Introduction
It’s that time
once again. That time when we, the
American public, have a chance to elect our next president and other political
officials. It’s a privilege we obtain
when we reach the age of 18 and register to vote for the first time. The
·
They say
they don’t have the time.
·
They
don’t know how to go about voting.
·
They’re
mad at their country.
·
And
mostly, THEY DON’T CARE!!!
Electing a
president is a position that’s too important to leave in the hands of those who
don’t come from our neighborhoods, and who don’t struggle everyday to make sure
there’s a roof over our head and food on the table. Eventhough you’re
still a few years away from being able to vote, you can make a difference to
those who can vote.
Sean “Puffy” Combs
is leading a campaign trying to get more people out to vote. You will help him by creating an informative
poster urging young adults to vote.
Task
You will conduct a public policy analysis (PPA)
which is just a fancy phrase for a way to go about learning more about a social
problem and developing solutions, a policy, to the problem.
In order to complete the PPA you will be guided by
six steps on this website that begins with the “Define the problem” step. The steps are linked to descriptions of what
they actually mean and a worksheet for the step. You will do the
worksheet for each step. These are your
notes that you will use to make a poster display that encourages people
to vote.
If you simply follow the steps, you will complete
your PPA, become more knowledgeable, and hopefully educate others.
You must:
1.
Complete the 5 worksheets - one for
each of the 5 steps
2.
Use the worksheets to make a poster
presentation
3.
Present to the class
Process
You will form groups of 2-4 people who want to work together to complete
the assignment: Research Report (Public
Policy Analysis)
Use the following steps to complete the WEBQUEST and your report.
Each of the steps has a worksheet that must be completed.
1~ Gather the evidence that this is really a problem
in
- What are
the voting problems?
- How does
this affect our society?
Gather The Evidence
Worksheet (Open this document and print it out).
2~ Identify causes
- What
causes kids to get involved in the first place?
- What
statistics show young people don’t vote enough?
3~ Evaluate existing policy
- How does
one go about registering and voting?
- How many
registered voters are there and how many of them actually vote?
Evaluate Existing
Policy Worksheet
4~ Develop solutions
§
What are possible solutions to get the word out
about voting?
5~ Select the best solution
- What do
you feel is the best message to educate teenagers? In other words,
what can you say in your ad that will have the most impact?
Select Best
Solution Worksheet
Resources
The following links can be used to help you complete the worksheets.
Graphs
showing the number of registered voters and who actually voted
Statistics about young
American voters
More
information about registering and voting
Evaluation:
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
Organization |
Audience cannot understand presentation because there is no sequence of information. |
Audience has difficulty following presentation because student jumps around. |
Student presents information in logical sequence which audience can follow. |
Student presents information in logical, interesting sequence which audience can follow. |
|
Subject Knowledge |
Student does not have grasp of information; student cannot answer questions about subject. Student does not use PPA. |
Student is uncomfortable with information and is able to answer only rudimentary questions. Students complete some steps of PPA. |
Student is at ease with expected answers to all questions, but fails to elaborate. |
Student demonstrates full knowledge (more than required) by answering all class questions with explanations and elaboration. |
|
Eye Contact |
Student reads all of report with no eye contact. |
Student occasionally uses eye contact, but still reads most of report. |
Student maintains eye contact most of the time but frequently returns to notes. |
Student maintains eye contact with audience, seldom returning to notes. |
|
Elocution |
Student mumbles, incorrectly pronounces terms, and speaks too quietly for students in the back of class to hear. |
Student's voice is low. Student incorrectly pronounces terms. Audience members have difficulty hearing presentation. |
Student's voice is clear. Student pronounces most words correctly. Most audience members can hear presentation. |
Student uses a clear voice and correct, precise pronunciation of terms so that all audience members can hear presentation. |
|
Poster |
Student uses superfluous
graphics or no graphics |
Student occasionally uses
graphics that rarely support text and presentation |
Student's graphics relate
to text and presentation |
Student's graphics explain
and reinforce screen text and presentation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
State
Standards:
ELA~
Language for Information and Understanding
Students
will listen, speak, read, and write for information and
understanding. As listeners and
readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships,
concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written,
and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral
and written language that follows
the accepted conventions of
the English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.
Math~ Modeling/Multiple Representation
Students will construct
tables, charts, and graphs to display and analyze real-world data.
Technology~
Students
will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and
evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.
Conclusion:
At the
end of this Webquest, you will have a better
understanding of the voting process and the importance of voting. You will research information and statistics
that show a low percentage of voter participation (especially in the 18+ year
old age group) and reasons why it’s so.
You will also explore possible solutions to help get the word out about
voting.
