ELECTIONS PROJECT
Objective: The purpose of this activity is for the students to use the information that
they have learned in this unit & to have some fun.
Assignment: 1. Each class will need to select 2 candidates for President & Vice-President
and select a name for each party.
2. Each party will form a Platform Committee, Campaign Committee, Media
Committee and Research Committee.
The Platform Committee will be responsible for writing your party
platform with the help of your candidates. The issues that must be addressed are:
· National Security—war against terrorism, Syria, etc.
· The economy
· Immigration
· Medicare & Social Security
· Gun Control
· 2 Issues of your choice
The Campaign Committee will produce:
· 2 bumper stickers
· 1 yard sign
· 2 buttons
· 1 T-shirt
***All of these must include at least 2 of the propaganda
techniques
The Media Committee will produce:
· 1-two minute TV ad
· 1-one minute radio ad
***Both of your ads must contain at least 4 propaganda
techniques
The Research Committee will research your opponent, publish the resume`
of your candidates, help prepare your candidates for the press
conference & debate & help your Campaign & Media Committees
with information about your candidates & your opposition.
I will also approve your candidate profiles or resumes. These will contain educational, family &
career histories. ONLY MATERIALS FROM THESE PROFILES MAY BE
USED!!!!!!!!!! IF you use personal information about the students playing the roles of Presidential & Vice-Presidential candidates, you will receive a grade of ZERO for this project!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All of your materials must be politically advantageous for your party &
candidates. If you decide to be the Nazi party, for example, you receive
zero points for party name. Remember who your audience is!!!!!!!!!!
Assume that you are designing the campaign for your candidates in Texas.
Everything that you do must be designed to get your candidates the most
votes in Texas.
Grades: This activity will count a test grade. Each Committee will receive a grade
for their part of the project. The grade that I give the committee’s
effort will count 60% & the grade the students give each other
will count 40%
***Press conference & debate will be sometime within the next few weeks. The candidates’ grades will be based on these two activities and how well your candidates are prepared to discuss the issues and answer questions . The grades will also include the demeanor and dress and behavior of the candidates. THIS INCLUDES BOTH PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.
You will be graded on whether your materials are aimed at getting votes in
Texas and how appropriate your materials and statements are, so an
inappropriate party name will affect all categories.
Due Dates:
Your platform & candidate resumes are due by Friday March 4
Your TV & radio ads, bumper stickers, yard sign, buttons & T-shirt are
due by Thursday March 10
Press Conference will be Tuesday March 22
Presidential & Vice-Presidential Debates will be Wednesday March 23
5 pts-Party name—see above
30 pts-Platform—must include all topics listed plus two more
chosen by the Platform Committee & the candidates
15 pts-Debate—both Presidential & Vice Presidential Candidates will
participate
15 pts-Press Conference—both Presidential & Vice Presidential Candidates
will participate
20 pts-TV & radio ads—must include correct number of
propaganda techniques
15 pts.-bumper stickers, etc.—also must contain the correct
number of propaganda techniques
Candidate Profile (Research Committee)
You must submit profiles for BOTH your presidential and vice presidential candidates!
Include these details:
· Full Name
· Ethnicity
· Religion
· Previous Occupation(s)
· Last Political Office Held
· Education [What college(s)? Degrees in what field(s)?]
· Personality traits [examples: aggressive debater, independent thinker, charismatic speaker, serious, etc.]
· Age
· Favorite Political Issue
· Home State
· Party Affiliation (this is your made-up party, NOT Republican or Democrat)
· Marital Status [include number of marriages/divorces if applicable]
· Number of children
· Military Service
· Other relevant information [family members in politics/public office, personal health issues, political ambitions/causes of spouse, reported use of illegal substances, major points of family history, etc.]
Press Conference and Debate Tips for
Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates
· Dress for the job you are applying for – you want to impress the American people.
· Be prepared to discuss ANYTHING on your background profile or party platform without stuttering, stalling, or reading robotically from your notes.
· Develop a list of talking points or “sound bites” to get your biggest points across and have them in your notes, ready to recall at any moment.
· Have a list of talking points related to the policies of your opponent and his or her running mate.
· If there are things in your background profile and platform that you think the press or your opponent will attack, have a planned response to those oppositions. Don’t let yourself be caught off-guard.
· Recall any attacks made in radio and tv ads and be prepared to defend yourself.
· Appear to be in control at all times. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you.
· BE PREPARED! You cannot “wing it” and do well. Remember that everything you do needs to be advantageous to your campaign.