Blue Book / Election Day assignmentS

due Mon., Nov. 3,  Tues., Nov. 4, or Thur. Oct. 31 (J)

 

 

• Issues (choose only one issue)
• Candidates’ character/values/treatment of others/background
• Candidates’ personality/talents -- videos of  McCain  Obama  Palin
• Experience (be specific by level and branch)
• in government office
• other than government office
• Endorsements/recommendations (be specific)
• government officials
• celebrities
• family members
• others
• Demographic factors (be specific)
• age
• race/ethnicity
• gender
• religion
• income
• level of formal education
• income level
• Interest group membership (give examples)
• Media use by voters (for instance “Voteorama” and L. A. Times Voter Guide)
• Campaign expenditures
• Campaign strategy
• Campaign advertising 
•  "John McCain: Courageous Service," 12 minutes, YouTube video--click here

 

 

2.  QUESTIONS (choose either “should” or “will be” for your entire essay):

 

A.      Which one factor listed above should be  OR  will be  most important in the

         Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election?

B.      Which one factor listed above should be  OR  will be  of some importance in the

         Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election?

C.      Which one factor listed above should be  OR  will be  of least importance in the

         Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election?

E.      Are the three factors you write about sufficient to allow you to predict the

        Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election results?

 

 

 

 

3.  SCORING FOR 25 + 25 POINTS POSSIBLE:

 

• ATQ:  answering the questions using at least five thoughtful paragraphs, without headings or subheadings                                                                                                              according to the Basic Format Writing Guide  
• Refer to notes taken during at least two debates viewed by the student
• Refer to at least one specific passage with SB or Carney page numbers
• Refer to at least one article located through the L.A. Times Voteorama or  the Proquest L.A. Times LAHC database

           

 

4.  Timeline: 

 

• Due:  Wed., Oct. 22 and Thurs. Oct. 23
  • Use same blue book as used for debate notes to give/show the instructor.
  • Possible topic sentence for each of five paragraphs plus start of notes with sources is shown/given to the instructor.
  • One source is your notes from at least one presidential/vice-presidential debate.
  • Student keeps a copy of page(s) submitted in the blue book.

 

• Due:  Mon., Oct. 27 and Tue. Oct. 28
  • During class, student shows instructor additional paragraph drafts, notes and sources at the start of class.
  • During class, student adds additional paragraph drafts, notes and sources to his or her blue book after consulting with a classmate.
  • Instructor returns bluebook to student.

 

• Due:  Mon., Nov. 3 and Tue. Nov. 4, at beginning of class hour

 

• Student submits completed essay, five well-developed paragraphs, 2-3 pages, Times New Roman 12 point font, with standard margins

 

• Without students’ name, tape into the first empty bluebook page.

 

• Exception:  Students serving as pollworkers or bilingual resources, or engaging in GOTV activities will submit notes from training and/or daily logs.                            Their completed paper describing and analyzing their experience will be submitted on Mon., Nov. 10 and Tue. Nov. 11.

 

5.  SEE FOR “PROPOSITION” ASSIGNMENT DUE BY NOV. 4 / POINTS=25:

• Pros and Cons from the Californina League of Women Voters
• Propositions endorsements chart from IGS
• Los Angeles Times endorsements and editorials
• L.A. Times Elections Center
• L. A. Times Local Elections stories
• L. A. Times Voter Guide