Your assignment is as follows:
1. Provide a Campaign for your candidate. [Democrat or Republican]. By
Investigating the current issues in American politics and what side the
Democrats or Republicans take on the issue. Each group should attempt to act as
campaign managers for the side you are on and understand the other side’s
position. [Any sources that you use for research purposes should be provided in
your booklet. You should create a page that says Research Appendix and then just place the articles you have used or
read at the end of it.]
2. Identify which issues you want
to approach: these must include:
1.
Political
2.
Social
3.
Economic
4. One of your
choosing not discussed on the chart or in the
articles below.
3. Of those issues you have picked,
identify the Liberal and Conservative
standpoint. While you are picking a side you believe in, it is important to
be aware of the other side so you can be prepared for questions provided by
guest audience members or to persuade others of your side.
4. Write a Campaign Speech: Write a speech to be delivered to the
class that addresses the issues you wish to change, and why you feel the way
you do. Try to persuade the class into why they should vote for your political
party. Utilize citations or statistics from your research in your speech. Your
speech should be 10 minutes. No more, no less.
5. Advertisement/Commercial: Create an advertisement for your
political party. You may create a Campaign Commercial if you have the technology,
or you can create a campaign poster, or billboard. Podcasts, blogs, or
presentations will be acceptable as well.
6. Debate/Political Strategist- Topics:
Immigration:
ProCon.org. "Illegal
Immigration Solutions ProCon.org" ProCon.org.
21 Nov. 2014. Web.
1 Dec. 2014. <http://immigration.procon.org/>.
Core
Questions:
1. Is
the legalization of illegal aliens a good solution to illegal immigration in
America?
2. Is
amnesty a good solution to illegal immigration?
3. Is
deportation a good solution to illegal immigration?
Affirmative Action:
ProCon.org. "Does the US Need
Affirmative Action?" ProCon.org. 19
Nov. 2009. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
<http://aclu.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000697>.
1. Is
Affirmative Action democratic?
2. Does
it fit with American values about equality?
Website to utilize for Political
Issues:
Presidential
Issues 2012:
http://2012.presidential-candidates.org
Examples of Campaign Ads:
Bill Clinton 2012 Democratic
Convention Speech
Mitt
Roomney’s Plan:
Barack Obama’s Plan:
http://www.barackobama.com/record/economy
Presentations will begin on January 4th, 2015
Remember that you are receiving two grades for this assignment:
One for your content/research in the Booklet, and One on Your Oral
Presentation. Since this project deals with civics and politics, your
appearance matters.
|
Incomplete
1 pts Missing One or More of Listed Element
|
Complete
10 pts All elements listed are present.
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Campaign
Platform
Campaign Manager:
|
Incomplete
Missing:
|
Complete
Student is responsible for collecting information on the
key issues and helping with the visual product for the speech. Student must
create campaign poster.
|
Speech
Candidate:
|
Incomplete
Missing:
|
Complete
Student performs as candidate, presenting speech that
includes all three key issues with visuals included on PowerPoint, Photo
Story, Prezzi or the Smartboard software.
|
Debate
Political Strategist:
|
Incomplete
Missing:
|
Complete
Student has collected information on the key points to be
debated, as well as counterpoints for the other party's platform. Debate time
is 3 minutes per candidate on each issue.
|
Commercial
Publicist:
|
Incomplete
Missing:
|
Complete
Student has
created a 3-minute video that showcases the strength; or tastefully depicts
the opposing side’s weakness. Commercial is creative & captivates.
|
Policy Debate Format
First affirmative constructive (3 – 5 minutes) can be
completely written and learned in advance!
Introduction
·
Opening - state
your name and partner’s name and that you are speaking for the affirmative;
express pleasure for opportunity to debate the topic; state the resolution
·
Define key terms
·
Present your
thesis statement to show where you are going, e.g., This is a serious problem and the present system will not solve
the problem; our plan will solve the problem
Body
·
Describe the issue,
using a combination of logos, ethos, and pathos
·
Support the
affirmative case with 4 –6 contentions, have at least 3 supporting pieces of
evidence and reasoning (save at least 1 for rebuttal)
o
Establish the
need for change – why this is a serious problem (qualitative/quantitative)
o
Establish the
harm of the present system – people or other living beings are hurt physically,
emotionally, financially, socially
o
Establish how the
present system contributes to the problem (inherency)
·
Briefly introduce
your plan and how it solves the problem
Conclusion
·
Summarize your
position. Say “Thank you.”
First negative constructive (3 – 5 minutes)
Introduction
·
Greet - state
your name and partner’s name and that you are speaking for the negative;
express pleasure for the opportunity to debate the topic of ____
·
Either accept the
affirmative’s definitions or correct definitions presented by affirmative
·
Describe the
issue from the point of view of the negative
·
Introduce your
case with your thesis statement: “We
intend to prove that there is no need to
. . .
Body
·
State negative
philosophy by presenting 4 – 6
contentions; have at least 3 pieces of evidence and reasoning to support
them (save at least 1 to reestablish during rebuttal)
o
Refute the need
for change; explain why the status quo is preferable (defend present system)
o
Deny that the
present system contributes to the problem (inherency)
o
Why there is no
reason for change; diminish significance (quantitative/qualitative)
o
Why change could
be worse than the present system
·
Attack the need
for a plan, possibly why it will cause more harm than good
· (Optional advanced strategy! You can accept that the
status quo could be changed in a MINOR way; then introduce a counter plan that
is significantly different from the affirmative’s plan.)
·
Clash: Refute
affirmative’s points with evidence and reasoning
Conclusion
·
Summarize the
negative case so far. Say “Thank you.”
Second affirmative constructive (3 – 5 minutes)
Introduction
·
Present overview
of the debate so far, contrasting affirmative and negative positions
·
Defend definitions
of terms and topicality, if necessary
· Present a thesis statement to show where you are
going, e.g., _______ is a problem that
must be solved and our plan will do it.
Body
·
Attack the
negative philosophy defending the present system, especially harm and
significance
·
Clash. Directly address each of the specific
challenges issued by the negative
·
Reestablish why
change is necessary
·
Explain your plan
with details; describe the benefits of the plan, how the plan will solve the
problem
Conclusion
·
End with an
appeal to adopt the resolution. Say
“Thank you.”
Second negative constructive (3 – 5 minutes)
Introduction
·
Review /
reinforce negative philosophy
·
Present thesis, e.g.,
We will prove that there isn’t a problem,
that the plan is bad, that the plan is unnecessary
Body
·
Present
contentions, attacking the plan as undesirable, unable to solve needs, or
unnecessary
o
Practicality,
workability – specific elements of the plan
o
Solvency –
demonstrate that the plan is not capable of solving the problem
o
Disadvantages –
explain that more harm will result from the plan than the status quo
o
Injustices –
explain that the plan affects some individuals or groups more than others
o
Deny the supposed
benefits of the plan
·
If the
affirmative neglected to present a plan, make a HUGE deal of its
omission
·
Clash. Counter all affirmative challenges directly
and specifically
·
Refute the
affirmative case as a whole
Conclusion
·
Summarize
problems of the plan; say: That is why we
cannot adopt the resolution. Thank you.
First negative rebuttal speech (2 – 3 minutes) – summarize and reiterate
·
Clash: Refute the arguments introduced by the second
affirmative, point by point
·
Again attack
affirmative’s justification for change
· Summarize the entire negative block
·
End with
instructions: We must not allow . . .
First affirmative rebuttal speech (2 – 3
minutes) –be the savior- regain
control after 8 negative minutes!
·
Refute negative’s
plan objections; point out fallacies in reasoning
·
Rebuild your case
at major points of attack; offer new evidence to support your contentions
·
Clash. Respond to all the arguments from the second
negative constructive arguments and first negative rebuttal; defend and
resupport the arguments you can
Second negative rebuttal speech (2 – 3 minutes) - last chance
for the negative side to speak
·
Rebuild your case
at major points of attack; offer new evidence to support your contentions
·
Explain why your
side should win: Review plan objections
and disadvantages, refuting affirmative’s responses; point out any issues
dropped by the affirmative
·
Summarize the
negative position in a dramatic way; call for rejection of the proposal
·
Thank the
audience and judge(s)
Second affirmative rebuttal speech (2 – 3 minutes) - last speech!
·
Point out any arguments
dropped by the negative; these are considered your points now
·
Respond to
objections negative made to your plan and point out those that were dropped by
the second negative rebuttalist; dropped arguments are conceded arguments!
·
Remind the judges
of your arguments and why they are more important than the negative’s
·
Be dramatic in
your big picture. Make your audience
care! End with a strong appeal to adopt
the resolution, to accept the proposal.
·
Thank the
audience and the judge(s)
