CN 361 Communication & Social Movements
Final Paper – Intergroup Dialogue and Community Building
Due: Friday, May 15 by 11:59 PM, upload to D2L
Points Possible: 50 (see grading rubric on last page of this document)
Overview: This paper gives you the opportunity to bring together and synthesize all of the information you have learned
about your chosen organization throughout the semester. In particular, the focus of this assignment is on intergroup contact
and dialogue – bringing together those who support your movement/organization and those who are either ignorant of,
indifferent to, or opposed to your movement/organization and its mission. For this assignment, you should imagine that
you are a member of your organization who has been tasked with coordinating an event aimed at bringing together
members and non-members to recruit support for the organization and its objectives. This event can anything you want it to
be – an art exhibit, an immersive experience, a film forum, a town hall-style dialogue, a block party/celebration, etc. This is
your opportunity to be creative! See the Outline Guide below for more details on the content of the paper:
Outline Guide:
• Introduction
o Name the particular social problem or injustice that your paper will focus on and contextualize this problem.
§ What is its extent in the U.S. and globally?
o Why is this something that the public should be aware of and involved in challenging?
o Briefly preview the content of the paper.
• Body Section 1 – Describe your organization.
o When was it founded?
o What event(s) led to its foundation?
o Who are the founding members?
o What is its primary mission?
o What major accomplishments has your organization
• Body Section 2 – Describe your event.
o What will it be like?
o How will you spread awareness of the event?
o How will you engage with out-group members and encourage them to attend?
o What are the goals of your event?
o How will you know if those goals have been achieved?
• Body Section 3 – Challenges and opportunities of the event.
o What obstacles or challenges do you foresee with planning this event? How will you address them?
o What challenges may be present during the event itself? How will you address them?
• Conclusion
o Review information about the social problem/injustice and what your organization is doing to address it.
o Review the goals of your event in addressing the social problem.
o Concluding thoughts.
Requirements:
• Papers must be typed, 1” margins, and 12-point Times New Roman or a similar font (if you are unsure how to set
these formatting guidelines in Microsoft Word or Pages, email me.)
• Papers must be between 4-5 pages.
• Papers must be submitted online to D2L by the deadline. I will not accept papers submitted as email attachments.
• Papers must be thoughtfully organized and use full sentences, not bulleted-lists or disjoined paragraphs.
Introduction (10)
Body 1 Describe
the Organization
(25)
Body 2 Describe
the Event (25)
Body 3
Anticipate
Challenges (20)
Conclusion (10)
Formatting &
Organization;
Assignment
Guidelines (10)
Excellent (100-90%)
The social problem is specifically
named, and its extent is thoroughly
described; rationale for social change is
arresting and compelling; content is
thoroughly and intriguingly previewed.
Very Good (89-80%)
The social problem is named and
described; its extent is described in
detail; rationale for social change is
persuasively described; content is
previewed.
Good (79-70%)
The social problem is named, and
its extent is described; rationale
for social change is described;
content is previewed.
Needs Improvement (69-60%)
Mention of the social problem
and its extent; rationale is not
persuasive or compelling;
content is previewed.
Severely Lacking (< 59%)
No intentional introduction; one
or more components is missing
Organization is described in vivid and
memorable detail, including history,
events, founding members, and
accomplishments. The reader is left with
few questions and enough information
to appreciate the proposed event.
Organization is described in memorable
detail, including history, events,
members, and accomplishments. The
reader may have some questions, but
knowledge is sufficient to understand the
proposed event.
Organization is described in
minimal detail, just enough to
appreciate the proposed event,
but more detail would make the
event more compelling.
Details about the organization
are omitted, affecting the
persuasiveness or effectiveness
of the proposed event.
Major omissions about the
organization; details are
inaccurate.
Event is described in vivid and
memorable detail, including what the
event is, recruitment and promotion,
goals, and intergroup contact.
Obstacles and challenges, as well as
solutions or coping mechanisms, are
anticipated for both the planning
process and event itself. Plans indicate
the author has a strong understanding
of the social issue, attitudes and
perceptions toward it, and its
challenges.
The social problem is reviewed, and the
organization is positioned as a
compelling and necessary response;
goals of the event in addressing the
social problem are reviewed and
solidified in detail; compelling and
memorable closing statement.
Formatting follows guidelines; Paper is
clearly and effectively organized; word
count and/or length requirements are
met, and the content is still concise,
relevant, and clear (i.e., no padding or
unnecessary sections to fill pages)
Event is described in memorable detail,
including what the event is, recruitment
and promotion, goals, and intergroup
contact.
Obstacles and challenges are anticipated
for both the planning process and event
itself; solutions may need more detail.
Plans indicate the author understands
the social issue, attitudes and
perceptions toward it, and its challenges.
Event is described, including what
the event is, recruitment and
promotion, goals, and intergroup
contact.
Obstacles and challenges are
named and described, as well as
solutions to address them in
planning and the event stages.
Event is passingly described,
but details about recruitment
and promotion, goals, and/or
intergroup contact are omitted
Obstacles and challenges are
vague, as well as the solutions
that could address them.
Major omissions about the
event.
The social problem is reviewed, and the
role of the organization is strongly
reinforced; goals of the event are
reviewed in detail; memorable closing
statement.
The social problem and its extent
are reviewed; goals of the event
are reviewed; closing statement is
included.
Major errors with conclusion or
content missing.
No intentional conclusion; one
or more components is missing
Formatting mostly follows guidelines, but
has minor errors (typos, font, spacing,
etc.); Paper is organized; word count
and/or length requirements are met, but
the content could be more concise,
relevant, and/or clear (i.e., some padding
or unnecessary sections to fill pages)
Formatting mostly follows
guidelines, but has major errors
(typos, font, spacing, etc.);
Organization is ineffective or
disjointed; word count and/or
length requirements are not met;
OR over-reliance on padding or
unnecessary sections to fill pages
Formatting does not follow
guidelines and has major errors;
Paper is unorganized to the
point of interfering with
understanding; content is
irrelevant to writing prompts;
word count and/or length not
met
Formatting does not follow
guidelines or has egregious
errors; Paper is extremely
unorganized and cannot be
understood; content is irrelevant
to writing prompts and/or
inappropriate; word count
and/or length not met
Total: _______ / 100; _______ %
Comments:
No major challenges or
obstacles or solutions are
discussed.
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