Political Parties Web Quest CE 5 Web Quest

Political Parties Web Quest CE. 5 Web Quest created by Paula Pulley 2008 OIntroduction OAdditional Tasks OEvaluation OTask OProcedures and Resources OConclusion OAdditional Resources Submission of Assignment

Introduction As a result of this web quest, you will be able to: • Describe the functions of political parties • Compare the similarities and differences of political parties • Understand how third parties differ from the two major parties • Determine which political party is right for you

Task • Your class will be divided into groups of 4. • Each group will be assigned to research a political party • Your group will: • Identify your candidate • State your candidate’s platform to include their position on 5 key issues: Education, environment, health care, taxes, and the Iraq War. • At the conclusion of this web quest, students will have the opportunity to complete a quiz to determine which political party is best for them.

Procedures & Resources • There will be 4 members in each group: • • Campaign Manager Policy Manager 1 – Education and Environment Policy Manager 2 – Health Care and Taxes Policy Manager 3 – Iraq War • Begin your research on the candidate that has been given to you by your teacher. Click the links above for detailed instructions on what each member of your group will be doing.

Campaign Manager You will write a biography for your candidate. The biography should include answers to the following questions. This biography should be created using Power. Point. Go to the Resources Page here for answers to the questions. • Who is your candidate? Where is he/she from? • Where did your candidate attend college? What did he/she study? • What did your candidate do after college? Did he/she work? What did he/she do? • What has your candidate done to prepare him/herself for the awesome role as President of the United States. Did he/she serve in Congress? Was he/she a Governor or Mayor? What other political positions has this person held? • Is your candidate married? Any children?

Policy Writer 1 Education & Environment You will write a political platform for your candidate. The platform will include your candidate’s position on the issue of EDUCATION and the ENVIRONMENT. Where does your candidate stand on this issue? Go to the Resources Page and choose Democrats on the Issues or Republicans on the Issues. If you are researching a 3 rd Party, go this Resource Page for your information. You will use Power Point for this assignment.

Policy Writer 2 Health Care and Taxes You will write a political platform for your candidate. The platform will include your candidate’s position on the issue of HEALTH CARE and TAXES. Where does your candidate stand on this issue? Go to the Resources Page and choose Democrats on the Issues or Republicans on the Issues. If you are researching a 3 rd Party, go this Resource Page for your information. You will use Power Point for this assignment.

Policy Writer 3 Iraq War You will write a political platform for your candidate. The platform will include your candidate’s position on the issue of the IRAQ WAR. Where does your candidate stand on this issue? Go to the Resources Page and choose Democrats on the Issues or Republicans on the Issues based on who your candidate is. If you are researching a 3 rd Party, go this Resources Page for your information. You will use Power Point for this assignment.

Additional Tasks -time permitting- • If time permits, students can perform the following tasks that directly relate to the web quest: • Which Party Is Right for You? Access the following website and answer the questions to determine which political party is right for you. • Students will create a brochure, using Microsoft Publisher, promoting their candidate and their party. • Students will create a 30 -second commercial, using Movie Maker, about their candidate and party.

Additional Resources • http: //www. democrats. org/index. html Democratic Party • http: //www. rnc. org/ Republican Party • http: //www. congressforkids. net/Elections_politicalparties. htm Political Parties • http: //www. whitehouse. gov/history/presidents/index. html Biographies of Past Presidents

Conclusion • After completing this web quest, the members of your group will have: • An understanding of how different parties view different issues • Looked at issues from different perspectives • Chosen a position and supported it • The ability to gather appropriate information from various sites • A working knowledge of the internet and the use of hyperlinks

Evaluation • Click on the following link to access the rubric for this assignment. http: //www. spsk 12. net/schools/jfkms/Staff/Technology. Web. Site/ Rubric. mht

Submission of Assignments • Each member of your group will have a power point presentation. You will name your presentation this way: • Nameof. Candidate_Political. Party_Your. Last. Name For example: Clinton_Democrat_Pulley • After saving your presentation, you will then drop the file into the Student Folder in the Temporary Storage. Directions for doing this can be found by clicking this link. • Your teacher will then be able to access and grade your work.