In order to align her Early American Survey literature course with her Jesuit college's educational mission, "Education for the common good of the global human community," Margaret Davis designed a learning environment that combined traditional academic goals with goals relating to civic engagement and social justice, requiring a service learning component. In addition to the expected goals related to content, critical thinking, and communication, two course objectives call for students to enlarge their understanding of what it means to be "American" and to recognize their own citizenship role in relation to the wider community of Americans. Toward that end, four more goals anticipate student achievement related to a service learning project: (1) Students will hear and understand voices outside the mainstream of middle class America; (2) Students will develop sensitivity to the needs of those who struggle to find their identity; (3) Students will understand their service as a contribution to the common good; and (4) Students will learn more about themselves in relation to the wider community. The path to accomplishing these goals begins by introducing students to a working definition of service learning as a widely practiced form of experience-based education rounded out by community service.