Election Issues

1. Research project and presentation Senior Seminar Civitella and Verguldi-Scott Election Issues

2. Objective • Each of you will select a topic that is likely to be discussed throughout the year in the news • Gaining an understanding of the topics will enhance your knowledge and make you more able to discuss and write about current political issues • Being knowledgeable about issues is necessary for you to be an educated voter

3. Weight of the project • This project is worth 100 points • Your PowerPoint will be worth 70 points • Your presentation will be worth 30 points

4. Research your topic for the following information: • Historical background • Current state of the topic • Opposing viewpoints • Obama administration/ Democratic position • Republican party position • Difference between the Republican candidates on the issue

5. Suggestions for Research • Use the links on Mrs. Civitella’s webpage • Go to www.whitehouse.gov to get the Obama Administration’s position • Go to the Republican National Committee’s webpage www.gop.com • Go to the web pages of at least three Republican candidates to get their position’s on the topic Current frontrunners are: • Mit Romney • Rick Perry • Michele Bachman D. Use any other research sites or print media that you can find

6. Use Noodle Tools for your references • Noodle Tools is a MLA bibliography tool available online • You can link to the tool through the library page from the high school • Create an account and record your references as you research

7. Presentation- scope of the project • You will need to present your information to the class in a PowerPoint presentation • You will become the seminar expert on your issue for the year • We will be going to you throughout the year to provide the class with updates • Your presentation will need to provide the necessary background to your classmates

8. Presentation- format for PowerPoint • Your presentation should follow the following format: • Historical background • Current state of the topic • Opposing viewpoints • Obama administration/ Democratic position • Republican party position • Difference between the Republican candidates on the issue • You presentation should have at least seven slides • Opposing viewpoints should take two slides

9. Presentation- text on slides D. How much information should be on your slides? • Your slides should be informative but concise • You will have to interpret a lot of information into a presentation that your classmates can use as a reference • Use as little text as possible

10. Presentation- images and oral presentation • Images- use at least six relevant images in your presentation • Oral presentation: • You should know your material well enough so that you are not reading from the slides • You will be asked questions about your topic from two of your classmates as well as Mrs. Civitella and Mrs. Verguldi-Scott. Be prepared!

11. References and suggestions • A slide should be included at the end of your presentation that includes the references that you used for all text and images • You need to reference at least three sources to gain the appropriate opposing viewpoints for your topic • Obama’s and the Republican party and candidate’s websites would be additional references (therefore at least 8 references) • There is a lot of information out there. Do your best to explain the issue completely while using the least amount of text as possible. There are 37 of you! • Please ask questions if you can’t find information or if you are confused by what you find

12. Hardcopy • Send Mrs. Civitella a copy of your presentation via e-mail • An outline version of your presentation will be photocopied for each of your classmates to use as a reference