Branches of Government

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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

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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