PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2008 PROJECT—GOV K
PART I: DEBATE ANALYSIS
Presidential Debates: September 26, October 7, October 15
Vice-Pres. Debate: October 2
You are required to watch 2 of the 4 debates. Answer the following questions for each debate.
1. Which debate did you watch?
2. What were your expectations of the debate? Were they met?
3. Before watching the debate, did you have a candidate preference? If so, who? Did it change after watching the debate?
4. Would you like to have seen third party and independent candidates included in the debate? Why or why not?
5. What 3 issues were you hoping the debate would address the most? (List in order from greatest to least.)
6. What did you learn about the candidates or issues that you did not know prior to viewing the debate?
7. What was the style and format of the debate? (ex. Time limits, moderator(s), citizen participants, types of questions, etc.)?
8. Did the debate influence your attitudes about the issues or the candidates? If so, how? If no, then why do you think you were not influenced?
9. Were there any issues raised that you considered irrelevant or unimportant? Such as…
10. Being objective, even if you have a candidate preference, who do you believe “won” the debate tonight, and why? Who had better style? Who had better substance?
11. Did you watch the debate LIVE, or later during re-air, or off the internet?
If you did not watch the debate live, did you hear any discussion, news reports, or analysis regarding the debate? If so, how do you think this might have influenced your opinion going into the debate?
12. Did you watch any of the post-debate analysis (spin-doctors/talking-heads)? If yes, did they bring out any points you did not catch yourself? Such as…
13. If you watched the vice-presidential debate, answer the following question: Do you think vice-presidential debates are useful? Why or why not?
Here are some websites to watch debates:
MySpace was pretty active to support ‘08 electoral process and now they are launching new site - MyDebates.org. Websitewill offer live streaming video and real time polling for MySpace users starting from debate day one which is on September 26.
Te see presidential debates live you will nee to download application which will be available before the first presidential debate so stay tuned.
Additionally, ‘MyDebates.org’ will feature high-quality video streaming and as the candidates are speaking, “issue icons” will light up as candidates discuss specific main topics. Users will be polled periodically throughout the debates with short questions with multiple choice answers (or iconic responses, e.g. thumbs-up/ down). This format will reduce distraction while eliciting specific and valuable feedback.
Immediately following each debate, ‘MyDebates.org’ will house videos of the debates in their entirety, available for viewing at any time. Videos will be “bookmarked” to allow users to easily jump to their important issues, and will be searchable and tagged by event, candidate, issues, and questions asked of the candidates. Users can also “share,” “comment” and “rate” links in the Video Clip Player. MySpaceTV will host the debate clips which will be accessible to anyone on the Internet.
Try: www.cnn.com
Try: www.c-span.org
PART ii: Presidential Campaign Issue Analysis paper
1. Select one of these topics from the 2008 presidential campaign.
· Iraq and Afghanistan
· Taxes
· The current financial crisis
· Energy
· Health Care
· Illegal Immigration
2. Write a 2-3 page paper analyzing your issue (12 font.) Your analysis must utilize at least three sources of information OTHER THAN each candidate’s website and Wikipedia. Utilize major newspapers like The New York Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. National magazines like Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, The National Review and The New Republic. All of these can be accessed online.
3. Your paper should be written in the following format:
a. An explanation of the major facts and questions relating to your issue.
b. An explanation of each candidate’s views on this issue. This should include at least three quotes from each candidate on this issue.
c. Your analysis of the issue. In other words, what do you think are the most important questions relating to this issue and what do you think of EACH candidate’s views. Be sure to explain why you feel that way. You may include other quotes to help defend your position.
4. Works Cited and citing sources within your paper :
a. In-text documentation (parenthetical documentation—MLA style)
· Site any information that you got from a source, including quotes.
b. Works Cited (not a Bibliography)
· List only those sources that you actually cite in the paper.
· Sources must be in correct form.
c. Avoid Plagiarism & Copyright Violations
- Need help with this? Go to: http://cyfair.lonestar.edu/29194/
5. You will be graded based on the following criteria:
· The quality of your writing
· The depth of your understanding of the issue
· The depth of your analysis of the issue
· Following instructions including documentation
PART III: STATE POLL TRACKING & ELECTORAL COLLEGE PREDICTION
Use major news and polling organizations to obtain state polling data in the presidential race. Select 4 battleground states from the following list and follow the polling there over a 3 week period. Create a line or bar graph to show your tracking for the states your selected, and include the dates of the polling information over your time period.
Battleground States in 2008:
Nevada Colorado Michigan Ohio Pennsylvania Virginia
Florida Wisconsin Minnesota New Hampshire
Polling information sites for individual states:
http://www.pollster.com/ (wonderful site!!!)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/
http://www.surveyusa.com/electionpolls.aspx
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/map/polling/
Then complete an Electoral College Prediction Map at: www.270towin.com or http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/index.html
At 270towin, on the tabs at the top, you can use the “States” tab to gain more information. Under the map it says, “Click a starting view.” Select “All Neutral” and create your own prediction map. Or, if you prefer to use the CNN site, to the left of the map, click on “Blank Slate” and create your own prediction map Print out your map on a COLOR printer, or see your teacher’s website for a blank Electoral College map to color yourself.
Write an analysis explaining your tracking polls graph (trends noticed, reason for significant gains or loses.) Also, explain why you think your EC prediction map will be correct. To see an example of state by state analysis for the EC, see Larry Saboto’s Crystal Ball at http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/president/electoratemap.php But don’t copy it! J
ORDER FOR PROJECT TURN-IN:
1. Cover Page
2. Debate Questions for 2 debates
3. Issue Analysis Paper & Works Cited
4. Battleground Tracking Poll Graph
5. Electoral College Prediction Map
6. Analysis for Graph and Map
***Please do not place in sheet protectors.