Academics

Students had two weeks to research a randomly selected candidate (Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Bloomberg, Amy Klobachar, Andrew Yang, or Donald Trump ) They were then able to synthesize information, assess sources, separate fact from fiction, and convince an audience of their peers (Age 18-21) that a candidate currently being considered for the Presidency IS or IS NOT their best option for their best future. Separating fact from fiction and being aware of bias in media, the students effectively and strategically sought to support or oppose a candidate after effectively synthesizing and citing several current sources that they obtained independently.

The written argument used diction, appeals, and rhetorical devices to strategically and creatively further the argument. Students were encouraged to use a distinct and passionate voice that enhanced their objective of gaining support for the candidate.

This information was then presented orally with three options: as a pre-recorded speech to be played in front of the class, as a live speech live in front of the class, or as a recorded political television advertisement. After presentations, students ran a class election and voted as informed citizens for the candidate of their choice.

Students Share...

The candidate that I researched was Pete Buttigieg. The only prior knowledge of Pete Buttigieg I had was that he was one of the youngest candidates running and that he was previously a Veteran. Most of the resources I used for my paper consisted of news outlets from both political parties, as well as information from Buttigieg’s campaign website. The main issue that serves as a backbone for Pete’s run is his consciousness in representing the average, middle class American.

--Luke Finnegan, Julia Dakwar

I learned that the use of language from both Buttigieg and authors of other sources have an effect on the voter’s views and opinions about his policies and character. Buttigieg’s used both facts and statistics and emotional appeal in gaining support from the public. Unfortunately, I learned that the media often reveals false information to push their ideas and agenda to the public and that it is important as a voter to do further research to find the truth about a particular topic. I will apply what I have learned beyond the classroom by keeping an open mind about not only different candidates, but also other issues in society.

--Luke Finnegan, Julia Dakwar

The candidate I researched and supported was Donald Trump. The only prior knowledge that I had about President Trump was that he had goals for securing borders and increasing border control, and he had done a lot for our economy during his current presidency. The resources I used included President Trump’s State of the Union, social media pages, and administration page on the White House’s website. One issue that I encountered was that most websites spoke negatively towards Trump, so I really had to dig deep for websites that would give me valid information. I learned how Trump’s use of language in his speeches is a powerful tool for him. I would use what I learned when considering who I would vote for in the 2020 election. The media, as a whole, is very polar in the fact that their presentation of events will either be positive or negative. The truth is, in some cases, very hard to find because certain sources claim false things, throwing people in all directions to find the real truth.

--Amanda Simpson, Kaitlin Houser and Matt Meyer

My assignment was to contest President Donald Trump as a 2020 candidate. I knew that he was the President of the United States and that he beat Hillary Clinton in 2016. The resources I used were The Washington Post and USA Today. The issues were that he is racist towards Mexican immigrants and he abused his power in Ukraine. I learned that strong diction in writing can be very effective in getting your point across. I learned that some sources in the media can exaggerate the truth to the point where it's almost not true. I learned that before believing anything I see or hear what anybody tells me that it is important to do my own research and form my own opinion on an issue instead of believing what anyone tells me.

--David Hakkenberg