Discuss the ways a local food bank utilizes Problem Solving to gather donations, organize them, and distribute food to vulnerable populations.

Assignment guidelines
Part I: Introduction (20 points, 200-300 words)
In your introductory paragraph, briefly explain the community-based issue you addressed in your Civic Engagement Project; the actions that you took; and the results of your work. This can be concise at the beginning, as you will write more in the following parts. Be sure your introduction clearly previews what you will address in the paper.

Part II: Attention + Action in the Civic Engagement Project
(80 points, 800-1200 words)
Analyze your work in the Civic Engagement Project using the Elements of Engagement (Associating, Serving, Giving, and Leading), and the Techniques of Civic Engagement (Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Civic Dialogue).

Elements of Civic Engagement (40 points): Select at least two Elements of Civic Engagement. Make references to the Civically Engaged Reader to demonstrate your understanding of the elements. Connect the elements to particular people you met, things you experienced, or actions you took in your project. Why is this perspective important to civic engagement? What did you learn about this element by doing your project?
Example: Tie the element of Leading to the long-term Habitat for Humanity volunteer who showed up to all the house builds and showed you the ropes

Example: Connect the element of Associating to the children you worked with in an afterschool program; describe how education and association relate

Techniques of Civic Engagement (40 points): Select at least two Techniques of Civic Engagement. Connect the techniques to particular people you met, things you experienced, or actions you took in your project. Why is this technique important to civic engagement? What did you learn about this technique by doing your project?
Example: Discuss the ways a local food bank utilizes Problem Solving to gather donations, organize them, and distribute food to vulnerable populations.

Example: Discuss the ways you used Critical Thinking to develop a relevant social-media campaign by addressing the community partners needs, assessing their audience, delivering relevant content, and tracking the impact of your messages.

Part III: Project impact and analysis
(20 points, 200-300 words)
Following your discussion of the Elements and Techniques of Civic Engagement, provide an overall assessment of your Civic Engagement Project and the impact you made. What was the overall impact of your project? Did you have a successful project? What were the results? What else could you have done? If you were to do anything differently, what would that be and why?

Part IV: Civic self and civic identity
(80 points, 800-1200 words)
For this portion of the essay, reflect upon your emerging sense of civic self. Use the Active Citizen Continuum to think about your project and your sense of civic identity more broadly.

Active Citizen Continuum and the Civic Engagement Project (40 points): Youve learned a lot about your community-based issue through your research and actions. For this portion of the essay, describe how you have moved along the Active Citizen Continuum in relation to your Civic Engagement Project. Where were you on the Active Citizen Continuum at the beginning of the semester? Where are you now? What education, actions, and steps did it take to move from one level to the next? What would it take to move to the highest level, Active Citizen?

Emerging sense of civic identity (40 points): Conclude your paper by describing your sense of civic self and civic identity. What does civic engagement look like for you going forward? How can you use the foundational elements of civic engagement and the foundational techniques of civic engagement in your life? What does your major, your career/career goals, and personal life have to do with civic engagement?

Additional guidelines
Each student must write their own paper.
The reflection paper should conform to academic writing standards (MLA, APA, etc.) using a narrative format and a high level of writing skills.
Include in-text citations and a references list
6-8 pages in length (approximately 2,000-3,000 words), typed, double-spaced.
Papers must follow the order of the assignment guidelines and include section headings

My civic engagement project was working with the Harry Chapin Food Bank, we collected donations for the food bank. If you have other questions let me know.

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