Why Vote?
An Internet WebQuest on Voting

created by Dorothy Noll
Eastern Lebanon County HS

Introduction | The Task | The Process & Resources | Conclusion | HyperText Dictionary


Introduction

Congratulations, on your recent success of capturing those alligators without a scratch on your last challenge! Now, as a member of the Road Rules team here is your next assignment:

Election year 2000 provides an opportunity for everyone to voice their opinion by voting! As a member of the age group often accused of taking an apathetic approach to politics, your task is to inform and promote involvement in the voting process among your peers. It is your job to encourage them to exercise this privilege!



The Quest

How can you promote young voters to vote and make an intelligent choice at the polls? Are you an informed voter?

In your endeavor to answer these important questions the following standards will be addressed:

5.1.12 Principles and Documents of Government

Analyze the sources, purposes and functions of law.

Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals of civic life.

5.2.12 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Evaluate political leadership and public service in a republican form of government

5.3 How Government Works

Analyze the responsibilities and powers of the national government.

Evaluate the roles of political parties in election campaigns.

Evaluate the elements of the election process.

Evaluate the impact of interest groups on the political process.

Evaluate the role of media in political life and explain the role of the media in setting the political agenda.

 

 

 

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working with your Road Rules Team (a group of students in class). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about the elections. Because these are real Webpages you're tapping into, they are not pages made just for schools. The reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom or ask the instructor for clarification. From the information you gather, your team will be able to complete the required activities.

 

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

As your team researches you will be contemplating the following questions:
Who are the candidates?
What are the major issues being compared between candidates?
What is the purpose of the party convention?
What are acceptable funding practices by candidates?
Does your vote really matter?

Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can. Each member of your team will take a different role to research in order to save time. Then the team will regroup to share the information. Remember to use a variety of resources: web sites, textbooks, newspaper articles, magazine articles, personal perspectives etc. Keep record of all resources used.

 

 

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your Road Rules team will select one of the following roles: Candidate Researcher, Funding/Advertising Researcher, Convention Researcher, Electoral Researcher.

2. Read through the information linked to your role. When you look at these information web sites on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to verify your information.

3. Read through other media resources (newspaper, magazine, etc.) and jot these notes into the word processor file also. Again, remember to cite each note so you can refer back if necessary.

4. Each role will have a notes section that should be saved to the Vote Quest folder on the server. Print your notes. Place this in your team's file folder for future reference.

5. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main team opinion that will assist in completing the final assignment.

 

Candidate Researcher

Use the Internet information linked below and your other resources to answer these questions specifically related to :

1. Who are the three major candidates?
2. Who are the major candidates running mates, why did they choose them?
3. What do journalists see as the major issues that the candidates disagree on?
4. On what major issues do the candidates agree?
**Be able to support answers/opinions with facts.

 

 

Funding/Advertising Researcher

Use the Internet information linked below and your other resources to answer these questions specifically related to :

1. Are candidates limited to the amount of dollars they may spend on a campaign?
2. Are any candidates utilizing 'questionable' tactics to obtain funding?
3. Does the media manipulate the public through their articles on political candidates?
4. What are the limitations of advertising by candidates, what may they say, not say, etc.?

 

 

Convention Researcher

Use the Internet information linked below and your other resources to answer these questions specifically related to :

1. If we already know who the candidates are, why do the parties spend thousands of dollars to hold a convention?
2. Who attends the convention and how are they chosen?
3. How does the public benefit from the party conventions?
4. Should the conventions be telecast and pre-empt your favorite shows?

 

 

Electoral Researcher

Use the Internet information linked below and your other resources to answer these questions specifically related to :

1. How does your vote affect the electoral college?
2. Who are the 'non-voters' and should they be banned from voting?
3. How do independent candidates affect the vote?
4. What are some of the major factors that deter voters from showing up at the polls?

 

 

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about different aspects of electing a President. Now team members come back to the entire Road Rules team with expertise gained by searching. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to complete the assignments.You and your teammates have gained a lot of information by researching different areas of the election. Now's the time to put your learning together:

1. Create a table listing the candidates and their positions on the major issues. Use the Candidate template provided in your group folder. Print one copy and place it in your file folder.

2. A local politician will be invited to the classroom to provide additional insight to this Quest. Develop a list of questions (minimum three) that your group will ask during that interaction. Print a copy and place in your group folder until the visitation day. Keep in mind that you might want the questions to zero in on information that will assist you in accomplishing the final task of promoting voting to young voters.

3. Design a simple survey of your peers as to if they could vote would they, why or why not. Look at the sample survey format. Conduct the survey. Orally present your results to the entire class.

4. Now, is the big challenge! Design a promotional piece that will encourage young voters to get out and vote! View evaluation criteria. Be unique, be creative, be thought-provoking!!! Any materials/supplies needed can be obtained from the instructor. Prepare enough pieces to share with all members of the classroom.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
1. Provide an information booth at lunch time to share the created promotional pieces.
2. Conduct a mock election with the student body.
3. Create a video commercial, televise it on your school station and/or send it to the local television station to televise.
4. Prepare a 30 second commercial for one of the three candidates researched. Share it with the other teams.
5. Allow team members to choose sides on the issue of: Are young voters apathetic to the system? Hold a debate in class or among several government classes.

 

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

Evaluation Criteria:

1. Table of Candidates and Issues (20%):
2. Visitation Questions(10%):
3. Peer Survey(10%)
4. Promotional Piece(60%)

Refer to the grading sheet posted on the server for detailed criteria for each of the activities.

Your Contact is: Dorothy Noll



Conclusion

So are young voters opinions critical to the outcome of the Election and should they be concerned? When you compare all the parts of the picture, you become better informed and can share that with your peers. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond this one issue (young voters)? What other groups should/could be targeted? Remember, voting is a right you have earned and an obligation you should exercise.

GREAT JOB ON ANOTHER ROAD RULES ASSIGNMENT ASSIGNMENT!