Students take a unique approach to a classroom discussion/debate of the election process!
Objectives
Students share their opinions on an issue using a discussion/debate approach. They formulate a clear written statement of their opinions.
Keywords
debate, opinion, discussion, critical thinking
Materials Needed
four posters, each labeled in large letters with one of the following: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree
a teacher-generated list of statements about the election process
writing paper and pencils
Lesson Plan
Place a poster in each corner of the room. Then read a statement, and tell students to go to the corner that best describes how they feel about that statement. Here are some examples of statements:
All Americans should be required to vote.
People should be allowed to vote on the Internet.
Candidates should spend the same amount of money on campaigns.
The two-party system in the United States does not allow third parties to gain a foothold in the Electoral College system.
The power of special-interest groups in American politics is too great.
Encourage students to voice their opinions from their respective corners. Then have each group gathered in response to a statement work together to write a clear statement explaining their position.
Assessment
Evaluate students on their ability to state their opinions and on their position statements.
