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Pay It Forward Assignment Much has been written in recent years about the use of feature films in teaching social and ecological systems. Most of those who recommend using feature films to teach the various systems justify this technique as a form of experiential learning.

These films help to bridge the gap between the abstract concepts of sociologists and the concrete realities of the social world. This film contains a vast repertoire of other people's experiences and perspectives; consequently, a number of interpretive sociologists specifically argue that films of this nature promote verstehen, enabling students to participate vicariously in diverse interactions and situations. So, in order to provide this experience in this course, I ask that you borrow or rent the movie, Pay It Forward, and then complete the assignment.

In connection with this movie ( and as a reminder from the mini lecture), it is useful to use a social systems framework for understanding our communities. When we do this we view a community as a social system composed of a number of subsystems (for example, neighborhoods or businesses or agencies existing in the same physical space and that are all linked together by some common goals).

In addition, human beings are individual (not social) systems in their own right, but are also subsystems of their communities. We know from our experience that a community can further the growth and development of an individual or family, or it can limit or even destroy that subsystem's progress. As "make a difference persons" we continually shift back and forth between attention to individuals, subsystems, and to the larger system (community or state, etc) of which they are a part.

This ability to look at multi levels sequentially and/or simultaneously is a hallmark of community change efforts. Now a brief look at "Change Agents". The make a difference person (change agent) is the person who undertakes to change the situation (for example, Trevor in the movie). So the make a difference person may also be the person who identifies a problem or seeks a change opportunity.

A client system (such as an individual, family, group, organization, or community subsystem experiencing a problem or a struggle that is recognized by the make a difference person) may bring the situation to the attention of the "Make a Difference Person." The target system is the one we seek to change, the target of our intervention.

The action system includes all those who assist in bringing about change. After watching this film, I want you to analyze it from: 1) the perspective of the course concepts - and 2) the perspective of a "make a difference person"--and critique the idea of paying it forward.

The course concepts: Identify at least one example from the movie of all 5 concepts. Looking through the lens of a "make a difference person": identify what the "make a difference person" is trying to change Identify the client system identify what/who is the target system and identify the action system.

Include all the others who are instrumental in the idea of pay-it-forward. Critique the Concept of Pay it Forward: Critique the concept of the "pay it forward" idea Could it work in the US? Your community? Your life? What might be the positive experience for the volunteer What might be the negative experience for the volunteer Like our understanding of individuals, our understanding of communities is enhanced when we look at them from different theoretical perspectives.

Each perspective can help us understand what occurs in our communities. Here is something for you to mull over in your minds:

Which of the following theories is most useful in understanding the pay-it-forward situations? Ecological Theory, Social Systems Theory, Human Behavior Theories? ------------------------------ Here is the grading criteria: Summary of the movie - 10 Identification and discussion the "change agent" process - 15 Analysis/application of the 5 course concepts - 15 Discussion of the "Pay It Forward" philosophy - 10 Writing competency - 5 ------------------------------ 5 basic concepts interconnectedness, interrelatedness, interdependence, reciprocity and transactions