American Government Presidential and Congressional debate.

Students will watch and evaluate Presidential debates from previous Election years and determine the speakers’ positions, message, and effectiveness of that message. Students will then evaluate the effect of the debate on the overall election and election result.

• Students will identify important issues from the Presidential Debates.
• Students will evaluate the effectiveness of the speakers’ message
• Students will evaluate the debate to determine its effect on the Presidential Election

• Computer(s) with internet connection
• Projector or Smartboard
• Debate Evaluation Guide (Google Doc)
• Debate Discussion Questions (.PDF)
• C-SPAN Video Library (Website)

1. Teachers should choose which debate students will evaluate. Students can be assigned a debate as homework, or it can be watched during class. The class can view the same debate, or small groups can each be assigned different debates or sections of a debate. To save time, teachers may wish to choose sections/issues of one debate. Video links to presidential election debates are included below. 
    
2. Students should watch the debate or debate sections and fill out the “Debate Guide and Evaluation” worksheet. Once the debate is complete and the chart has been filled out, have students complete the summary question below the chart.
   
3. Students should then fill out the first six questions on the “Debate Discussion Questions” worksheet. Students should discuss the questions in small groups, and then together as a class.

 

Evaluation

Students will write a position paper on one of the three “Extension Questions” from the Debate Discussion Questionshandout. Students should include specific examples from the debate(s) in their paper in addition to conducting additional research as necessary.