What’s Your Opinion?

Television advertising professionals use a device called a storyboard to plan short films such as commercials and political advertising. Assigned groups will use the storyboard worksheet to help plan an issue-based advertisement advocating their viewpoint on a political issue.

  1. Students will be broke into groups of three or four depending on class size. Each group will receive a list of different political issues to base their issue add on. Groups will also receive a storyboard worksheet to begin planning their issue ad.
  1. Each group will select a political issue from the list provided to base their ad on. Alternative topics may also be chosen; the teacher must approve them before your group begins planning their issue ad.

-Drilling for oil off the coast of Florida

-School choice, vouchers

-Gun control (DO NOT USE: In class example)

-Trade with China

-Religion in Public Schools (Emphasis on Prayer)

-Smart Growth initiatives

  1. The group will notify the teacher of the political issue they have selected.
  2. Students will need to search the Internet for at least 4 quality sources regarding information and/or public opinion on their issue.
  3. The teacher will assign the students in each group particular roles to help create their issue ad. (Director, writer, editor, actor, etc.) Although you will be assigned individual roles each student will assist and collaborate with each group member during the entire process.
  1. Using the storyboard worksheet each group will create the script for their issue ad. What will you say in the commercial?
  1. The length of the script must take up a minimum of thirty seconds.
  2. Groups will need to test whether their script meets this test, using a timer provided by teacher.
  3. Using the storyboard worksheet break the script into nine parts and write the words below the appropriate screen provided on the worksheet. Remember the words will explain what is seen in that particular part of the ad, or explain the issue.
  4. Finalize your storyboard worksheet. This must be completed neatly, with black pen or colored markers, and with the script printed clearly.
  5. Submit your finalized storyboard worksheet to your teacher for final approval. WARNING: You must have your teacher’s final approval to continue with the final phases of the project.
  1. Once your storyboard has been finalized you will begin filming your issue advertisement.
  1. This is where your assigned roles will come in handy. It is everyone’s job in the group that each person is taking care of their assigned role during the filming of their issue ad.
  2. Feel free to create any costumes, props or backgrounds you’ll need for your video.
  3. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.
  4. Film and edit your video. (To be done before or after school only!)
  1. On a separate sheet of paper, create a 1 page written summary of your issue ad that includes:
  1. The names of the members of your group and their assigned roles.
  2. Information about the issue
  3. Your position/viewpoint
  4. The final timing of your ad
  1. Almost Done!
  1. Show your issue ad to the class.
  2. Make sure to inform the class what political issue your ad focused.
  3. Each class member will need to write on a blank sheet of notebook paper at least 4 reasons why this ad reaffirmed the opinion they already had on the issue or swayed their opinion to the other side.
  1. Done!
  1. Attached your summary, printed out sources and your notebook paper explaining how the ad affected your opinion to your finalized storyboard worksheet. Submit both of these items after the class has viewed your film.

Storyboard Worksheet

Names of Group Members: ______

Political Issue: ______

Directions: Use the storyboard layout below to plan a short 30- 60-second ad for a political issue. Your script for the commercial must be written before you break parts. The panels (television screens) will be where you put the visual information you plan on showing. The script that will be spoken should be placed below the screen.

Rubric: Issue Ad Student Name: ______

CATEGORY / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2
Research / Students include 4 or more high-quality sources to support their stance on the chosen political issue or information on the issue. / Students include 3 or more high-quality sources to support their stance on the chosen political issue or information on the issue. / Students include 2 or more high-quality sources to support their stance on the chosen political issue or information on the issue. / Students include fewer than 2 high-quality sources to support their stance on the chosen political issue or information on the issue.
Storyboard / Information on storyboard is completed neatly and in the correct format. / Information on the storyboard is close to neat and with no format errors. / Information on the storyboard is not very neat and there are consistent formatting errors. / The information on the storyboard is not neat and there are major errors in formatting.
Film / Students create an original, accurate and interesting product that adequately addresses the issue and is between 30-60 seconds long. / Students create an accurate product that adequately addresses the issue and is between 30-60 seconds in length. / Students create an accurate product but it does not adequately address the issue and is between 30-60 seconds in length. / The product is not accurate and is not 30-60 seconds in length.
Opinion / Students identify at least 4 reasonable, insightful possible reasons why the ad supported or changed their opinion. / Students identify at least 3 reasonable, insightful possible reasons why the ad supported or changed their opinion. / Students identify at least 2 reasonable, insightful possible reasons why the ad supported or changed their opinion. / Students identify less than 1 reasonable, insightful possible reasons why the ad supported or changed their opinion.
Final / Research ___/5 / Storyboard___/5 / Film _____/5 / Opinion ____/5