Learning Targets for Election Day Activities:

—I can compare and contrast persuasive commercial advertisements.
—I can analyze how words, images, graphics, and sounds work together in various forms to impact meaning. This means that I can interpret how visual and sound techniques influence the message.
—I can evaluate the role of media in focusing attention on events and informing opinion on issues. This means that I can evaluate various techniques used to create a point of view in media and the impact on audience.

Part One: Election Day Trivia
Directions- Read through the following websites to learn about Election Day.

1) Explore current coverage of the election with Scholastic. Make sure to explore the results of the Scholastic Student Election, information about the Electoral College, and more information about each candidate.
2) Read student-generated reports about the election with Time for Kids. Focus on understanding how the candidates view important issues and meet the vice presidential candidates.
3) Learn more about campaign finance and read Tweets from the presidential candidates with CNN.
4) Did you know that there are other candidates besides Obama and Romney running in the presidential election? Meet the third party candidates with Al Jeezera.

Part Two: Rhetoric in Commercial Advertisements
Directions- Follow the steps below to analyze political advertisements from presidential candidates in the 2012 election.

1) Think about what you already know about political commercials:
*  What kinds of commercials have you seen on the TV or internet about       the election?

* What kinds of political ads are most memorable? Why?

2) Watch one of commercial clips listed below two times. Just watch the clip during the first showing, and take notes on their graphic organizer during the second showing.
3) Complete the graphic organizer for the commercial. Now, choose another commercial clip listed below. Watch the clip two times (just watch the first time, and take notes during the second showing).
4) Complete the graphic organizer for the commercial. Repeat for all of the clips below.

YouTube Links for Advertisements:

Obama Sponsored

• Collapse – Obama for America TV Ad
• Thirty Seconds to Name All of Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts Taxes and Fees
• Big Bird – Obama for America TV Ad
• We’ve Heard it All Before – Obama for America Television Ad

Romney Sponsored

• Change at the Pump
• Find a Way
• Facts are Clear
• “Fine?”

5) After you have viewed all of the commercial advertisements, reflect in a blog comment below. Look back over your notes. Which campaign has the most effective ads? Why?

Try not to be persuaded by who you think is the best candidate; strictly focus on the advertisements. Post your response and rationale below. Make sure your post is listed under your first name. Do not put your last name; if needed, just put the last initial.

Please refrain from discussing the policies of the candidates. Keep your post focused on the effectiveness of the advertisements.

Your post will not immediately show on the site. I will go through this afternoon and approve them. Check back later to see which candidate had the most effective advertisements!

Reposted from missmcintire.com

“What do I do when I am finished?”

• Turn in your completed packet to Mrs. Caskey.
• Continue your tone assignment for HoMS.

Directions: On a separate sheet of notebook paper, write your responses to the following questions. You do not need to rewrite the questions, just write your responses in complete sentences. There are a total of 5 scavenger hunt questions. This scavenger hunt should take you about 20-40 minutes. Turn in the notebook paper to the tray when you are finished.

1) Step into the Voting Booth with a little help from PBS. Make sure to read through each section of the interactive site. There are a total of four areas to explore:

• “What a Difference…”
• “… Voting Time Machine”
• “Cast Your Vote”
• “How You Can Be…”

Scavenger Hunt Question: What happened with voting laws in 1972 thanks to the 26th amendment?

2) Explore current coverage of the election with Scholastic. Make sure to explore the results of the Scholastic Student Election, information about the Electoral College, and more information about each candidate.

Scavenger Hunt Question: In your own words, what is the electorial college?

3) Read student-generated reports about the election with Time for Kids. Focus on understanding how the candidates view important issues and meet the vice presidential candidates.

Scavenger Hunt Question: How do the candidates differ in their stance on education? How are they similar?

4) Learn more about campaign finance and read Tweets from the presidential candidates with CNN.

Scavenger Hunt Question: In what state are the candidates spending the most  money on advertising? How much had they spent together as of the end of October? Why would they spend so much money in this state?

5) Did you know that there are other candidates besides Obama and Romney running in the presidential election? Meet the third party candidates with Al Jeezera.

Scavenger Hunt Question: Which third party candidate was recently arrested and why?

Reposted from missmcintire.com

Make sure to turn in your answers to Mrs. Caskey. When you are finished, work on SB 2.10.