"Special Interest Group Comparison" Project

BACKGROUND: Students will conduct basic research into a number of different Special Interest Groups and will discover the missions of these groups, as well as the LEFT/RIGHT political alignment of the groups.

PROCEDURE: for a job at your agency.

  1. Go to the following website and scroll down to “Independent Agencies”:http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/fedgov.html. Choose an agency to research. Click on the link for that agency.
    NO TWO STUDENTS CAN DO THE SAME AGENCY.
  2. Research the agency. What is their mission? What is their role? What do they do? Take a few notes on the most important aspects of your agency for inclusion into your flyer.
  3. Create an 8 1/2 x 11 inch flyer. Your flyer must include the following:
    • A "hook" that will draw the interest of potential employees, a catchy line, phrase or question regarding work at your agency.
    • Review what the agency is, what it does and the mission of the agency.
    • Discuss the qualifications for employment at your agency, there must be at least THREE. These can be factual or funny or sarcastic, if you wish.
    • Review possible duties at your agency, including at least THREE.
    • Sell potential employees on your agency with neat, organized writing.
    • Include graphics and pictures (at least ONE) that are appropriate to your agency.
  4. You can create your flyer using any medium, although use of a Graphics program (such as Fireworks or Photoshop) is encouraged. You can use Microsoft Word or Publisher if you wish. As a last resort, you can use markers and paper.
  5. THE AGENCIES:
    Broadcasting Board of Governors
    Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): CJ, Jeremy
    Corporation for National & Community Service
    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Conner, Jacob
    Farm Credit Administration (FCA) Blake, Jared
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
    Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Lucius
    Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)
    General Services Administration (GSA)
    Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Krystal
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Mariah
    National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
    National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)
    National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Isaac, Kevin
    National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
    National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK)
    National Science Foundation (NSF)- Alejandra
    Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
    Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
    Peace Corps Kayla G., Emylee
    Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
    Selective Service System (SSS)
    Small Business Administration (SBA) Nathan, Tofer
    Social Security Administration (SSA) Emily A.
    Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Erin
    Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
    United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
    United States Office of Government Ethics (OGE)
    United States Postal Service (USPS) James, Megan
    United States Trade and Development Agency
    Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)
    American Battle Monuments Commission- Nancy
    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
    Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
    Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Coreen
    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Joe
    Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Lisa
    Federal Election Commission (FEC)
    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
    Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC)
    Federal Maritime Commission
    Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC)
    Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB)
    Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    International Boundary & Water Commission
    Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
    National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)
    National Council on Disability: Arlene
    National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Natasha, Chris
    National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
    National Mediation Board (NMB)
    National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
    Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Emily L.
    Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB) Andy
    Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission (OSHRC)
    Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC)
    Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Lane
    Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
    United States International Trade Commission (USITC) Keaton

GRADING: This is a meant to be a quick, easy project and it will be worth 50 points for completion.  Students will be graded on:

  1. The quality of the information that they gather on their Agency (30 points),
  2. The neatness and graphic appeal of the Flyer (20 points)

Students will have some in-class time for working on this project, but most of the project will need to be completed outside the classroom.