What is a Civic Issue?

What is a Civic Issue?

Learning Goals:

By the end of this activity you will be able to:

1. know the difference between a fact and an opinion;

2. identify the characteristics of a civic issue; determine different positions that people may have regarding a civic issue;

3. understand the beliefs and values associated with democracy in Canada;

4. gather information from creditable sources in order to investigate a civic issue.

Facts or Opinion?

• It may seem obvious at first, but in today's world of news clips, sound bites and 24-hour news coverage, it can sometimes be tricky to sort out facts from opinions when discussing politics and current events. Here are some tips to help you to tell the difference.

FACTS

• are exact, specific or precise; are events which have taken place; are things that can be investigated and found to be true; and are expressed in plain, emotion-free language (no emotional adjectives).

  Example: Central Peel S.S. was built in 1960.

OPINIONS

• are conclusions, views, thoughts, or feelings; are not exact and are not proven; may be vague/unclear statements about the past, present, or future; and are usually written using adjectives that express an emotion.

  Example: The metal tower at the front of the school is an ugly eyesore

Multiple Choice

During sleep, blood pressure and body temperature are lowered, and the heart rate and metabolism slow down.

• Fact

• Opinion

• Both

Multiple Choice

People who have trouble sleeping at night should seek counseling on how to deal with the stress in their life.

• Fact

• Opinion

• Both

Multiple Choice

Wednesday is one of the most commonly misspelled English words; another is February.

• Fact

• Opinion

• Both

Multiple Choice

Recent welfare reform laws have been an unfair attack on poor people.

• Fact

• Opinion

• Both

Characteristics of a Civic Issue:

• of concern to many people

• more than one point of view

• relates to various communities local, national and/or global

• considers the common good for all

Open Ended

What are some examples of civic issues? List as many as you can!

What is a Civic Issue?

These questions explore some relevant civic issues that impact students and what steps to take to change them...

Multiple Choice

Protest tends to be most effective at...

• making a specific change in the constitution

• publicizing a problem in society

• bringing people together from both sides

• making quick and effective debate

Multiple Choice

Anytown School District has decided to change its grade-scale to be 95%-100% is an A. 90%-94% is a B. 85%-89% is a C. 80-84% is a D and any grade less than an 80% is an F. After rsearching the issue, many students and parents are concerned this will negatively impact the students ability to gain acceptance to college.

What would be the appropriate first step the students and parents could take to try to stop the implementation of the new grade scale?

• stage a walk-out of school

• address the school board in a speech

• ask for the superintendent resignation

• write a letter to their local government member.

Multiple Choice

The local community park had an icrease in littering. The neighborhoods surrounding the park have become concerned because the litter is blowing into their yards.

What would be the appropriate first step the neighborhood members could take to try to curtail the littering?

• stage a sit-in at the park and make sure no one litters

• contact the governor's office and file an official complaint

• contact the parks and recreation department and inform them of the issue

• have the neighborhood watch set up a sting operation to try to catch the offenders

Multiple Choice

The local school district is attempting to institute a strict dress code that would require all students to wear uniforms. Many students feel this would limit their freedom of expression while at school.

What would be the appropriate first step the students could take to try to stop the implementation of the dress code?

• stage a walk-out at the school

• address the school board in a speech

• write a letter to their local Ohio house member

• research the public policy steps and decide what resources to utilize in their argument.

How did it go?

I can successfully:

1. tell the difference between a fact and an opinion;

2. differentiate between a civic issue and a non-civic issue;

3. identify different points of view on a civic issue;

4. describe some of the beliefs and values associated with democracy in Canada;

5. find information about a civic issue and know it is coming from a true source.