CITIZENSHIP STRAND VI:
CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Analyzing information, examining alternative ways to achieve civic goals, and resolving conflicts are aspects of participatory citizenship that are subjects for this strand. These civic activities help prepare students for their roles as adult citizens. Items in this strand assess the student’s understanding of civic issues and goals, conflict resolution, and citizen participation.
19. Analyze Information on civic issues by organizing key ideas with their supporting facts.
Citizens need to be able to identify the main idea of a public issue Items addressing this learning outcome often use statements like those found in local news sources. Students will be asked to examine information and identify the main idea and/or the supporting facts that are supplied.
20. Identify and analyze alternatives through which civic goals can be achieved and select an appropriate alternative based upon a set of criteria.
A democratic republic depends upon its citizens making reasoned choices when presented with various alternatives to meet civic goals. Items addressing this learning outcome explore ways in which local public issues (eg., fire hydrant repair, use of public buildings, recycling programs) may be resolved.
Students could be asked to identify an appropriate course of action given a particular set of criteria. The items could ask students to explain how a particular course of action meets a given set of criteria. The items could also ask students to assess the advantages and/or disadvantages of different strategies that could be used to achieve a civic goal.
21. Identify ways to resolve private and public conflicts based on principles of fairness and justice.
Fairness and justice are basic elements in the civic society of the United States of America and are characteristics of good citizenship. Fairness emphasizes impartiality and honesty in dealing with others. Justice stresses following a standard of what is right and proper. Together, they enhance the ability of people to respect and to get along with each other.
Items addressing this outcome explore applications of fairness and justice in private and public settings. Students could be given an example of a conflict and asked to identify a fair or just solution. Students could also be asked to explain how a proposed solution to a conflict is either fair or just.
22. Identify examples of citizen participation in political systems around the world.
The international political scene is composed of monarchies, dictatorships, and democracies—all of which have their unique attributes. Items for this outcome will present scenarios of political activities in various countries (e.g., Great Britain, Uganda, Argentina). Students could be asked to identify or characterize how people participate in the pot itical system of another country.
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