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IDS 3300 Foundations of Civic Engagement – Spring 2018

Wednesdays 4:30pm-7:15pm
CRN 11375
Marieb Hall 214

Instructor: Jennifer Scott, M.A.

Academic Advisor, College of Arts and Sciences

Office Location: Seidler Hall, Suite 109
Phone: 239-590-1279
Email: jscott@fgcu.edu
Jennifer’s Office Hours: Arranged by request – please contact me via phone to schedule an appointment.
If you have questions or concerns throughout the semester, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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Required texts
Davis, Adam and Lynn, Elizabeth. (eds.). The Civically Engaged Reader: A Diverse Collection of Short
Provocative Readings on Civic Activity. Chicago: Great Books Foundation, 2006. ISBN: 0-945159-49-8.

Lewis, John. March: Book One. Marietta: Top Shelf Productions, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-60309-300-2.
*Please note that this text contains several instances of potentially offensive language in its accurate
description of racism in the 1950s and 1960s.*
Other course materials will be located on Canvas or given as handouts. The readings from Choosing To
Participate are available on Canvas.
Catalog Course Description
Students understand, evaluate, and analyze foundational elements of engagement including associating,
serving, giving, leading, and foundational techniques including critical thinking, problem solving, civil
dialogue, perspectives and spheres of engagement, and application to meaningful community projects.
Teaching Methods and Learning Strategies
This course is taught using a combination of classroom lecture and discussion, group activities and
projects, ongoing personal reflection, readings, assignments, and student presentations. Students are
encouraged to apply their own experiences and perspectives, based on readings, class projects, and
knowledge from their academic programs of study, to support and reinforce class discussions.
In order to help you succeed in this course, as well as the other courses you will take throughout your
academic career, I encourage you to keep in mind that:
 In order for any type of significant change to take place, commitment and time are required.
 As students, you must accept the responsibility for your learning progress and outcomes.
 As the Instructor, I will not do for my students what they can do for themselves.
Student Learning Goals and Educational Outcomes
This course specifically addresses FGCU student learning goal 9: community awareness and involvement,
which states: “Know and understand the important and complex relationships between individuals and the
communities in which they live and work. Analyze, evaluate and assess human needs and practices within
the context of community structures and traditions. Participate collaboratively in community service
projects.” This course also addresses FGCU’s Mission Statement: “FGCU continuously pursues
academic excellence, practices and promotes environmental sustainability, embraces diversity, nurtures
community partnerships, values public service, encourages civic responsibility, cultivates habits of
lifelong learning, and keeps the advancement of knowledge and pursuit of truth as noble ideals at the
heart of the university’s purpose.” This course requires service-learning participation. Service-learning is
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an experientially based teaching methodology which combines classroom pedagogy with community
action. Through service-learning, students learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully
organized service experiences that meet actual community needs. It is reciprocal: both the “server” and
those being served are teaching and learning during their interaction.
Course Objectives
This course enables students to explore a number of questions of citizenship and civic participation
through critical thinking, written assignments, group discussions, assigned readings, and practical
engagement. By the end of the semester, students who join fully in class discussion and fulfill all course
requirements will be able to:
1. Understand, analyze, and reflect on foundational elements of civic engagement.
2. Develop the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, and civil dialogue in relation to civic
engagement.
3. Apply elements and skills of civic engagement by creating and completing a meaningful service
project to address community needs.

Course Policies
Attendance and Participation – Class attendance is a large part of success in any college course. I
expect you to arrive on time and prepared for class discussions. This class depends on you, your
classmate's, and your Instructor’s willingness to become engaged in course materials and discussion.
Active involvement and participation in class will be evaluated throughout the semester and is part of
your overall course grade. As the title of the course and nature of the assignments suggest, much of our
time this semester is reflection- and action-oriented. I expect high levels of participation. To this end, it is
essential that the classroom remains an open space where all feel safe to speak, share, and listen. We will
not always agree, but we must always be civil and show respect.

Absence due to work commitments and/or due to completing work for this class (during a non-designated
class work time) will not be excused. Attendance includes coming to class on time and remaining for the
full period. If you are absent, you will lose 10 points from your participation grade. If you miss more
than three class sessions, you will receive a failing grade for the course (four absences will result in
a failing grade for this course). Late arrival or early departure will result in a 5-point deduction per
occurrence. It is your responsibility to tell the Instructor if you arrive late; otherwise you will be marked
absent. We can work with the Division of Student Affairs in exceptional cases, such as serious illness,
traumatic accident, or death of family member.

Participation points may be deducted for inappropriate classroom behavior such as sleeping, use of your
cell phone or other electronic devices, or going in and out of the classroom for anything other than
emergency reasons. If you have a cell phone or other electronic device out in class (for calls, text
messages, and/or browsing) or have your cell phone ring/alert in class, you will receive a 5 point
deduction per occurrence. Attendance is about more than just being physically in the room. It also
means being attentive and involved in mature and appropriate ways. Students should be fully engaged
during class time, and use of electronic devices prevents full participation by creating a distracting
environment. In order to create a respectful, minimal distraction environment for everyone, silence or turn
off cell phones and electronic devices, and put all electronic devices away. Should you have a personal
situation in which you need to be reached by phone during class, you need to discuss this with the
Instructor prior to class beginning in order to determine a strategy to handle such an issue. If you require
special accommodations to use your laptop or tablet during class, please discuss this with the Instructor to
work out individual accommodations for note-taking purposes only. If you are absent from class, it is
your responsibility to obtain copies of notes from other class members. If you miss a class you are still
responsible for completing the assignments due the day of your absence.
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Assignments – All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date assigned on the course
schedule. Late assignments are defined as anything submitted after the time class begins. All late
assignments will receive a 10% points deduction from the maximum points allowed, for each day the
assignment is late, not each class meeting the assignment is late. For example, if an assignment is due to
be submitted to Canvas at 4:30 PM (the time class begins) and the assignment is submitted to Canvas
after 4:30 PM, this is considered late. One day is defined as 24 hours from the time the assignment is due.
In this same example, if the assignment is submitted after 4:30 PM on the day the assignment is due but
prior to 4:30 PM the following day, the assignment will be considered 1 day late; if this assignment is
worth 100 points, 10 points will be deducted from the points awarded for that assignment. Reading
Response posts will not be accepted late, since these are intended to help you prepare for the day’s
readings prior to class discussion. If you foresee a problem meeting a deadline, please contact your
Instructor by phone, email, or in person as soon as possible. Arrangements for late submissions will be
made only in the case of extenuating circumstances, such as serious illness, traumatic accident, or death
of family member. Incomplete grades will not be given except in the case of a severe extenuating
circumstance and are at the discretion of the Instructor. If you are unable to make it to class on the date an
assignment is due (this includes absences for athletic travel, competitions, or other University travel or
functions), assignments must be submitted to Canvas prior to class.
Written assignments should be typed using academic writing standards. Spelling, punctuation, and
grammar will be factored into assignment grading. All written assignments must be submitted as a
Microsoft Word or PDF document.

To successfully complete your Civic Engagement Project and the associated Service Learning
hours, please make sure that you will have the time to devote to this class. Be mindful of the ways in
which other commitments and other courses with large projects and/or Service Learning components
(such as IDS 3920) might impact your ability to devote the proper amount of time to this course.

Classroom Safety and Respect - Throughout this course, please behave in a respectful manner towards
other students and service learning participants. Although our opinions may vary, we are each entitled to
freely discuss our views without fear of harassment or threat. While it is important for people to express
their opinions openly and honestly, it is also important that our opinions are expressed respectfully and
that our classroom remains a safe and comfortable environment for all participants. It is expected that all
students' individual differences, beliefs, and values are met with open-mindedness, appreciation, and
understanding.

Video and audio recording of class lectures is expressly prohibited unless the FGCU Office of Adaptive
Services has documented your disability and determined the best reasonable accommodation for you is to
allow recording and you have executed a written agreement regarding the limitations on use of such
recordings and their disposition at the end of the semester.

Canvas Learning Management System – This class utilizes a Canvas course page and we will use it
extensively as a place for you to turn in assignments, download additional readings, and stay up to date on
the course schedule. Canvas information available at: http://canvas.fgcu.edu/
Email/Canvas – Due to strict privacy laws, any electronic communication for this class should be done
via Canvas or FGCU Eagle email. You are required to have an active Eagle Email account and check it
regularly for updates and announcements. The Instructor will check emails no less than once each
business day (Monday – Friday, excluding holidays) and will respond within a 24-48 hour time period.
Be patient for a response; emails will be answered in the order they are received. If you are having
difficulty accessing your Eagle Email account or Canvas, please notify your Instructor immediately. For
technical issues with Canvas, please contact Canvas Support at Phone: (239) 590-7100 or E-mail:
itsprt@fgcu.edu. For technical issues with your Eagle Email account, contact the FGCU Computing
Services Helpdesk at Phone: (239) 590-1188 or E-mail: helpdesk@fgcu.edu
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University Statements
Academic Behavior Standards and Academic Dishonesty
All students are expected to demonstrate honesty in their academic pursuits. The university policies
regarding issues of honesty can be found in the FGCU Student Guidebook under the Student Code of
Conduct and Student Conduct Review Process section. All students are expected to study this document
which outlines their responsibilities and consequences for violations of the policy. Plagiarism or other
forms of cheating will not be tolerated, and will be severely punished. They will result in a “0” for the
assignment and may lead to failure of the class and disciplinary action by the university. The FGCU
Student Guidebook is available online at http://studentservices.fgcu.edu/judicialaffairs/new.html.
Disability Accommodations Services
Florida Gulf Coast University, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the
university’s guiding principles, will provide classroom and academic accommodations to students with
documented disabilities. If you need to request an accommodation in this class due to a disability, or you
suspect that your academic performance is affected by a disability, please contact the Office of Adaptive
Services. The Office of Adaptive Services is located in Howard Hall 137. The phone number is 239-590-
7956 or TTY 239-590-7930.
Student Observance of Religious Holidays
All students at Florida Gulf Coast University have a right to expect that the university will reasonably
accommodate their religious observances, practices, and beliefs. Students, upon prior notification to their
Instructors, shall be excused from class or other scheduled academic activity to observe a religious holy
day of their faith. Students shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up the material or
activities covered in their absence. Students shall not be penalized due to absence from class or other
scheduled academic activity because of religious observances. Where practicable, major examinations,
major assignments, and university ceremonies will not be scheduled on a major religious holy day. A
student who is to be excused from class for a religious observance is not required to provide a second
party certification of the reason for the absence.

Course Assignment Descriptions

Assignment descriptions are subject to change and will be discussed in class. Assignments are posted to
Canvas. Please make sure you are checking the “Assignment” and “Syllabus” sections of Canvas.

Attendance and Participation (maximum of 140 points; two assessments – midterm: 70 points,
final: 70 points)
See above (under Course Policies) for details. Students will be assessed on attendance and participation
twice during the semester: once at midterm and once at the end of the semester. Students can provide a
self-assessment of their participation, which will be used by the Instructor in the determination of total
points. Please note that student self-assessment will not necessarily determine the assigned grade but will
assist the Instructor in determining total points; the midterm assessment will also allow an opportunity for
students to receive feedback on their attendance and participation prior to the end of the semester.

Syllabus Quiz (maximum of 5 points) – Complete this quiz on Canvas to comply with FGCU’s
attendance regulation requiring all students to complete an “academically related activity” during the first
week of class, prior to disbursement of financial aid.

Civic Engagement Project (CEP) (maximum of 500 points)

Students will work in groups of 3-5 to complete a civic engagement project (CEP) in the local
community. A successful project will create an “engaged scholarly product” (a public engagement or
service experience that also includes a scholarly component) that is produced with a community partner.
Assignment details are posted to Canvas. Please also review the “Serving Safely Guidelines” on Canvas.
*Please note that it is possible to receive an individual grade on a group project.*
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Part I: Civic Engagement Project Proposal (200 points total) – Write a group proposal paper that
describes what you intend to accomplish with the project and how you will collaborate with your
group members and Community Partner; defend your proposal in front of the class.
Part II: Final Project Film (100 points) – Civic Engagement Project completion and presentation
of results.
Part III: Reflection Essay (200 points) – Write an individual reflection paper on your experience.

Peer Evaluations (maximum of 30 points total, 2 Peer Evaluations at 15 points each):

*Assignment details are posted to Canvas.* Each student will complete a Midterm Peer Evaluation
(maximum of 15 points) and a Final Peer Evaluation (maximum of 15 points) for his/her CEP team.

Community Partner Project Evaluation (maximum of 30 points)

*Assignment details are posted to Canvas and discussed in class.* Bring this to class in a sealed envelope.

Midterm CEP Group Discussion Post on Canvas (maximum of 20 points)

*Assignment details are posted to Canvas and discussed in class.* Each student will submit an individual
discussion post on Canvas, based on the Civic Engagement Project experience. Each student’s response
should be at least 200 words total and may include responses to other group member's posts.

Copy of the Service Learning Agreement and Verification Form (maximum of 15 points)
Submit a copy of the signed Service Learning Form to your Instructor. The online Form is available at
http://www.fgcu.edu/connect/. The online Form must be signed by your agency representative and
submitted to the Service Learning Office to receive Service Learning hours on your academic record.

A Look Into Our Civic Selves (maximum of 30 points + 10 points for discussion board post =
maximum of 40 points total)
Fill out this pre-project planning sheet, available on Canvas, to address questions regarding community
needs and your personal strengths and interests. Remember to also submit a response on the discussion
board - post one organization that you chose for page 2 (worth 10 points toward the assignment). In
class - be prepared to briefly discuss this one organization and why you are passionate about this
organization/issue.

Identity Chart (maximum of 10 points)

*Assignment details are posted to Canvas and will be discussed in class.* You will most likely handwrite
this assignment; however, if it is too difficult to read your handwriting, you will receive zero points for
this assignment. Be prepared to briefly discuss your chart in class.

Civic Engagement Project Group Contract (maximum of 10 points)

Each group will submit one Group Contract (per group). *The Group Contract is posted on Canvas and
will be discussed in class.*

Universe of Obligation Chart (maximum of 10 points)

*Assignment details are posted to Canvas and will be discussed in class.* You will most likely handwrite
this assignment; if your handwriting is illegible, you will receive zero points for this assignment.

March: Book One Discussion Post on Canvas (maximum of 20 points)

*Assignment details are posted to Canvas and discussed in class.* Each student will submit an individual
discussion post on Canvas, based on the book March: Book One by John Lewis. Each student’s response
should be at least 200 words total and may include responses to other group member's posts.
*Please note that this text contains several instances of potentially offensive language in its accurate
description of racism in the 1950s and 1960s.*
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Article Discussion Presentation – presented to the class (maximum of 50 points)

Select a current (within 2 months) news article about a non-US location from a newspaper, website or
organization which is related to civic engagement. The article should be chosen from a reputable news
source (examples include: UN [http://www.un.org/news/], CNN [http://www.cnn.com/], BBC
[http://www.bbc.com/news/]). Present a summary to the class with the main points of the issue and
supporting background information to contextualize the story. Make sure you explain to the class how the
article or issue is related to civic engagement. The summary presentation should be a minimum of 2 and
maximum of 4 minutes followed by a minimum of 3 minutes of discussion with the class led by you. The
presentation should be conducted using PowerPoint, Prezi, etc. You will be graded based on length,
content, effectiveness of communication, and your ability to relate the issue/topic to civic engagement.
Submit the article link on Canvas or bring a copy of the article to class. You will earn zero points for
this assignment if you upload a presentation to Canvas but do not present the material during class.

Reading Response Posts on Canvas (maximum of 120 points, 8 responses at 15 points each) – You
will write a response to the questions posted on Canvas for each of the assigned readings. This
assignment is meant to assist you in reflecting on the readings prior to the class discussions; thus, no late
submissions will be accepted. Each response will be 100-150 words total and will be submitted via
Canvas. Please note that some posts will require responses to multiple questions, as some days will
include multiple reading assignments.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND ASSIGNMENTS:

 Syllabus Quiz – 5 points (.5%)

 Attendance and Participation – 140 points total (two assessments: once at midterm for a total of
70 points and once at the end of the semester for a total of 70 points) (14%)
 Civic Engagement Project (CEP) – 500 points (50%)
 Peer Evaluations - 30 points (2 Peer Evaluations at 15 points each) (3%)
 Community Partner Project Evaluation - 30 points (3%)
 Midterm CEP Group Discussion Post on Canvas – 20 points (2%)
 March: Book One Discussion Post on Canvas – 20 points (2%)
 Copy of Service Learning Form – 15 points (1.5%)
 A Look Into Our Civic Selves – 40 points (4%)
 Identity Chart – 10 points (1%)
 Civic Engagement Project Group Contract – 10 points (1%)
 Universe of Obligation Chart – 10 points (1%)
 Article Discussions – 50 points (5%)
 Reading Response posts on Canvas – 120 points total (8 responses at 15 points each) (12%)

Total possible points: 1000

Student Grading Scale:

1000 – 940 (A) 899 – 860 (B+) 799 - 760 (C+) 699 – 660 (D+) 599 – Below (F)
939 – 900 (A-) 859 – 830 (B) 759 – 730 (C) 659 – 630 (D)
829 – 800 (B-) 729 – 700 (C-) 629 – 600 (D-)

***A minimum of two extra credit opportunities will be offered throughout the semester. These
opportunities will be discussed in class. Extra credit must be submitted to the Instructor no later than the
last day of class.