Facilitator guide: Advocacy & Action

Timing for a 75-minute class

For 60 minutes, assign the action plan as homework and present next session. For 90 minutes, run full three-minute public comment practice for volunteers.

Minutes	What happens	Format
0-3	Pre-check	Individual
3-10	Step 1: what did these people do first?	Whole class
10-20	Step 2 and the strong-or-weak sort	Pairs
20-30	Step 3: write one theory of change together, then test the Kill Switch Act’s	Whole class
30-42	Step 4 Try it	Pairs
42-50	Step 5 school board scenario	Pairs
50-54	Step 6 quick check	Individual
54-70	Step 7: ARK’s view, then action plans and peer feedback	Individual, then pairs
70-75	Step 8 recap, post-check, and certificate	Whole class

Before you start

• Students choose their own issues. Help them narrow broad issues to one decision-maker and one ask.
• Some issues touch politics. Keep the focus on the method: the ask, the evidence, and the theory of change. Don’t tell students which side to take. The Kill Switch Act has sponsors from both parties, and students can argue for or against it.
• ARK’s view is an opinion, labeled as one. Invite students to argue with it. No grade depends on agreeing.
• If a student’s issue involves harm to a real person, such as fake images, steer the plan toward policy and support systems, never toward naming anyone.

Discussion prompts

Use the deck’s “In or Out?” debate (inside, outside, build, teach) and the “What bugs you?” poll to help students pick issues.

Answer notes

Quick check: 1 B, 2 C, 3 B, 4 C. Pre/post: 1 B, 2 A, 3 B. If learners pick A on quick check question 2, point out that a fact is evidence, not an ask.