Election Project
Introduction: Americans seem to have lost the art of productive, intelligent debate. Instead, we witness two sides screaming at each other, offering little or no evidence, showing little if any understanding of the other side. Candidates avoid addressing controversial issues and opt for “sound bytes” that the media can play and replay. We deserve better than that.
For this project, you and two group members will become experts on the 2013 Cincinnati Mayoral Race. Together, you will research and gather data, write an op-ed piece (opinion-editorial), create a political cartoon for various audiences, and demonstrate a variety of rhetorical techniques.
I Can Statements:
The Project and Assessments:
Step One: Choose three partners to work with. As a group, you will be researching the following issues: transportation, city finance/city government, neighborhood development, and parks and recreation. Your group will be assigned one of three audiences to tailor your own op-ed to—the “Base,” “Opposition,” or “Undecided.”
Step Two: Then research each candidate’s stance on the issues by exploring the candidates’ websites, newspapers, TV ads, news programs, campaign literature, the Voter’s Guides, etc. See the end of this handout for some recommended websites. Each individual needs to find four sources, covering all three genres (print, online, and TV/media), aimed toward informing your specific audience. As you research, consider narrowing your target audience (e.g., environmentalists, women, college students, those who are currently unemployed, etc.).
Step Three: Create an Annotated Works Cited, in MLA format, of your four sources. If analyzing a campaign commercial, this handout might be helpful.
Step Four: Write a one-page op-ed piece about your issue, directed to your specific audience: the base, the undecided voters, or the opponents. Include appeals to pathos, logos, and ethos, and use rhetorical techniques to make your op-ed powerful and memorable. Each student in the group is responsible for ONE editorial, but feel free to advise (and revise!) together.
Step Five: As a group, create two political cartoons about two of your issues (your choice). Remember to consider the persuasive techniques cartoonists use to create humor and the common symbols used in political cartoons.
Step Six: Share your knowledge with an authentic audience. For example, you might participate in an evening meeting to educate parents about the ballot, or present to another class, or present to people in your neighborhood or other voters you interact with.
Recommended Websites:
John Cranley website
www.johncranley.com
Roxanne Qualls website
www.roxannequalls.com
Cincinnati.com
http://news.cincinnati.com/section/NEWS010601
Smartvoter.org
http://www.smartvoter.org/2013/11/05/oh/hm/city.html
The League of Women Voters (Cincinnati)
http://www.lwvcincinnati.org/
The Cincinnati Enquirer
http://news.cincinnati.com/
WLWT / Channel 5 News
http://www.wlwt.com/
WCPO / Channel 9 News
http://www.wcpo.com/home
WKRC / Channel 12 News
http://www.local12.com/
Fox 19 / Channel 19 News
http://www.fox19.com/
For this project, you and two group members will become experts on the 2013 Cincinnati Mayoral Race. Together, you will research and gather data, write an op-ed piece (opinion-editorial), create a political cartoon for various audiences, and demonstrate a variety of rhetorical techniques.
I Can Statements:
- I can research the background and gather data on a political candidate or proposition.
- I can synthesize material from various and diverse sources (e.g., print, online, TV/media, and both biased and neutral sources)
- I can present specific claims and address opposing arguments.
- I can effectively implement a variety of rhetorical strategies to persuade specific audiences.
- I can use syntax and diction effectively in a visual text as compared with a written text.
- I can include facts, statistics, expert opinions, and other logical appeals in my op-ed for effect.
- I can include appeals to ethos, establishing credibility.
- I can include appeals to pathos and logos, making my pieces memorable and persuasive.
- I can share my knowledge about the candidate/proposition with an authentic audience.
The Project and Assessments:
Step One: Choose three partners to work with. As a group, you will be researching the following issues: transportation, city finance/city government, neighborhood development, and parks and recreation. Your group will be assigned one of three audiences to tailor your own op-ed to—the “Base,” “Opposition,” or “Undecided.”
Step Two: Then research each candidate’s stance on the issues by exploring the candidates’ websites, newspapers, TV ads, news programs, campaign literature, the Voter’s Guides, etc. See the end of this handout for some recommended websites. Each individual needs to find four sources, covering all three genres (print, online, and TV/media), aimed toward informing your specific audience. As you research, consider narrowing your target audience (e.g., environmentalists, women, college students, those who are currently unemployed, etc.).
Step Three: Create an Annotated Works Cited, in MLA format, of your four sources. If analyzing a campaign commercial, this handout might be helpful.
Step Four: Write a one-page op-ed piece about your issue, directed to your specific audience: the base, the undecided voters, or the opponents. Include appeals to pathos, logos, and ethos, and use rhetorical techniques to make your op-ed powerful and memorable. Each student in the group is responsible for ONE editorial, but feel free to advise (and revise!) together.
Step Five: As a group, create two political cartoons about two of your issues (your choice). Remember to consider the persuasive techniques cartoonists use to create humor and the common symbols used in political cartoons.
Step Six: Share your knowledge with an authentic audience. For example, you might participate in an evening meeting to educate parents about the ballot, or present to another class, or present to people in your neighborhood or other voters you interact with.
Recommended Websites:
John Cranley website
www.johncranley.com
Roxanne Qualls website
www.roxannequalls.com
Cincinnati.com
http://news.cincinnati.com/section/NEWS010601
Smartvoter.org
http://www.smartvoter.org/2013/11/05/oh/hm/city.html
The League of Women Voters (Cincinnati)
http://www.lwvcincinnati.org/
The Cincinnati Enquirer
http://news.cincinnati.com/
WLWT / Channel 5 News
http://www.wlwt.com/
WCPO / Channel 9 News
http://www.wcpo.com/home
WKRC / Channel 12 News
http://www.local12.com/
Fox 19 / Channel 19 News
http://www.fox19.com/