Election / Issue Mid-term Project You will demonstrate your understanding of the relationship between text and audience.

Mid-Term Election Project 2012

Project Goal: To demonstrate your understanding of the implementation of effective rhetorical strategies within specific situations and contexts

Primary Learning Goals

You will understand how to:

• Research the background and gather data on a political candidate or proposed amendment and present specific claims and address opposing arguments
• Implement the different rhetorical strategies including style, content and arrangement used in texts designed to persuade specific audiences and use them effectively
• Discern the effectiveness of specific genres used in political campaigns directed to specific audiences, the relationship between function and form
• Demonstrate the effective use of syntax and diction in a text meant to be spoken compared to a text meant to be read
• Discover and utilize effective strategies to present credible persuasive writing even though you may personally oppose the issue or candidate, develop appeals to credibility
• Synthesize material from various and diverse sources.

Secondary Learning Goal

• The project will generate interest in the election process and current events. 

The Project and Assessments: 

• I will assign you a specific candidate or amendment to research and promote.  Because I want to create a “real life” situation (such as employment with an advertising agency) and focus on creating appeals to ethos, you will not be able to choose the side of the initiative you will take or the candidate you will promote.
• You will research the candidate/issue by exploring newspapers, TV ads and news programs, campaign literature, the state-provided “Blue Book,” etc.  You can access the “Blue Book” and the booklet issued by Jefferson County for Mill/Bond Ballot Issues 3A/3B on my website. I also have links to websites supporting and opposing the initiatives.
• You should also visit websites run by the campaigns as well as Project Vote Smart or the League of Women Voters.  I link to both on my website.
• You will produce three persuasive one-minute radio (no visuals) commercials about your candidate/issue, each directed to a specific audience: the base, the undecided voters, and the opponents.
• You will produce three persuasive press releases about your candidate/issue, each directed to a specific audience: the base, the undecided voters, and the opponents.
• Accompanying each press release/commercial, you will submit an annotated copy noting specific rhetorical strategies you used.

Mid-Term Election Project 2012 (PDF 18 KB)
The complete handout with the list of candidates and ballot initiatives
Read vs. Spoken Overhead (PDF 8 KB)
Outlines the differences between texts meant to be read from those meant to be spoken directed to specific audiences
Mid-Term Project Rubric (PDF 7 KB)
How your project will be assessed
Campaign Commercial Analysis (PDF 9 KB)
Here is the handout in case you misplaced yours
2012 Blue Book (PDF 331 KB)
The Colorado 2012 State Ballot Information Booklet contains information on proposed ballot initiatives and amendments.
Jefferson County General Election Ballot 2012 (PDF 58 KB)
A copy of the ballot including all candidates and intiatives facing voters in Jefferson County
Jeffco Pamphlet Ballot Issues 3A/3B (PDF 362 KB)
Jefferson County sent this booklet to all eligible voters. It conveys arguments from both sides.

pdf file: You need Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 7 or higher) to view this file. Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for PC or Macintosh.