CIV-04 · Testimony that could be read into the record

Write public comment or testimony on a real, currently open matter — a pending bill, a public hearing, or an open comment period — built entirely on sources you can produce on request.

One real, currently open opportunity for public input (a legislative bill in committee accepting public comment, a public hearing with a published agenda, or a federal or state agency's open comment period — — a link to the specific open comment opportunity used, findable via the federal rulemaking portal (https://www.regulations.gov) or the relevant legislature/agency's own public-comment page). The matter's own primary documents (the bill text, the proposed rule, the hearing agenda). A draft of testimony or comment written to that body's actual submission format and length limits, where published.

Writing generic opinion writing that never engages the specific matter's actual text. Making a factual claim about the matter's effects with no source. Ignoring the body's own format/length rules when they are published.

Identification of the specific matter and comment opportunity with a link; testimony/comment draft that cites its own factual claims; a short note on whether and how the student would actually submit it (even if they choose not to submit).

CT: persuasion built on cited fact, not assertion. CR: every factual claim traceable to a real source. CO: peer checks one factual claim in the draft against its cited source. CM: testimony/comment draft. CZ: people affected by the matter, including those the student disagrees with.

Government/civics teacher reviews the draft for factual sourcing before it is considered "done." Standing instruction: reject any claim the student cannot source. School-supervised. Actual submission, if it happens, is a personal choice made with a parent/guardian — not a class requirement.

R1: one matter, one testimony/comment. R2: factual claims sourced. R3: format matches the body's actual submission process where published. R4: at least one likely counterargument acknowledged. R5: testimony readable and persuasive to someone outside the class.

(a) Generic opinion writing that could apply to any bill on the topic. (b) A statistic in the testimony that traces back to nothing.

• Week 1: Matter and comment opportunity selected and confirmed open/real by teacher.
• Week 2: Source documents gathered; factual claims drafted with citations.
• Week 3: Testimony/comment drafted to the body's format; mentor fact-check pass.

Lane A immediately, and a natural finale for this track. No verified credit claim.