Rules (High School)
Project Citizen showcases should demonstrate how a classroom has developed a public policy proposal to solve a specific problem in their state. The presentation should summarize students’ research and include a recommendation of that policy to their state legislator.
Students should contact their state senators or their staff prior to the state showcase, inform them about the problem, and attempt to persuade them to act on the proposed solution. The result of this discussion should be included in the presentation. Students will not be scored on the outcome of their public policy proposal, but rather on the quality of their project and their effort made to garner support.
At a high school showcase, teams give an oral PowerPoint, web site or video presentation before a panel of judges. Teams will then respond to questions from the judges about their presentations. A certificate of achievement will be awarded to each student participating in the state showcase and the top three placing teams will be awarded a plaque for their schools.
Each school may bring up to two teams to present at the state showcase. Showcases are held in Nebraska’s State Capitol Building, which has no specific dress code. Parents are welcome to attend.
Presentation
A team of 8-15 students should be divided into four groups, with each group being responsible for developing their section of the presentation.
Group One: Explain the problem, why it is important, and why government should deal with it.
Group Two: Evaluate alternative policies that have been tried or suggested to deal with the problem.
Group Three: Develop and justify a public policy to deal with the problem.
Group Four: Develop and carry out an action plan to persuade your state legislator to accept this proposed policy.
Four minutes will be allowed for each section of the presentation, which should include the most important information each group has gathered or which best documents their research and contact with their state legislator’s office. At the completion of the presentation, judges will be given six minutes to ask students questions.
Scoring of each of the four groups’ sections is based on the following criteria: completeness, constitutionality, clarity, information, support, graphics and documentation. Scoring of the overall portfolio is based on persuasiveness, practicality, coordination and reflection. Regardless of the presentation format a team chooses, they will create a documentation three-ring binder that includes copies of the most significant research the team has gathered. This binder shall be made available to the judges prior to the showcase. Teachers should review with students the description of these criteria for each group’s portfolio section on pages 55-71 in the Level 2 student text.
