Students will be required to complete a community assessment paper in APA style, which
focuses on an issue that impacts individuals as well as the community as a whole. This is
not an opinion paper, but must be based on factual information relevant to the issue chosen. It
may include crime statistics, demographic information, victimization reports, agency needs
assessment, etc. The purpose is to secure sufficient evidence to convince an uninformed
individual that the issue exists. Ensure that the issue is manageable and it is within the
student’s ability to develop a community plan of action, that could be implemented during the
8 weeks of this class. The purpose of the paper is not to “change the world” but only impact
one small corner of it. The paper must be unbiased and assess the issue from all viewpoints,
including those opinions that agree and disagree with the student’s perception. It is possible
that the student may determine that their views are inaccurate, biased, or misinformed. If this
occurs, then the student should not change their topic, but rather the plan will focus on
educating others on what they have learned, which is also community change.
Paper 2 is extended of one
Resource Evaluation
Paper
Students will complete a comprehensive assessment of the resources available in the
community that are directly related to their issue. These resources may include, but are not
limited to financial, faith based, governmental, volunteer organizations, philanthropic, power
players, etc. The conclusion of the evaluation is an assessment by the student these resources
ie deficit or Surplus. The student may provide support for their assessment from an outside
sources, but cannot rely upon this as their assessment.
Sample Solution
