Cooperation on Causes - Action Steps
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Classroom groups have identified local, state or global Causes or Information Needs. They have written persuasively about the cause or information need itself, making a case for the seriousness of the idea or problem (some have identified solutions as well), and they have described an item of ephemera that will be distributed to “spread the word.” These are AWARENESS STEPS.
ACTION STEPS, on the other hand, are DOING STEPS - they move the protest or campaign forward by asking the target audience to actually commit by DOING something. Action Steps have the following characteristics:
1. It includes and involves a large target audience in an actual event of some kind.
2. The event is well planned and has a definite timetable.
3. If relevant, the event has a definite place as well.
4. An Action Step must be well publicized.
Sample Action Steps would be:
* A survey
* A petition of over 100 names, which would include a statement and an addressee
* A rally, conference, sit-in or other event
* An interactive website where people will be able to register, give money, etc.
* A form letter or form e-mail that can be distributed and mailed by people joining your cause
* A fund-raising event, such as a concert, auction or call-in
* An over-time contributory event, such as adding flowers or ribbons to a maker or to trees.
We will be planning a non-violent Action Step as the last part of our virtual Do Something About It unit. Some students may want to pursue the unit as an actual project for the main Spring Persuasion Project.
