Science and the Election

Science and the Election

Being that my main goal is to have you become more scientifically literate than you were when you came in here. So I’m going to have you do this little project in pairs:

Directions:

1. Working in pairs, you will research the positions of each presidential candidate on the following four issues:

A) Climate change

B) Natural resources management (and population growth)

C) Two of the below issues (each partner picks one).

■ Stem cells

■ Abortion

■ Genetic engineering

■ The right to genetic privacy

■ Cloning

■ Climate change

■ Farming, timber, fishing, endangered species

■ Oil policy

■ Alternative energy

■ Evolution

2. For each issue:

A) Do you feel this issue's policy should be changed from the last administration through the use of scientific data and evidence?

B) How should this be changed? Give details on Laws, policy, investment etc

C) Provide at least two sources of evidence, and statistics, data to support your point of view.

D) Find out how the presidential candidates feel about the issues that are important to you.

E) Which candidates agree with your position? State the positions of these candidates.

F) Which candidates disagree with your position? State the positions of these candidates.

G) “Endorse” a candidate based on the science in the issues and give your reasoning.

H) Does your endorsement change based on other positions that the candidates have? If so, how

I) What is your conclusion on the importance of scientific reasoning in a presidential candidate?

3. Use websites for scientific data about your issues. Evaluate the bias of each website on a scale of 1-10 and provide a brief statement why you are rating each site the way that you do. Include all sites used and your bias ratings in a works cited list (MLA or APA format)

4. Use the sites below to research candidate's opinions on scientific issues. Include these sites in a separate section of your works cited list, along with a bias rating as described above:

http://www.procon.org

http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/what-the-candidates-believe/

http://presidential-candidates.insidegov.com/

2016 Election Issues:

Climate Change

http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/08/11/429781692/where-presidential-candidates-stand-on-climate-change

Health Care

https://ballotpedia.org/2016_presidential_candidates_on_healthcare

New York Times: climate change, abortion

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/candidates-on-the-issues.html?ref=politics&_r=0

Evolution:

http://reason.com/tags/election-2016

Presidential Candidates Views on Climate Change

http://www.lcv.org/media/2016-climate-guide.html

All issues

http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm

http://www.pollingreport.com/

Notes:

1. I am not endorsing any candidate, candidate positions, or website. I am simply providing you with references.

2. Feel free to use any other relevant websites that you can find.

3. Don’t ask me how long it has to be, take pride in your work.