The public event paper assignment requires you to go beyond your typical role as a student and step out as an
‘active citizen’ in the public realm. You will attend a ‘public meeting’ of a courtroom event held during this
semester and write a 4-5 page response paper about the meeting/activity that you attended. Your paper should
be proofread, have a title, be double spaced and written in your own words. Papers found to be plagiarized in
part or in full will receive a grade of zero.
Instructions: Attend a ‘public meeting’ of a courtroom or elected or representative government body. You may
also try to see if you can attend a court hearing that would be open to the public for viewing during this
semester. This could be at the United States or federal level, California state level or at a local county or city
level within the State of California. For this semester this activity will need to be virtual as the rules in California
and San Francisco for social distancing prohibit large gatherings. Your best choice is to select a legislative or
commission meeting at the state or local level. The Federal level will offer less opportunity for the public to
directly participate in ways that you should respond to in your paper. You may also choose to attend a City
College Board of Trustees meeting during this semester as well. NOTE - Impeachment proceedings will NOT
count for this assignment!!! Address all of the following in your paper:
Descriptive evaluation:
Describe the meeting or activity that you attended.
What did you see and hear?
Did you participate?
If yes, what did you do or say?
If not, why did you choose to not participate and would you
Personal reflection:
What was your reaction to the meeting/activity?
How did the event apply to you?
Analytical evaluation:
Evaluate whether the meeting/activity that you attended exemplified ‘good governance.’? Why or why not?
In other words, did the manner in which the event was conducted exemplify democratic values?
Consider in your evaluation whether or not your event supported or subverted American democracy. There are
many definitions of good governance and debate over what it entails. Overall, this concept relates to how
public affairs are conducted. Good governance is characterized by participation, transparency, accountability,
rule of law, effectiveness, and equity
Sample Solution