Field Research Project
Off year election 2015
Purpose of assignment: To give you firsthand experience with how citizens vote and participate in the political system so that you gain a greater sense of politics at the local level and so you get a sense of political efficacy.
Part ONE: Get out there and do something.You must spend 5 hours in the field seeing how government and politics work here in Kitsap County and get signatures from an official attesting you were there. You may choose events from the following list, or you may do something on your own if you clear it with me first. You must attend at least 2 events. Do not forget to ask, at a time when you won’t interrupt proceedings, for a signature to verify you were there. Use this as an opportunity to interact with the people there, if possible. If you have to leave early (which I hope you won’t) DO NOT leave at a time that would in anyway appear disrespectful or would interrupt the proceedings.
Part one OPTIONS
Attend a monthly meeting of one of the political parties: see the events calendars on the party’s website.
Republicans generally meet on the 1st Monday see
The Democrats generally meet on the 3rd Monday at Fairgrounds Events Center at 7:00 pm see
Help candidates or the parties campaign. The parties will have information for you as to how to do this.
Attend a meeting of the Kitsap Patriots: General meetings are usually held on the last Monday of each month at the Silverdale Beach Hotel at 7:00. See
Attend a school board meeting –CKSD Board meetings are normally the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:30 at Jenne-Wright—see the schedule at
Attend a trial or hearing at the courthouse in Port Orchard: see schedule at (but you will need to click on “today’s calendar” on the day you want to go—you can get a sense of what the week holds by looking at the weekly calendar). Call first (337-7140) to check that there will be something to see and to ask if there are any procedures you need to follow on arrival.. Remember: you must remove hats before entering the courtrooms, turn off cellular devices, and refraining from bringing food or chewing gum, etc.
Requirements for Part ONE ”get out there and do something”
Signatures: Make sure and attain a signature and phone number from someone conducting the meeting to attest that you were there. Use the form on the reverse. 60 points possible: weighted as a test/essay.
Reflections paper: Write a brief paper (1.5 to 2 pages double spaced) describing what you saw and what you think of it and how your experience illustrates concepts that we have learned in class so far (“connections” are the biggest thing I am looking for). 60 points possible., weighted as a test/essay.
Due Date for Part ONE: Signatures and Reflections paper:Friday, December 4th: Note it is due this day and will go into your grade as a 0 if you don’t turn it in. However, if some of you are especially pressed with band or sports or . . . and you talk to me IN ADVANCE, I would be willing to work out a due date that will accommodate your “whatever it is” events—as long as it is first semester and with the condition that the grade will remain a 0 until you do turn it in.
Part TWO: Your Vote
Get ahold of the voter’s pamphlets or a ballot for your home address (note you will need to save 2 voters pamphlets: one from the state offices and one for Kitsap county. You will also need to determine your district for certain offices—you do not need to vote in all of them).
Read through the voter’s pamphlet.
(a)Write down every office and initiative that you would vote for, given the district your home is in
(b)Identify the person for whom you would vote or yes/no for an initiative
(c) Provide a brief explanation for why you would vote for each person and why yes/no on each initiative (one sentence or several words is fine
Due Date for Part TWO: Monday November 2nd (no late work accepted on this one)
Signatures: note: you should fill in the blanks and you must politely explain what it is you need and why you need it to the appropriate person at a time that won’t interrupt proceedings.
Event One:
______(student’s name) attended ______
(event) on ______(date) for ______hour(s). S/he was respectful and attentive.
______Signature
______Name
______Phone number in case Ms. Fisher, my teacher needs to contact you.
Event Two:
______(student’s name) attended ______
(event) on ______(date) for ______hour(s). S/he was respectful and attentive.
______Signature
______Name
______Phone number in case Ms. Fisher, my teacher needs to contact you.
Event Three:
______(student’s name) attended ______
(event) on ______(date) for ______hour(s). S/he was respectful and attentive.
______Signature
______Name
______Phone number in case Ms. Fisher, my teacher needs to contact you.
Total hours: ______
Grading scale for hours (paper and voting is a separate grade)
5 hours, minimum 2 events: 60/60
4.5 hours, minimum 2 events: 54/60
4 hours minimum 2 events: 48/60
3.5 hours: minimum 2 events: 42/60
3 hours: 1 or 2 events: 36/60
2.5 hours: 1 or 2 events: 30/60