Altruism is the ability and willingness to help others. When a student develops a spirit of cooperation, empathy and generosity, these qualities enhance every lesson learned in the classroom and beyond. Altruism is often taught as part of philosophy, religion or psychology classes, although it can fit with many different subjects. Altruism activities not only help students learn more about the concept, but also experience altruism themselves.

Assignment Instructions: Consider the different kinds of needs people might have, such as food, shelter, money, education, friendship or transportation. Compile a list of these needs and place them into categories, such as “material needs” and “emotional needs.” Once you have identified these needs, discuss whether or not these needs are being met for different members of society. For example, people from low-income areas may not have access to education.

After you have become more aware of needs in society, plan an altruistic project. For example; volunteering at a homeless shelter or holding a fundraiser for a school in a poorer area. Explain how this project can improve society and make an impact on people’s lives.

Assignment Requirements: APA format is required.Page 1 (title page), Page 2 (list of needs), Page 3 (altruistic project plan), and Page 4 (reference page).

Note: References and citations (in-text) are required to be in American Psychological Association (APA) format. Remember user resources located in the Plagiarism Information & APA Format Examples section for guidance.

PLEASE DO NOT COPY AND PASTE INFORMATION FROM SOURCES, THAT IS PLAGIARISM. PARAPHRASE OR SUMMARIZE INFORMATION. IF USING TURNITIN TO CHECK PLAGIARISM, BE SURE PERCENTAGE IS UNDER 20%.

Altruism Project Rubric (100 Points Total)

CriteriaExcellentGoodSatisfactoryNeeds ImprovementPointsIdentification & Categorization of Needs (25 pts)2225 pts: Comprehensive list of needs; clearly organized into accurate categories; strong awareness of societal disparities.1821 pts: Several relevant needs identified; categories mostly clear; some discussion of disparities.1417 pts: Basic needs listed; limited categorization; minimal explanation.013 pts: Few needs identified; unclear or no categories; lacks analysis./25Societal Analysis (20 pts)1820 pts: Strong critical analysis of unmet needs across different populations; relevant real-world examples.1417 pts: Adequate discussion; some examples included.1013 pts: Basic explanation; limited real-world connection.09 pts: Minimal or unclear analysis./20Altruistic Project Plan (30 pts)2730 pts: Detailed, realistic project; clear target population; strong explanation of measurable societal impact.2226 pts: Clear project idea; impact explained but lacks depth.1721 pts: Project underdeveloped; limited explanation of impact.016 pts: Unclear or unrealistic project; no clear impact discussion./30Application of Altruism Concepts (15 pts)1315 pts: Strong connection to empathy, cooperation, generosity, and psychological principles.1012 pts: General understanding of altruism; some course connection.79 pts: Limited connection to course concepts.06 pts: Minimal or inaccurate understanding of altruism./15APA Format & Assignment Requirements (10 pts)910 pts: Correct APA format; includes title page, required content pages, and reference page; minimal errors.78 pts: Minor APA errors; all required components present.46 pts: Multiple APA errors; one required component missing.03 pts: Major formatting issues; missing required sections./10