The lesson plan below is intended to work with elections covered by ProCon, but may be adapted to work with other elections.
Objective:
Students will examine one controversial topic for better contemporary and historical understanding of the issue.
Students will:
- develop research skills
- enhance analytical skills
- improve critical thinking skills
- develop objective reporting skills
Resources/Materials:
- ProCon.org election coverage
- ProCon.org topic site such as deathpenalty.procon.org, abortion.procon.org, or gun-control.procon.org
Preparation:
- Teachers should make a list of appropriate research topics that have both election coverage and a topic site on ProCon.org. For example, ProCon.org does not have additional information on China tariffs, but does have a site about felon voting. All topics may be found on the ProCon.org homepage. Please note that topics have varying amounts of coverage.
- Teachers should decide whether to assign candidates or have students choose. Students may be required to choose a candidate who is ideologically opposed to the students’ personal opinion.
- This assignment may be completed individually or in small groups. Students may cover all of the candidates in small groups, or a single candidate individually or in small groups.
- This assignment may be given as a long-term project with sections due at different dates.
Activity:
- Students should select or be assigned one topic that ProCon.org includes in election coverage and has topic coverage on ProCon.org.
- Students should report and analyze a candidate’s position on the issue objectively.
- Students should dive into the issue site to learn the history of the issue (via the background or historical timeline resources).
- Students should learn about factors surrounding and influencing the main issue. For example, religious opinions on the death penalty, or state laws restricting abortion.
- Students should briefly look into candidate’s biography on 2020election.procon.org to determine if any personal or professional information might influence the candidate’s position. For example, a candidate’s religion or that they were a criminal prosecutor.
- Have students objectively analyze the candidate’s position on the issue in light of all of the new information they have learned.
Evaluation:
- Research skills
- Understanding and analysis of information gathered
- Writing proficiency
- Ability to objectively report political information