Small Deed Big ImpACT of Compassion Project

Learning Outcomes

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  Define empathy and compassion 

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  Develop understanding of topic related to an experience of suffering, difficulty, or challenge

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  Critically examine research, theory, and practice related to empathy and compassion

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  Practice writing a literature review

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  Practice interviewing as a qualitative research method 

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  Develop skills in communicating empathically and compassionately  

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  Practice critical self-reflexivity in relation to one’s identities when it comes to communicating empathy and compassion 

Project Information

• Instructions

  See Appendix A for the full assignment description, as well as Appendices B-E for supplemental materials. Generally, the assignment includes students following the below steps over the course of a quarter or semester: 

  1. Identify Someone (or a Group) Who is Suffering. Choose a person or a group who is experiencing some sort of suffering, life challenge, difficulty, or set-back (e.g., illness or disease, medical treatment, loss of a loved one, food or housing insecurity, addiction, divorce, deportation, deployment, single parenting, caring for an aging parent or spouse).  
  2. Research the Experience of the Person/Group who is Suffering. Identify quality sources (e.g., academic articles or book chapters, websites, news articles, blogs, podcasts, documentaries) that will inform your project and provide a detailed account of multiple people who experience the type of suffering experienced by your person or group.  
  3. Interview the Person or Someone Familiar with the Challenge. Interview the person for whom you plan to do the compassionate act, someone who has gone through the experience before, someone who has expertise in the challenge, or someone else who has insight about what it feels like to go through what your identified person or group is experiencing. (See the following Appendices: Appendix B: Interview Invitation, Appendix C: Interview Opening Statement, Appendix D: Interview Questions)  
  4. Small Deed Big ImpAct of Compassion Proposal Mind Map Presentation. Before handing in your proposal paper (described below), you will make a mind map to outline your proposal. You will present it to the class to get feedback.
  5. Small Deed Big ImpAct of Compassion Proposal Paper. You will write a 6-8 paged double-spaced paper. In the paper you will review the research you did on the experience of suffering; explain how you will engage reflexivity as you carry out your project; engage in the practice of “dual-perspective empathizing;” detail your proposed plan of action, including a timeline, and how it qualifies as compassion according to your learning.  
  6. Carry Out Your Small Deed Big ImpAct of Compassion (once approved). As a starting point, here are some ideas for acts of compassion that previous students have carried out: making artwork or a craft that showcases your empathy (e.g., scrapbook with photos and messages from loved ones, tie-dyed head scarves for person going through cancer treatment, crocheted blanket), making a video of photos that captures how much the person is celebrated, launching a GoFundMe campaign, organizing community members to make Halloween goody bags for kids experiencing housing insecurity, running errands for someone who cannot get out because they are immunocompromised, doing yard cleanup or household chores for a widowed neighbor, or working with an organization that is in need of volunteers.  
  7. Present Your Small Deed Big ImpAct of Compassion to the Class. You will give a short presentation of your project on the last day of class that includes an overview of what you did, your person’s response to your act, and meaningful lessons you learned about empathy and compassion. 
  8. Small Deed Big ImpAct of Compassion Project Reflection. As part of your final course reflection paper, you will reflect on what you learned and apply course content related to your act of compassion.  
• Appendices

  Appendix A: Full Assignment Description 

  Appendix B: Interview Invitation 

  Appendix C: Interview Opening Statements

  Appendix D: Interview Questions

Author(s):

Erin K. Willer, Ph.D. 

Director of Faculty Innovation, 4D Experience 

Professor, Communication Studies 

University of Denver