letter-writing campaigns, etc.
Each student will choose a group (e.g., ACT-UP, NOW, NWRA, GLAAD) or a campaign (NIKE boycott, efforts to end human rights abuses in Myanmar) and conduct research related to it.  On July 19th each student will give a seven to ten minute mini-presentation and turn in a short paper based on their research.
 
Assignment #2

Each student will choose a large local or national social service organization.  This should not be an organization with which a student is already familiar (e.g. from a Practicum).  Students will conduct research related to the organization.  Questions guiding this research will be given out in class at the beginning of the semester.  Students will, by July 28th, give a seven to ten minute mini-presentation and turn in a short paper based on their research.

Assignment #3

Students will become involved in some way in a local community organization or social action campaign.  Due to the short length of the class, most students will not be able to engage in any meaningful way in a group or campaign.  Students will be able to involve themselves in smaller ways in supporting causes that pique their interest.  Students will receive a maximum of fifteen points for involvement in campaigns, with points being allotted as follows:

15 points – investing at least three hours in helping to plan and/or carry out (not just participating) a social action event such as a march, rally, boycott, or education campaign.
15 points – investing at least three hours in assisting a social action group in normal day-to-day activities (mailings, phone contacts, etc.).
7 points – investing at least two hours participating in a social action event such as a march, rally or boycott.
7 points – interviewing in some depth the leader of a community organization or social action group.
6 points – attending a meeting of a community organization or social action group.
5 points – writing a substantive letter to the editor of a local newspaper related to a community organization or social action issue.
5 points – writing a letter to a politician or other public figure to support the goals of a community organization or social action group.  Many such groups place requests for such support on their Internet sites.
5 points – boycott an item during the course of the semester.  This would be something that you normally would purchase.  In conjunction with your boycott, write a letter to the CEO or other representative of the company informing him/her why you are boycotting their product.

Students are to maintain a file of all information related to their involvement.  At the end of the semester they are to turn in a short two page paper relating what they did, why this area interested them, how they went about attaining necessary information regarding the issue, and providing any supporting documentation (flyers, Internet info., letters, etc.).
 

SW 400 Overview