How Americans Engage in Civic Life

How Americans Engage in Civic Life

by Christopher Scaduto

​Do Now

​Wednesday 01/06/22

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Have you ever participated in volunteer work? If so, what have you done? Have you ever been interested in volunteer work? Which type of work would interest you the most?

Open Ended

Have you ever done volunteer work? If so, what have you done? Have you ever been interested in volunteer work? Which type of work would interest you the most?

​​How Americans Engage in Civic Life

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​For most Americans, voting is the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the words “civic duty.” In a democracy, voting is one of the most basic and important ways to engage in civic life.

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There are many other ways to be an active citizen:

1. You can read articles online or watch the news on television to stay informed about current events.

2. You can talk to friends about political issues.

3. Put a political bumper sticker on your car to demonstrate your support

4. Express your views on social media. (Tik-Tok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, YouTube).

5. You can become a volunteer with a community group or follow a political figure on Twitter.

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By doing any of these things, you are engaging in civic life.

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Open Ended

What do you believe are some other avenues/ ways American's can engage in political participation?

​Vocabulary:

​civil society: associations and other voluntary groups that form a middle layer in society between government and individual families.

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​social capital: the attitude, spirit, and willingness of people to engage together in civic activities; the connections and bonds that people can draw on to solve common problems

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a form of civic engagement?

• Volunteering

• Voting

• Focusing on individual concerns

• Paying taxes

Multiple Select

True or False:

You can be civically engaged at any age

• False

• True

Multiple Choice

A _____ is a government by and for its people

• Communist government

• Both answers are correct

• None of these

• Democracy

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a threat to democracy?

• Opposing viewpoints among a country's members

• Shifting society's norms and values

• Protesting

• Lack of participation among a country's citizens

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Poll

Out of all of the Volunteer activities listed on the last slide, which activity to you relate to the most?

• Faith (Religious) based activities

• Education and Youth Services

• Environmental/ Animal Care activities

• Sports/Cultural activities (Coaching)

• Other

Open Ended

Exit Slip:

Based off your last response, please explain why you chose that specific volunteer activity (3 sentences).

​Independent Assignment

​Complete

• Read: Unit 7 -Citizen participation in Democracy

• • ​Section 4- How Americans Engage in Civic Life?

• Answer all of the Questions that follow the reading.

  • Due by midnight January 5th, 2021.

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