Download 1 BACK TO BASICS: The 2008 Presidential Election

BACK TO BASICS: The 2008 Presidential Election
Overview
In this lesson, students are introduced to basic terminology and background information
about elections and voting in the United States. They will learn about the electoral
process, the 2008 presidential election and the different issues in the campaign,
comparing the policies of different parties and candidates on the issues they have
chosen as being of key importance to them.
Aim:
To enable students to develop an understanding of election basics, reflect on voter
engagement, and explore the different political parties and their candidates in the 2008
presidential election.
Objectives:
At the end of this session, students will be able to:
• Identify the elements of the election process.
• Explore print and electronic media for information.
• Read graphs/charts and analyze statistics.
• Examine different parties, candidates and issues.
• Conduct surveys inside and outside the classroom.
• Present findings in pairs and small groups to the class.
Target Group:
High-intermediate to advanced ESL students (level 6 to level 8)
(For the purpose of this lesson, the target group levels range from 1 through 8, with the
following guidelines: 1 = beginning, 5 = intermediate, 8 = advanced.)
Length:
Two 90-minute lessons
Materials:
• KQED’s This Week in Northern California “Special Edition: Voting and Voter
Confidence” (10/19/2007) at http://thisweek.kqed.org/election.html
• Easy Voter Guide at www.easyvoter.org
• Rock the Vote at www.rockthevote.com
• Research program at www.rockthevote.com/research/
• CIRCLE (the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and
Engagement) promotes research on the civic and political engagement of
Americans between the ages of 15 and 25 at www.civicyouth.org
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Day One
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Warm-up
As a class, students will define the term democracy. Write the two roots of the
word (demo-cracy) on the board and ask the class for the meaning of each part.
The instructor will check for understanding and provide the meaning/origin if
necessary. With a partner, the students will then discuss the following questions:
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What does democracy mean to you?
What makes democracy work?
What is the democratic process in the United States?
Elicit responses from students and list answers on the board.
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Vocabulary
Assign a brief vocabulary exercise to the class. Ask students to write a brief
definition of each word. They can then scan the vocabulary list to check their
definitions.(See terminology handout at the end of the lesson.)
Term
Meaning
Ballot
Candidate
Election
Party
Polls
Polling place
Voter turnout
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Background Knowledge
To ascertain students’ general level of knowledge, ask them to take a brief quiz
about voting in the United States. Then direct them to work in small groups to
compare their answers.
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Who is eligible to vote?
What are the two different ways to vote?
When are election days?
What are some different political parties?
Which are the main political parties?
How long is the presidential term?
Who is eligible to run for president?
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Free-Writing
For 10 minutes, students should write about the reasons people vote in a
presidential election. Encourage them to share their writing with a partner. Invite
students to report back to the whole class. Write the reasons they came up with
on the board.
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Sentence Structure
In small groups or pairs, the students will present key election issues using these
different patterns:
An important issue for me is ____________________________________.
The most pressing issue for me is ________________________________.
What especially concerns me is __________________________________.
I am very concerned about ___________________________________.
Example: What especially concerns me is feeling safe on the streets.
Day Two
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Statistical Analysis
Ask the class to guess the percentage of voter turnout in the last presidential
election, broken down as follows: the percentage for the nation as a whole, for
the state and for the city. Provide the actual statistics for students to examine
and then to discuss in terms of their reaction to the percentages and possible
explanation for these numbers. Statistics can be obtained from
www.rockthevote.com/research/.
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Program Viewing
Screen a clip (or stream from http://thisweek.kqed.org/) from This Week in
Northern California about voting and voter confidence. Ask students to fill in
the chart with reasons for low voter turnout. In small groups, students will
discuss their findings, thoughts, reactions and questions.
REASONS FOR LOW VOTER TURNOUT
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
Reason 4
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Discussion
With a partner or in small groups, ask the students to discuss the following
questions:
• Why do people vote in elections?
• How do people choose a party?
• How do people choose a candidate?
• What are some important issues today?
• What would motivate you to vote?
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Survey
Ask students to look at the list of issues and put a check in front of the five
issues that most concern them. Students will move around the classroom to
compare their answers. Tally the students’ responses and write the top five
issues on the board.
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1.
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ELECTION ISSUES
____The national economy
____Health care
____Quality education
____A cleaner environment
____Consumer safety
____The crime rate
____Government spending
____Increasing the minimum wage
____Immigration policy
____Other_______________________________________
Optional Activity
Students can conduct this survey in the community. Ask them to prepare a short
report on their findings to present to the class at the next meeting.
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Free-Writing
For 10 to 15 minutes, students should write about one issue that especially
speaks to them. Encourage them to share their writing with a partner. Invite
students to report back to the whole class and write responses on the board.
Analysis
Have students use the Easy Voter Guide to learn about the different political
parties and their candidates, then invite them to examine the information
provided in the charts. Ask them to determine which party best represents
their individual priorities and to find a candidate who best reflects their
views. They should then compare their choices with a partner and discuss
their discoveries, thoughts, reactions and questions.
Homework Assignment
Encourage students to visit the websites of the political parties and candidates they
would like to explore and present their findings in class at the next meeting.
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ELECTION TERMINOLOGY
Ballot
A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Sometimes ballots are paper,
and sometimes they are electronic.
Candidate
A person who aspires to run or is nominated to run for a political office.
Democratic Party
This is one of the two major political parties in the United States. The Democratic Party
is the oldest and largest political party. The party believes that government should play
a role in alleviating poverty and social injustice, even if doing so requires government to
play a larger role and requires progressive taxation.
Election
An election is a decision-making process in which people choose who will hold political
offices. This is the usual mechanism by which modern democracy fills offices in the
national legislature, and sometimes in the executive and judiciary branches, and in
regional and local government.
Green Party
This has been an active third party since the 1980s. The Green Party emphasizes
environmentalism and social justice.
Political convention
This is a meeting of a political party, usually held over the course of four to five days in
the months preceding a presidential election, in which the party nominates its candidate
of choice for president and vice president.
Polling place
This is where you go to vote.
Polls
A questioning or canvassing of people, selected at random or by quota, to obtain
information or opinions to be analyzed.
Primary
This is an election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent
election. In other words, primary elections are one means by which a political party
nominates its candidates for an upcoming general election.
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Proposition
A proposal to create a new law or to add to an existing law.
Republican Party
This is one of the two major political parties in the United States. The Republican Party
supports a conservative platform, such as lower taxation and greater economic freedom
for businesses and individuals..
Vote
A formal expression of opinion or will of the people in a city, county, state or country in
response to a proposal, motion or candidate for office.
Voter turnout
The number or percentage of voters who cast a vote in a given election
Sources for the above terms are: Easy Voter Guide, Merriam-Webster Dictionary,
PBS.org/elections/glossary/index.html, Wikipedia
Developed by Ann Fontanella, Instructor – City College of San Francisco
4/2008
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