Getting Started

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    Partners in Making Your Case
    Module 1 Getting Started-
    Unit 1 Getting Started
    Unit 2 How to Navigate the Course
    Unit 3 Minimum System Requirements
    Unit 4 Staying Safe on the Internet
    Unit 5 Tips for Success
    Unit 6 What You'll Learn in the Course
    Unit 7 Overview of Seven Modules
    Unit 8 Lessons, Assignments and Exercises
    Unit 9 Learning From Others
    Unit 10 Extra Help Along the Way
    Unit 11 Course Exams
    Unit 12 Certificate of Completion
    Module 2 Changing the System+
    Unit 1 Module 2: Changing the System
    Unit 2 Why is Advocacy Important?
    Unit 3 Exercise: Ed Roberts, Disability Rights Activist
    Unit 4 Exercise: Ed Roberts, Disability Rights Activist - Answer Key
    Unit 5 What Makes a Successful Advocate?
    Unit 6 Exercise: Do I Have What It Takes To Be A Good Advocate?
    Unit 7 Advocacy Etiquette
    Unit 8 What is Public Policy?
    Unit 9 Branches of Government
    Unit 10 Levels of Government
    Unit 11 Exercise: Match the Issue With the Right Level of Government
    Unit 12 How Public Policy is Made
    Unit 13 How a Bill Becomes Federal Law
    Unit 14 Exercise: How Laws Are Made
    Unit 15 Exercise: How Laws Are Made - Answer Key
    Unit 16 Tracking a Bill's Progress
    Unit 17 Building Ongoing Relationships
    Unit 18 Who Makes Public Policy?
    Unit 19 Assignment: Who Can Help?
    Unit 20 Pulling It All Together
    Unit 21 Exam #1
    Unit 22 Exam #1: Answer Key
    Module 3 Building Your Case+
    Unit 1 Building Your Case
    Unit 2 The Advocacy Process
    Unit 3 What's Your Issue?
    Unit 4 Assignment: Identify Your Issue
    Unit 5 What's Your Story?
    Unit 6 Exercise: What Makes This Story Effective?
    Unit 7 Choosing a Specific Situation
    Unit 8 What Makes a Good Story?
    Unit 9 What's Your Request for Action?
    Unit 10 Exercise: What's in a Good Story and Request?
    Unit 11 Exercise: What's in a Good Story and Request? - Answer Key
    Unit 12 Assignment: Write Your Story and Request for Action
    Unit 13 Get the Facts
    Unit 14 Strength in Numbers
    Unit 15 Who Can Help Make It Happen?
    Unit 16 Assignment: Wrapping Up Your Case
    Unit 17 Pulling It All Together
    Unit 18 Exam #2
    Unit 19 Exam #2: Answer Key
    Module 4 Making Your Case In Writing+
    Unit 1 Making Your Case In Writing
    Unit 2 Why Communicate with Policymakers?
    Unit 3 The Wide, Wide World of the Internet
    Unit 4 Choose Your Communications Approach
    Unit 5 Common Communications Tactics
    Unit 6 Why Put It In Writing?
    Unit 7 Seven Critical Elements
    Unit 8 Exercise: Putting Together a Great Letter
    Unit 9 Exercise: Putting Together a Great Letter - Answer Key
    Unit 10 Writing Effective E-Mails
    Unit 11 Think Twice About Sending Form Letters or E-Mails
    Unit 12 Letter? E-Mail? Fax? You Choose!
    Unit 13 Assignment: Write a Letter or E-Mail
    Unit 14 Following Up
    Unit 15 Letters to the Editor
    Unit 16 What is Social Media?
    Unit 17 Common Social Media Tactics
    Unit 18 Social Networking Sites
    Unit 19 Blogs and Microblogs
    Unit 20 YouTube and Video Sharing Sites
    Unit 21 Exercise: The Power of Social Media
    Unit 22 Exercise: Matching Messages With the Right Tool
    Unit 23 Exercise: Matching Messages With the Right Tool - Answer Key
    Unit 24 Assignment: How I'll Communicate In Writing
    Unit 25 Putting It All Together
    Unit 26 Exam #3
    Unit 27 Exam #3: Answer Key
    Module 5 Making Your Case In Person+
    Unit 1 Making Your Case In Person
    Unit 2 Communicating In Person
    Unit 3 Meeting Formats
    Unit 4 Meeting With Public Officials: Step 1 - Getting the Appointment
    Unit 5 Exercise: What Did Heather Do Right?
    Unit 6 Exercise: What Did Heather Do Right? - Answer Key
    Unit 7 Step 2: Do Your Homework
    Unit 8 Step 3: Practice, Practice!
    Unit 9 Step 4: Put It In Writing
    Unit 10 Step 5: Making the Meeting Count
    Unit 11 Step 6: Following Up on the Meeting
    Unit 12 Benefits of Giving Testimony
    Unit 13 What Makes Testimony Effective?
    Unit 14 Writing Your Testimony
    Unit 15 Getting Ready to Testify
    Unit 16 Responding to Questions from Committee Members
    Unit 17 Following Up on Your Testimony
    Unit 18 Exercise: Watch and Learn
    Unit 19 Assignment: How Will I Communicate In Person?
    Unit 20 SWOT Analysis
    Unit 21 Identifying Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
    Unit 22 Identifying External Opportunities and Threats
    Unit 23 Assignment: My SWOT Analysis
    Unit 24 Creating a Detailed Plan
    Unit 25 Assignment: Create Your Action Plan
    Unit 26 Creating a Timeline
    Unit 27 Assignment: Add Your Timeline
    Unit 28 Pulling It All Together
    Unit 29 Exam #4
    Unit 30 Exam #4: Answer Key
    Module 6 Keeping It Going+
    Unit 1 Keeping It Going
    Unit 2 Why Organize?
    Unit 3 Start With a Plan
    Unit 4 Building the Foundation
    Unit 5 Tips for Success
    Unit 6 Using Organizing Tactics
    Unit 7 Common Organizing Tactics
    Unit 8 Tactic #1: Coalitions
    Unit 9 Tactic #2: Media
    Unit 10 Tactic #3: Web Sites
    Unit 11 Exercise: Learning From Others
    Unit 12 Exercise: Learning From Others - Answer Key
    Unit 13 Tactic #4: Rallies and Demonstrations
    Unit 14 Tactic #5: Petitions
    Unit 15 Tactic #6: Communications
    Unit 16 Tactic #7: Public Hearings
    Unit 17 Tactic #8: Political Involvement
    Unit 18 Campaign Involvement
    Unit 19 Get Out and Vote!
    Unit 20 Assignment: Are You Ready to Organize?
    Unit 21 Pulling It All Together
    Unit 22 Exam #5
    Unit 23 Exam #5: Answer Key
    Module 7 Conclusion+
    Unit 1 Module 7: Conclusion
    Unit 2 Partners in Making Your Case Feedback
    screen1-480x480 The app, "Telling Your Story," helps you create and practice your personal story with tips on how to best present yourself, to help inform and educate your elected public officials about issues that are important to you.

    iPad version
    iPhone version
    Android tablet version - Google Play
    Android phone version - Google Play

    View a print version of each of the screens for the "Telling our Story" app >>

    For those who cannot use this app, here is a basic script for any communication with a public official >>
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