Essential Question: If you could change the way the Evansville is run, how would you change it?
Project Overview
Now that you have learned about the history and influence that political parties have had on the landscape of American society you will take the knowledge you have gained to create your own political party. There are numerous tasks that you along with your group members must complete in order to satisfy the expectations for this project.
Task #1: Analyze the current political parties in the USA.
Click the images below to visit these political party websites to help in your research.
Task #2: The Party Platform
Working together with your group members you will need to create your party's platform based upon various topics that im pact the citizens of Evansville.
You will need to:
* The issues you might want to include are:
** Downtown Development/ Revitalization
** EVSC Related Issues (Start Time, Alternative Education, Dual Credit Programs)
** Methamphetamine Epidemic
** Cloverleaf at HWY 41 and Lloyd Expressway
** Traffic Congestion (Burkhardt, St. Joe, etc.)
** Public Assistance Program
** Police/ Fire Protection
** Same Sex Marriage Benefits to City/ County Employees
** Robert's Park
** Mesker Ampitheater
** Brain Drain (Evansville best and brightest young professionals leaving)
* Explain why this issue is important.
* Explain the position your political party has taken on this issue.
* Explain why the position you have taken is the "right" course for the United States.
* Create a comparison chart of how your political party and other parties stand on
various issues.
* Explain the reason for why your party was needed and what type of citizen it might
appeal to.
*You will need to create a manifesto of your political party that should not exceed
350 words. This essay may include charts and graphs to serve as visual aids to
further explain how your party feels on various issues while also establishing
your ideology.
You will need to:
* The issues you might want to include are:
** Downtown Development/ Revitalization
** EVSC Related Issues (Start Time, Alternative Education, Dual Credit Programs)
** Methamphetamine Epidemic
** Cloverleaf at HWY 41 and Lloyd Expressway
** Traffic Congestion (Burkhardt, St. Joe, etc.)
** Public Assistance Program
** Police/ Fire Protection
** Same Sex Marriage Benefits to City/ County Employees
** Robert's Park
** Mesker Ampitheater
** Brain Drain (Evansville best and brightest young professionals leaving)
* Explain why this issue is important.
* Explain the position your political party has taken on this issue.
* Explain why the position you have taken is the "right" course for the United States.
* Create a comparison chart of how your political party and other parties stand on
various issues.
* Explain the reason for why your party was needed and what type of citizen it might
appeal to.
*You will need to create a manifesto of your political party that should not exceed
350 words. This essay may include charts and graphs to serve as visual aids to
further explain how your party feels on various issues while also establishing
your ideology.
Task #3: The Party
Branding is a key part in creating presence whether it be a clothing line, sports team, or political movement. The symbols associated with a political party become iconic and representative of ideas, people
Using the political spectrum identify where your political party aligns itself. (Left, Center, Right, Etc.)
You will need to create a slogan that will serve as the catchphrase for your party.
You will need to explain the relevance of the name you have chosen for your party as well as the meaning for of the symbol for your party.
Using the political spectrum identify where your political party aligns itself. (Left, Center, Right, Etc.)
You will need to create a slogan that will serve as the catchphrase for your party.
You will need to explain the relevance of the name you have chosen for your party as well as the meaning for of the symbol for your party.
Task #4: Move to the Web
Task #5 The Candidate for Mayor of Evansville
You will need to create a candidate that will serve as both the symbolic and literal head of your political party.
* Someone in your group will be selected to be your candidate. This person will be
the symbol of your party as well as the mouth piece through which the ideology of
your party will be spread to the voters.:
** You will be allowed to create a new virtual background for your candidate.
The background may include education (with names of the institutions),
membership in organizations, (professional, charitable, etc.) religious
affiliation, marital status etc.
* Someone in your group will be selected to be your candidate. This person will be
the symbol of your party as well as the mouth piece through which the ideology of
your party will be spread to the voters.:
** You will be allowed to create a new virtual background for your candidate.
The background may include education (with names of the institutions),
membership in organizations, (professional, charitable, etc.) religious
affiliation, marital status etc.
Task #6 The Campaign
An idea remains only an idea until you put it into action. In order to influence Evansville in the direction your political party feels it should go it is imperative that you have a member of your party elected to a position of political power. Your group will now begin coordinating your media blitz. You will need to create one item from each of the categories below. The products vary in difficulty and have been assigned a point total. Your group will need to select an item from each column that adds up to 6. If your group chooses to create products that exceeds the minimal total your group will have the opportunity to earn bonus points.
Campaign Material Examples
Click the image to visit a website that contains past examples of bumper stickers, websites, campaign ads, billboards, etc. This will be a very helpful site as you begin to prepare your own campaign materials.
VisualPostersYard SignBumper StickerCampaign Button |
BrochureDirect MailerDoor Knob Hanger |
MediaParty CommercialFacebook PageNegative AdTwitter Account with minimum of 5 tweets. |
Task #7 The Campaign Rally
Now that you have all of the elements needed to be a viable political campaign it is now time to take your materials and your message to the masses. Your group will present your newly created political party to the voters (senior government classes at Harrison). You will set-up displays in the commons as well as having your candidate or campaign supporter present a speech trying to influence the electorate to support your party.
Students after having examined the campaign booths and hearing the speeches will then cast their ballot via weebly to determine who is the new political force in our Academy.
Students after having examined the campaign booths and hearing the speeches will then cast their ballot via weebly to determine who is the new political force in our Academy.
Task #8 The Great Debate
Each party will participate in a town hall style of debate with each candidate fielding questions from potential voters.
Question #1: If elected Mayor, how would you deal with the Robert's Stadium situation and what would like to see done with it?
Question #2: Evansville is experiencing the Methampetamine plague that is also gripping most of the Mid-West. How would your administration deal with this problem?
Question #3: Last year, Evansville was voted as the most obese city in America. What would your administration do to get Evansville off of that list and encourage healthier living for citizens of Evansville?
Question #4: Education has become a huge topic of discussion during this campaign. What changes that would benefit students would your administration encourage the EVSC to make?
Question #5: The city-wide smoking ban is a topic that most voters fall to one side or to the other on. What would your administration do regarding a city-wide ban on smoking?
Question #6: Many young people feel that there isn't enough for them to do on the weekend. What would your adminstration do to increase entertainment options for young people in Evansville?
Question #7: What steps would your administration take to make Evansville more "earth-friendly" in regards to recycling, pollution, and litter?
Question #1: If elected Mayor, how would you deal with the Robert's Stadium situation and what would like to see done with it?
Question #2: Evansville is experiencing the Methampetamine plague that is also gripping most of the Mid-West. How would your administration deal with this problem?
Question #3: Last year, Evansville was voted as the most obese city in America. What would your administration do to get Evansville off of that list and encourage healthier living for citizens of Evansville?
Question #4: Education has become a huge topic of discussion during this campaign. What changes that would benefit students would your administration encourage the EVSC to make?
Question #5: The city-wide smoking ban is a topic that most voters fall to one side or to the other on. What would your administration do regarding a city-wide ban on smoking?
Question #6: Many young people feel that there isn't enough for them to do on the weekend. What would your adminstration do to increase entertainment options for young people in Evansville?
Question #7: What steps would your administration take to make Evansville more "earth-friendly" in regards to recycling, pollution, and litter?