• Introduction
• Agency Evaluation of Service Learner
• Community Service Contract
• Journal Guidelines
• Paper Assignment
• Service Learning Reflection Assignments
• Student Evaluation

Introduction

In general, policy is defined as all the laws, government planning and action that affect an individual's daily life. Most public policies deal with issues that we define as social problems; crime, poverty, terrorism, health care or the state of the environment.
This policy guide was prepared to familiarize you with how local and national policy is created. What we tend to focus on is policy as a product, a legislative document which reflects the best thinking on how to address a social problem.

However, what we often ignore is how policy making is a complex process made possible only through the contributions of many political, social and economic constituents. While the majority of public policies are formulated and implemented by the federal and state government, these elected government leaders are not the only ones involved in policy making. As discussed throughout your text, special interests groups, lobbying organizations, political action committees and citizen groups also play a critical role in the policy making process.

In addition, public policy has an impact on individuals, groups, organizations and society. Policy creates change by attempting to remedy a social problem. However, in some instances, the policies intended to fix a problem can also be the source of more problems.

We have collected a set of exercises that will help you learn more about the political process on your campus and in your state. In the first set of exercises, we invite you to meet members of political organizations, local political action committees or lobbying groups in your state. We include assignments which also examine your student government and a specific social movement. In addition, exercises in this guide address the impact of social policy, asking you to examine existing policy analysis and to conduct your own policy analysis.

• Critical Reports on Contemporary Social Problems
• Critique of Student Government
• Exploring Partisan Politics
• How a Bill Becomes Law
• Identifying Government Leaders
• Policy Analysis
• Studying a Social Movement Organization
• Think Tanks and Social Policy Research
• Visiting a Special Interest Group or PAC

Introduction

This guide provides information and activities to help YOU take the first steps toward social action in your community. The guide includes activities that will assist you in understanding your community and getting to know your local or state leaders. We have also included instructions on how to create your own visual essay like those found in each chapter of your text.

Finally, the community guide ends with a directory of selected national and local organizations, each addressing a particular social problem or problems. In addition to those introduced in your text, the listing includes information on many other outreach, educational and advocacy groups. Please keep in mind, this list is not intended to be a comprehensive guide of community organizations and resources. It is intended to give a good place to start while you're taking your class. We hope that the guide will also identify service and volunteer opportunities that you can pursue after your class is over.

Note: Some of these exercises include contact with community leaders and members. Before proceeding, make sure to confirm with your instructor about university policies regarding research with human subjects.

• Analysis Assignment
• Creating Your Own Visual Essay
• Identifying Government Leaders
• Interviewing Government or Civic Leaders
• Interviewing Elected Policy Makers