Integrated Studies Project on Political Parties:
Power vs. Powerlessness
 

The Integrated Studies Staff

The following are descriptions of this project as they were presented to the participating students by the Integrated Studies Staff.  Note that all student groups in the 10th grade made and presented a Power Point presentation to their classmates.  Use of our Electronic Classroom/Lab and library for Internet research was also a part of this project.

I General Information
Over the next few weeks in your Integrated Studies classes you will be working in political parties of 12-15 students to support six different presidential and vice-presidential candidates.  During this project you will be required to use Internet/print sources for research of several of the key political issues.  Additionally, you will work with your group to produce a voter's pamphlet, PowerPoint presentation, election-style propaganda and you will prepare for and participate in a debate.

II. Group Roles

1 candidate for President    spokesperson for party, must be on stage during both debates
1 candidate for Vice-President   spokesperson for party, must be on stage during one debate
1 campaign manager makes sure that all assignments   and research complete, assigns work
3-4 science subcommittee members  research debate questions and prepare PowerPoint slides for these science topics:  environment, abortion,  biotechnology
3-4 foreign policy subcommittee members research debate questions and prepare PowerPoint slides for these topics:  military, aid to developing nations,  oil prices
3-4 domestic policy subcommittee members reserach debate questions and prepare PowerPoint slides for these topics:  gun control, gay rights, campaign finance reform, welfare reform

III Assessment
 You will be assessed on the following products and skills
 A.  "Convention-Style" PowerPoint presentation
 B.  Statement in Voter's Guide
 C.  Presentation during two debates
 D.  Propaganda (signs, slogans, pins, chants, etc.)
 E.  Depth of Research/Understanding of Issues
 F.  Group Process and Participation
 G.  Peer and Self Assessment
 H.  Final Test and Reflection

IV Important Dates
 October 10-11  Assign Group Roles and Begin Research
 October 18   Draft of Voter's Guide statement due 4th per
 October 19   Revised Voter's Guide statement due 4th per
 October 20   Voter's Guide is distributed to all groups
 October 23   Last day to work on PowerPoint/research
 October 24   Candidates debate/Present PowerPoint
 October 25   Town meeting-style debate, project folders due, project test and mock election

V Sub-committee roles
 A. Research issues using Internet, print sources, contact with   political party local headquarters, and TV (there are two more   debates, lots of coverage on CNN, national/local news)

 Science   Foreign   Domestic
 abortion   military   gun control
 environment  foreign aid   gay rights
 biotechnology  oil prices   campaign finance
 health care       welfare

 NOTE: It is important that you UNDERSTAND THOROUGHLY the  significance of these issues and how your party's position differs from  the party you are debating against.

 B. Collaborate to create a 10 minute long PowerPoint presentation,   campaign propaganda, write statement for Voter's Guide and   prepare the candidates to answer questions on each of the 11   major topics.

 NOTE:  The campaign manager should oversee the creation of each of the  products listed above.

VI Getting Started
 Once your group roles have been assigned, it is recommended that you  begin researching right away!  Here are some websites to get started on:

 Voter.com    www.voter.com
 Grassroots.com   www.grassroots.com
 Politics1.com   www.politics1.com
 Politics.com    www.politics.com
 PollingReport.com   www.pollingreport.com
 Pseudo Online Network  www.pseudo.com
 CNN     www.cnn.com
 MSNBC    www.msnbc.com

 

NEXT ----> The Debate
 

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