Quarter One Government Project
Many Americans have not made up their minds about whom to vote for and the upcoming
presidential and vice presidential debates will help them decide. This activity is designed to help
you focus on what the candidates say and then look at how the media covers the debate and the
consequent effect on public opinion.
Step One: Watch one of the debates listed below:
There are three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate scheduled before the
November election.
1. Wednesday October 3rd in Denver Colorado. This debate will focus on domestic policy
2. Thursday October 11th is the vice presidential debate in Kentucky focused on both
domestic and foreign policy.
3. Tuesday October 16th is the next presidential debate in New York focused on foreign
and domestic policy.
4. The last presidential debate is Monday October 22nd in Florida and will focus on foreign
policy.
Select at least one of the debates to watch. If you are unable to watch at the scheduled time you
can go online the day after any of the debates and watch a recorded debate. If you do that make
sure you watch the entire debate.
Turn in work within one week of the debate you watched. Final deadline for last debate is
October 29th.
Step Two: Take Notes on the “Presidential Debate Worksheet”
Try to be neutral while taking your notes. Do not let your personal feelings sway you.
Step Three: Rate each candidate on the “Presidential Debate Evaluation Rubric 2012”
Again try to be neutral while evaluating the candidates. Do not let your personal feelings sway
you. While you might prefer one candidate over another, you can admit that the one you don’t
prefer might have done better on the debate.
Step Four: Write a 250-word essay explaining who “won” the debate and why.
Essay should be typed, 12 point font, double-spaced, Times New Roman or Calbria. Include
word count. Use complex vocabulary to explain why you think one candidate won. I.e., use of
election or US domestic and foreign policy terminology.
Step Five: Turn in your worksheet, evaluation, and essay within a week of the debate you
watched.
Once you turn it in, you have the option of watching a second debate and completing a BINGO
Card for extra credit. BINGO Cards will be available from Ms Jevne, once you turn in the other
work.
Rubric
Debate
Worksheet
Evaluation
Essay
Vocabulary
usage/language
Essay
Requirements
4
3
Is filled out with Is filled out with
specific details of vague details of
debate (15 pts)
debate (12 pts)
2
Is partially filled
out with some
specific details
(10 pts)
Completed
Completed
Partially
Evaluation and
Evaluation and
completed
gave specific
gave vague
evaluation with
reasons for
reasons for
specific reasons.
grades. (15 pts)
grades. (12 pts)
(10 pts)
Essay shows
Essay shows
Essay shows
evidence that you evidence that you evidence that you
watch the debate watch the debate watch the debate
and gave
and gave a few
and gave a vague
numerous
specific reasons
reasons for why
specific reasons
for why you
you believe one
for why you
believe one
candidate “won”.
believe one
candidate “won”. (20 pts)
candidate “won”. (30 pts)
(40 pts)
Complex
Some complex
Some simple
sentence
sentence
government
structure/
structure/
language used
complex
complex
(10 pts)
government
government
vocabulary used vocabulary used
(20 pts)
(15 pts)
Essay is more
Essay is 250
Essay is less than
than 250 words
words, does not
250 words and/or
and meets all the meet one of the
does not meet
requirements
requirements.
two of the
(typed, 12 point
(8 pts)
requirements.
font, double
(6 pts)
spaced, Times
New Roman or
Calbria ) (10 pts)
1
Is partially filled
out with vague
details (8 pts)
Evaluation is
partially done
with no reasons.
(8 pts)
Essay is general
and does not
show evidence of
watching the
debate. Talked
more about why
you like one
candidate over
another. (10 pts)
General
Language
uses/Short
Simple sentences
with no
government
language (8 pts)
Essay is less than
250 words and
does not meets
three of the
requirements.
(4 pts)
Presidential Debate Worksheet
Factor
Debate Setting
Look for examples of how colors,
camera positions, view framing
(e.g., close-ups, side views, other
angles) favor or hurt the
candidate.
Techniques for Persuasion
Do candidates use generalities
instead of specifics, make
emotional appeals, engage in
name-calling, avoid answers?
Favorite Phrases
Did candidates repeat favorite
phrases and were they effective?
Rehearsed Responses
Do the candidates seem to rely
on rehearsed answers, or were
they spontaneous? How
effective were their answers?
Self Presentation
Did the candidate seem self
confident or ill at ease? Did they
have distracting or reassuring
personal mannerisms?
What Did the Commentators
Say?
Listen to some of the postdebate commentary. Did they
declare a “winner”? Do you
agree?
Record two uses of statistics for
each candidate
(e.g., unemployment numbers,
cost of a program, tax cut, or
budget number) – Extra points if
you fact check these numbers
and print out the websites that
you used to fact check.
Barack Obama or Joe Biden
Circle which candidate
Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan
Presidential Debate Evaluation Rubric
Instruction: Rate each factor for the respective candidates on the following five-point scale:
1 = No Opinion
2 = Poor
3 = Average
4 = Very Good
5 = Excellent
Factor
Barack Obama or Joe
Biden (circle)
Mitt Romney or Paul
Ryan
Experience (governmental, political, public service)
Intelligence (judgment, command of information,
knowledge of facts
Persuasive (uses logic, understandable, relates to
audience)
Temperament (response to critism)
Effectiveness (communicates message, appropriate
presentation of self
Please give reasons (justifications) why you graded the candidate how you did. Use space below.