McConnell Extra Credit

Extra credit

McConnell Extra Credit video

McConnell Extra Credit

 

 

McConnell Extra Credit! -Melissa Zembrzuski

McConnell Extra Credit!!

McConnell Extra Credit

Critiquing the Media Debate

The Assignment:

1. Read and annotate Marcus Prior's News vs. Entertainment: How Increasing Media Choice Widens Gaps in Political Knowledge and Turnout
2. Generate arguments for the following  statements.

• “Greater choice allows politically interested people to access more information and increase their political knowledge.”
• “In a high choice environment, lack of motivation, not lack of skills or resources, poses the main obstacle to a widely informed electorate.”
• “…people’s increasing ability to customize their political information will have a polarizing impact on our democracy as media users become less likely to encounter information that challenges their partisan viewpoints.”
• “Greater media choice thus widens the ‘knowledge gap’.” (political knowledge is higher in some segments of the voting population than in others)

Debate each statement  by commenting on each of the blog posts below.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE IN OUR POLL!

Media Blog Debate Statement 1

 “Greater choice allows politically interested people to access more information and increase their political knowledge.”

Media Blog Debate Statement 2

“In a high choice environment, lack of motivation, not lack of skills or resources, poses the main obstacle to a widely informed electorate [eligible voters].”

Media Blog Debate Statement 3

“…people’s increasing ability to customize their political information will have a polarizing impact on our democracy as media users become less likely to encounter information that challenges their partisan viewpoints.”

Media Blog Debate Statement 4

“Greater media choice thus widens the ‘knowledge gap’.”

The Media's Agenda-Setting Function

How does the media engage in agenda-setting?

As you watch the video look for examples of priming and framing in the media, and think about the impact of these techniques on politicians and voters.

EXTRA CREDIT

#mcconnelling

Campaign Finance Reform Helpful Information

Below is a list of resources (PPTs, articles, infographics, case briefs, etc) that should be helpful in creating your mind map.

From George Washington to Shaun McCutcheon: A brief-ish history of campaign finance reform. - from The Washington Post
Money-in-Politics Timeline - from OpenSecrets.com
How Campaign Finance Works - from HowStuffWorks.com

PowerPoints:





Mind Map Sample:


Videos:

Road to the White House: Helpful Information

In order to help you understand the presidential campaign process (and to help get your creative juices flowing), I've posted some videos, articles, infographics and other miscellaneous information below. All of this information can be used to help create your product due on the block day.

General Links:
America's voting system is crazy: here's what you need to know - from CNN
2016 Presidential Campaign Travel Tracker - from Bloomberg
2016 Presidential Nomination Delegate Totals - from Politico
The Perfect Presidential Stump Speech - from FiveThirtyEight

Videos:

Mitt Romney "Flip-Flop" Ad

Infographic Ideas

Election System Reform Proposals

As we've discussed in class, American elections use a winner-take-all, First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system that only allows for 2 parties to be successful. However, many Americans have expressed the desire for more choice in elections, both in terms of candidates and parties. While there are a number of third parties available for Americans to vote for, none of them ever seem to attain the success of the Republicans or Democrats. Some supporters of third parties have proposed that the American electoral system be reformed to give voters more choice and to allow more third parties to be successful.

Here is a playlist of CGP Grey videos (he's back!) that will explain some of the proposed electoral reforms:

ASSIGNMENT:

1. View the videos on alternate voting methods posted below.
2. Take notes on each of the different voting methods:
1. Alternative Vote (AV)
2. Mixed Member Proportional System (MMP)
3. Single Transferable Vote (STV)
3. Use the videos to write a well-constructed, supported, and unique response to the following question:
1. WHICH SYSTEM OFFERS THE BEST WAY FOR MORE PARTIES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS?
2. When writing your response think about which system you like the best and which system you think could actually work in the U.S. (think about our consensual political culture!)